For business owners, a fleet of quality company cars can be a significant boon. They can help to bolster morale among employees, and entice prospective recruits into making a job application. They’re crucial for employees that will be expected to do a lot of driving, or commuting.
A well-maintained company car will tend to be more enticing than a poorly-maintained one. Moreover, the former will make a better impression on those outside the business, like clients and collaborators.
The importance of regular checks
There are a few components in a car that are more prone to wear and tear than others. These might include things like tyres and brakes, which will naturally degrade over time. Regular maintenance here will not only improve the driving experience, but make accidents less likely. This will not only help to protect the employees themselves, but the car that they’re driving.
For example, the stopping power of a given set of tyres will tend to decline substantially before they reach the legal minimum of 1.6mm. As such, it’s worth shopping for replacements from a reputable brand. It could be worth considering to buy Continental tyres or another premium brand, to ensure that the quality and longevity is good.
Make sure the right equipment is on board
If something should go wrong with a company car, then the driver will want to be able to react appropriately. This means having access to the right equipment. Don’t assume that necessities like the spare tyre, a jack, and an ice-scraper are going to be included. Where the weight isn’t going to be excessive, it’s worth including as much extra stuff as possible. Include the contact details for the breakdown recovery people, in a prominent place.
Service regularly
Generally speaking, the more often that your company car is serviced, the better. A good rule of thumb is that you’ll want a service around every 12,000 miles, or every six months. If your car has a black box onboard, then you’ll be able to pay attention to how it’s being driven. Make sure that you’re doing this with the consent and approval of the employee in question, though. Leaving aside any legal or ethical questions, you’ll want to avoid creating the impression that you’re peering over their shoulder. Black box insurance for the fleet can, as a side benefit, help you to save money on covering everything.
