July 13, 2023
Abby Nuttall
Driver Articles
Are you a company car driver and unsure what maintenance you should be doing on your vehicle? We’ve got the answers for you! Our team has put together this article with general tips on looking after your company car, there may be some differences depending on your fleet policy.
Check Your Contract
The first thing you should do is check your contract or any amendments to it that relate to your company car. This is because some companies may have a specific process in place for any maintenance work, and it should give you a breakdown of what is expected of you as the driver of the vehicle.
If you’re unsure of where to find this information, then your fleet management will usually be able to direct you to the right area.
General Car Maintenance
The below is general maintenance for car drivers and is applicable whether you’re in a company car or using a car allowance towards a vehicle you own / lease personally.
1. Check Your Tyres
You should be regularly checking your tyre condition and pressure. We would advise checking your tyres at least once a month but you may find you may need to do it more / less often depending on how often you drive the vehicle and the mileage you’re covering.
When checking the tyre condition you want to check:
- The tread (meets the legal minimum of 1.6 mm)
- For cracks or cuts to the tyre surface (some small cracking is expected but larger cracks and cuts are not)
- For bulges in the tyre sidewall
Any damage to the tyre can lead to it losing some of its structural integrity and make it more likely to blow out whilst you are driving, which can cause accidents.
For a more detailed breakdown of what you should be looking for take a look at our guide on checking your tyres.
2. Top Up Your Fluids
The fluids under your bonnet should regularly be checked to make sure that they are within the acceptable range (usually between a minimum and maximum marking on the container) and topped up if needed.
You should be checking:
- Coolant
- Oil
- Brake fluid
- Screen wash
When checking your fluids if you find that you are going through one quicker than expected, or have a sudden change in consumption, this could be a sign of something wrong in the vehicle and you may want to let your fleet manager know so that it can be looked at if needed.
3. Keep It Clean
Keeping your car clean not only keeps it looking and smelling nice but can also prevent damage to the vehicle, both on the interior and exterior.
This doesn’t mean that you need to get the vehicle detailed every week but rather take a few small steps to keep it in a clean condition and have more thorough cleaning every five to eight weeks depending on your vehicle usage. These steps include:
- Regularly using screen wash to clear the front and rear windscreen
- Wiping any bird droppings or sap from the paintwork when you notice it
- Putting rubbish into a bag or bin and removing it from the car when you leave it
- Cleaning any spills or stains on the upholstery when you notice them
You should not generally be asked to pay for or undertake any significant maintenance yourself on a company car. Instead, you should be arranging this with your fleet management team.
Vehicle Maintenance Checks
Most employees will ask you to conduct regular inspections of the vehicle and complete a report on its condition. Here at Wessex, we call these vehicle maintenance checks but they may be referred to as vehicle condition checks, monthly vehicle reports or something similar.
These checks will be to make sure that the fleet management team is kept updated on the vehicle’s condition, mileage and any other key information they may need to know. They also give you a chance as the driver to report any concerns that you have about the vehicle, though you should be able to do that independently at any time.
You’ll usually be able to complete these checks relatively quickly and easily.
One thing to be aware of is that some of the questions on the check may relate to your eligibility to drive, such as whether you have had any driving penalties or health conditions that disqualify you from driving. It is your responsibility to notify your fleet management team as soon as you become aware of anything that may affect your ability to drive.
Enjoyed this article? Read more of our latest blogs below:
- Three Biggest Expenses in Your Fleet
- Excess Mileage Charges in the UK
- Find Out if You Can Drive a Minibus
- Company Car Driving Tips
Want to know more about fleet vehicles?
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Or are you looking to understand the company car, fleet management or any other aspect of fleet vehicles? If so, then check out our Guide Pages.