February 9, 2024
Abby Nuttall
Driver Articles
Here at Wessex Fleet, we support a lot of drivers with their company cars, and our team has put together a list of ten easy things you can do to look after your company car. Some of these may be obvious and some you might not think affect the condition of your car but will contribute to it.
10 Things You Need to Do for Your Company Car
1. Keep It Clean
Our first tip is to keep your company car clean, inside and out. How regularly you will need to clean your car will depend on how you use it. Generally though we would advise cleaning your car every six to eight weeks for the average driver.
Cleaning your car will prevent things like dirt build up damaging the paintwork or old food wrappers attracting bugs as well as helping you get to know your car better, helping you notice any issues earlier.
2. Drive It Like You Own It
We know that there can be the temptation to be a little less risk adverse when you’re in a vehicle you don’t own but not only can this be dangerous but it can also lead to damage caused by driver error or negligence. This can be small issues like clipping the kerb and scratching the alloys through to larger, more costly and dangerous issues such as engine failure.
3. Take the Training
A lot of businesses will offer their employees driver training. If your company offers you training then we recommend taking it, even if it’s not compulsory for you to do.
Legislation can change a lot, just last year we saw a massive change to the road hierarchy order in the highway code that wasn’t widely publicised. As drivers are usually not legally required to retest a lot of changes in regulations or vehicle controls may go by unnoticed if you aren’t actively looking for them, which is why we find the refresher sessions provided by employers can be really beneficial.
4. Know Your Numbers and Use Them
If you are driving a company car there will be a few key contact number you want to make a note of and keep somewhere handy, such as on a note in your car or saved in your phone contacts. These are:
- Your fleet manager
- Your maintenance provider (if different)
- Your accident management team
- Your insurance provider
Having these somewhere easy to access will reduce the stress of any circumstances where you might need them, making it easier for you to deal with the problem in the moment. Some drivers also find knowing these numbers are accessible reduces any potential anxiety they have about driving.
5. Know Your Stats
It’s not just phone numbers you should know but other key numbers for your vehicle. Key numbers include:
- Your mileage allowance
- Servicing intervals (your fleet team should have these as well)
- Your mileage range
- Your charging speed (if in an electric or hybrid car)
6. Understand Your Responsibilities
As a company car driver there will be some expectations of you from your employer on how you use, drive and care for the car. You should know what these are and make sure that you meet them.
Although there are generalised expectations that are standard across the industry there may be some that are specific to your employer. It’s important that you follow any guidelines they lay out, even if they don’t feel necessary to you, as this will be looking after the car in line with their expectations.
7. Regularly Inspect the Car
We recommend giving your company car a thorough once over once a month, in fact a core component of our fleet management packages is based on monthly vehicle checks.
Just like regularly cleaning your car, regular inspections help you get to know your company vehicle making it easier to notice when something is wrong. It also helps you spot any maintenance you might be responsible for, such as topping up the screen wash, and complete these promptly.
8. Get Your Issues Checked Promptly
If you do notice anything wrong with your car then you should report it to your fleet manager quickly and arrange with them for it to be looked at by a professional and repaired if needed. Detecting issues early on will reduce the potential danger to you and the cost for your employers.
9. Check Your Safety Equipment
If you have any additional equipment in your vehicle, such as a fire extinguisher or safety clothing then you should also be checking this. To make sure it’s still in a condition fit for purpose and accessible if needed.
10. Pick a Car You Like
Our final tip for taking care of your car is choosing a car you like. If you have a car you enjoy driving, love the look of and want to get behind the wheel of then you’re more likely to subconsciously, and consciously, take care of it.
Enjoyed this article? Read more of our latest blogs below:
- Five Fleet Management Tips
- Five Christmas Maintenance Checks
- Looking After Your Drivers During the Holidays
- Knowing the Right Size Fleet for Your Business
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