Black and white rules around grey fleet drivers

Fleet managers risk substantial legal and financial penalties if they fail to ensure that employees who drive their own cars for work have MOT and insurance.

However, over a third of employees who drive a privately owned or cash allowance car for business have never been asked if they have either. Meanwhile, 31% have never even had to prove they have a valid driving licence.

This is according to research conducted by Venson Automotive Solutions, which suggests many UK businesses don’t understand their duty of care responsibilities to grey-fleet drivers.

Simon Staton, director of client management, said: “Whether an employee drives a company vehicle, has a cash alternative or uses a privately owned car, when they are travelling for business, their vehicle is considered a place of work, so it must be well-maintained, taxed and insured and hold a current MOT. The results of our survey reveal a worrying disconnect when it comes to meeting duty of care responsibilities for employees when they are driving their own car for work purposes.”

The same research also revealed that 40% of employees who drive a privately owned or cash allowance car for business have never been asked to show their vehicle’s service, maintenance and repair (SMR) record, or proof of breakdown cover.

Staton said: “Almost a third of all road deaths in the UK involve drivers or riders who are driving for work, so by implementing a robust driver risk strategy to monitor and maintain their company grey fleet, fleet managers could well be saving lives, not just money or the risk of a prosecution.”