Fleet downtime increasing due to longer repairs
Fleet downtime is increasing due to longer repair times, according to 2025’s Arval Mobility Observatory Fleet and Mobility Barometer.
It found that the number of fleets reporting longer repair times has increased by a third in the last year.
John Peters, head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK, said: “While having vehicles off-road has always been a problem for car and van operators, it has undoubtedly become more prevalent since the pandemic thanks to issues such as a shortage in workshop capacity, a need for more trained technicians, and challenging parts availability.
Fleet downtime increasing
“All of these are having an ongoing impact on vehicle operations and many fleets apparently think things are getting worse.”
To tackle the issue, 47% of fleets said they now consider the availability of spare parts from manufacturers when acquiring new vehicles, 44% said they have started monitoring the service and repair process more closely, while 41% rely on lease vehicles to fill fleet gaps.
However, only 30% said they keep damaged vehicles on the road until a repair becomes available. This is down from 40% the previous year.
Peters said: “Our feeling here is that the general ageing of fleets that has taken place in recent years means driving cars and vans while an issue exists is becoming less and less of a viable option – older vehicles are simply more likely to create serious safety concerns.”
He concluded:
“Reading these statistics, we see that downtime remains such a prominent issue in the fleet sector. Ensuring vehicles are available is in many ways a very high concern for drivers. Five years after the pandemic, the fact our research suggests this remains a growing difficulty shows how those running fleets still face mounting problems in this area.”
