THE majority of company car drivers have adapted their vehicle choice to ensure a smaller tax bill following last month's change in benefit-in-kind regulations, according to a leasing company supplying small and medium sized fleets.

Benchmark Leasing, a Lex Vehicle Partner, polled customers who are changing their cars in the latter half of this year and found 80% were opting for cars that resulted in them being better off by an average of £275 a year. Benchmark found that cars generating the most interest were diesel VW Golfs and Audi A4s.

Managing director Tony Flood said: 'Many who received their first payslips after the April 5 tax changes kicked in saw an immediate reduction in tax paid on their company car. The majority of drivers have also opted out of receiving private fuel, so many are hundreds of pounds better off each month.'

Lex Vehicle Leasing recently claiming that 70% of vehicles on its 90,000 strong fleet will have a smaller tax bill following the tax changes.