Customers are seeking higher levels of warranty cover with four-year-old ex-fleet cars that are becoming more prevalent on the used car market, according to RAC Warranty.

An estimated quarter of companies have opted to extend their leases on existing cars beyond the established industry standard three years/60,000 miles to four years/80,000 miles or even further.

Ian Simpson, sales and marketing director at RAC Warranty, explained: “The effects of the recession on the leasing and used car sectors have created a market where a customer may find themselves paying a similar price for a four-year-old, high mileage ex-fleet car today as they would have for a three-year-old/60,000-mile one just 12 months ago.

“In this situation, the feedback that we are receiving from dealers is that the warranty offered with the vehicle is becoming an ever more important part of the deal. The higher mileage especially is making customers wary as is the general condition of some of these vehicles.”

However, Simpson added that it was difficult to predict whether the four-year-old ex-lease car would replace its three-year-old predecessor as one of the mainstays of the used vehicle market.