Extending company car contracts from three to four years has seen fleets improve at managing service and maintenance, claims CFC Solutions.

It says that because the fourth year usually sees the car fall out of manufacturer warranty more attention from fleet managers has been needed to minimise costs and ensure duty of care compliance.

“Many fleets have had little experience in recent years of managing vehicles that were out of warranty,” explained Neville Briggs, managing director at CFC Solutions.

“Now, with some estimates showing that around one in four company cars have been extended into a fourth year, a different skill set has been required.”

He says fleets are learning more about minimising costs, such as major mechanical failures, and about the role that important minimising downtime can play in reducing overall maintenance costs.

“We have been helping fleets to develop a number of strategies that minimise costs and ensure risk management compliance,” added Briggs.