The Importance of Preventive Maintenance for Company Vehicles

If you’re running a business, whether it’s a small one or a large one, you might be tempted to offer your employees company cars. This practice confers many benefits; it’ll bolster employee satisfaction and reduce staff turnover, while allowing you to bring in the talent you need.

Make the investment in a fleet of company cars, however, and you’ll have to contend with the ongoing costs associated with maintenance. So, what do those costs look like, and how can they be minimised?

Reducing Long-Term Repair Costs

Cars are complex machines. Prolonged use can cause them to wear down and fail – but even if your cars are just sitting idle, they’ll need regular check-ups to stand a good chance of avoiding breakdown.

The best kind of maintenance here is the preventative kind. Put in place a system so that vehicles receive maintenance after they pass a certain number of miles, or after a given period of time has elapsed. Annual services should be considered a minimum.

However, even if your maintenance system is rigorous, there still exists a chance of a breakdown. You can offset the risk with the help of the right vehicle repair insurance.

Minimising Vehicle Downtime and Operational Disruptions

If your employees are relying on their vehicles, then downtime becomes even more costly. For example, a delivery company might only be able to make deliveries on time if the vehicles it uses are reliable, and if a suitable replacement vehicle is available in the event of a breakdown. Having the right system in place might, in this instance, help to protect the reputation of the company.

Improving Vehicle Safety and Compliance

As an employer, you are responsible for the safety of the people to whom you are lending your company cars. It’s therefore legally as well as ethically desirable for you to make sure that the vehicles being used are in good condition. Regular servicing will help to avoid mechanical failures. Employees might also be encouraged to perform basic maintenance, like tyre inflation, themselves.

Extending Vehicle Lifespan and Maximising Resale Value

Keeping your vehicles in good condition will help you to get a better price for them when the time comes to sell. This will, in the long term, reduce the cost of maintaining the fleet – to an extent that makes good business sense.

Enhancing Fuel Efficiency and Reducing Environmental Impact

When vehicles are kept in good condition, they’ll tend to be more fuel efficient. This will lower the quantity of emissions being produced, and ultimately drive down the environmental burden imposed by your business and its day-to-day operations. If you’re looking to run a sustainable business, this might be an area worth investigating.

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