Research conducted by telematics provider Trimble has found that more than seven out of ten people who drive regularly for business purposes use their own vehicle. But spiralling petrol costs, vehicle wear and tear and the cost of insurance can often mean that these workers are left out of pocket as mileage rates fail to match the hikes.

Research also shows that with the cost of driving to work at its peak, commuters need to work two months, seven days, seven hours and 10 minutes to cover the annual cost of their fuel bill driving to work; a fifth of their annual net salary.

Andrew Yeoman, managing director of Trimble Fleet Solutions in Europe, commented: ‘Over the course of the year, the UK has witnessed the cost of running a car become even more expensive and many employees are struggling to meet these exorbitant costs.

'Employees who use their own cars for business purposes have taken the full force of these rises as companies often aren’t able to reimburse their staff sufficiently using the current mileage rates.’