Contract hire and automobile fleet management company Total Motion conducted a grey fleet awareness survey with over 1500 businesses with approximately 10-5,000 employees to determine the health and safety risk of Grey Fleet driving and its management by various companies.

The findings from Total Motion’s study indicate that over 25% of businesses do not have a grey fleet policy and over 30% do not check insurance is valid.

The company’s results also highlighted that over 60% do not check service and maintenance histories, whilst over 44% do not check the validity of an MOT.

Overall only 12% know the actual mileage travelled in grey fleet vehicles while more than 50% of those companies surveyed do not pay the maximum HMRC rates. 

The companies surveyed stated that they prefer to allow employees to use their own vehicles rather than utilising short-term hire due to the cost and poor service. Many quoted the condition of rental vehicles as being a concern, saying that the rental providers are failing to carry out proper checks.

Simon Hill, managing director of Total Motion, said: "The work we have done clearly demonstrates that the issue of grey fleet is still not being taken as seriously as it should and that many businesses still have gaps. It also shows that the risk to business is not correctly being addressed with the lack of systems in place."