BVRLA News
www.bvrla.co.uk January/February 2013
The newsletter of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association
Rental and leasing: reasons to be cheerful by John Lewis Squeezed between an austerity government and a struggling Eurozone, the UK economy is going nowhere at the moment. In contrast, the vehicle rental and leasing industry continues to make steady progress, with more and more companies and individuals relying on it for their road transport needs. In an uncertain business environment, where general funding is in short supply and the cost of running vehicles continues to rise, BVRLA members provide a very attractive source of fixed-cost, risk-free finance and pay-as-you-go motoring. This is reflected in our latest membership data, which reported an increase in rental, leasing, commercial vehicle and leasing broker members in 2012. The combined BVRLA member fleet starts 2013 at 2.75 million vehicles, having risen 9% over the last year to its highest ever level. These figures were boosted both by the addition of new fleets, and by existing members seeing solid growth. BVRLA members will continue to be a mainstay of the new car market in 2013 and a reliable source of business for manufacturers who will struggle to cope with volatile retail demand.
This is why we expect new fleet car registrations to continue their recovery with slow but steady growth, driven by greater penetration into the small and mediumsized enterprise market, where vehicle leasing and rental is increasingly popular – particularly among younger businesses. The continued popularity of salary sacrifice schemes with larger corporate customers will also make a valuable contribution. New business car tax thresholds will continue to have their desired effect, pushing average fleet emissions down, probably by another 3 or 4%. Fleets will review their policies and move emission caps to 130g/km CO2, giving an advantage to manufacturers with a comprehensive range of models below that level. The slump in van registrations towards the second half of 2012 was a surprise, especially as it was offset by a strong rise in truck registrations. We expect steady growth in both sectors next year, with operators pulling forward fleet replacements to avoid the EURO VI emissions standard. Much of this will be financed by BVRLA members, with manufacturers seeing a rise in demand for contract hire as operators seek more control over their cash flow, no residual value risk, and added-value services such as maintenance and telematics. n
The annual general meeting of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association Ltd will be held at 9.30am on Thursday, 16 May, 2013 at the association’s offices at River Lodge, Badminton Court, Amersham, Bucks HP7 0DD for the following purposes:
Annual general meeting
❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱
To receive the Chairman’s report. To receive the report of the Committee of Management. To receive the report of the auditors. To elect the Committee of Management. To elect auditors and arrange their remuneration.
By order of the Committee of Management. John Lewis, Chief Executive
In this issue Lobbying eases van approval burden BVRLA lobbying has succeeded in exempting minor van modifications from tough regulations coming this Spring page 2 Finance Bill: major tax changes set for April The Finance Bill, implementing last year’s Budget, is set to have a major impact on vehicle rental and leasing page 3 Strength in numbers The economy may have gone nowhere in 2012, but vehicle rental and leasing had a pretty good year page 6 The shape of car rental to come… As concerns grow about rising costs, increasing urban congestion and air pollution, new models of pay-as-yougo motoring are starting to appear page 9 Fair wear and tear: new LCV standard The BVRLA’s updated Industry Fair Wear and Tear Standard for light commercial vehicles is now on sale page 11
— Promoting responsible road transport since 1967 —
Comment BVRLA secures a major victory to ease burden of LCV whole type approval The BVRLA is getting bigger, and so is the job at hand. With more members – representing more vehicles and drivers – and an everincreasing list of challenges facing the industry, it is vitally important that your association speaks with an authoritative voice.
For this reason, the BVRLA will shortly be publishing a series of major independent reports that will, for the first time, give a clear and comprehensive view of the scale and scope of the vehicle rental and leasing industry and its impact on the UK’s economy and transport habits. As well as strengthening our lobbying, we hope this will give us a clearer picture of how the industry is changing and a well-defined path for what the BVRLA must do to keep up with that change.
Toby Poston
Editor Toby Poston, toby@bvrla.co.uk 01494 545700 Production Manager Steven Prizeman, steven@bvrla.co.uk 01494 545710 Advertising Nora Leggett, nora@bvrla.co.uk 01494 545713 © Copyright BVRLA 2013 BVRLA News articles may be used copyright free by members provided that an acknowledgement is given.
BVRLA River Lodge, Badminton Court Amersham Buckinghamshire HP7 0DD T 01494 434747 F 01494 434499 E info@bvrla.co.uk W www.bvrla.co.uk Honorary Life President Freddie Aldous Chairman Neil Cunningham Vice Chairman Peter Cakebread Honorary Treasurer Brian Back Chief Executive John Lewis
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BVRLA lobbying has succeeded in exempting minor van modifications such as ply-lining and racking from the new type approval regulations being introduced this Spring. From 29 April, light commercial vehicles (commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes) will come within the scope of European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval regulations. This means that approval by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) will be required for modifications made to vans and minibuses before registration. The VCA was originally of the view that all modifications, no matter how minor, would require an individual vehicle approval certificate. But following a recent meeting with the BVRLA, bodybuilders, motor manufacturers and the Department for Transport, the VCA has agreed that minor modifications, such as ply-lining, racking, etc, will not require any form of approval. One way of avoiding the approval process for vehicles with more complicated modifications, such as the installation of fridge units and tail lifts, would be to ensure that they are carried out by bodybuilders whose processes have been accredited by the VCA. Although the mechanism for accreditation has yet to be
finalised, it is clear that it would be for particular procedures, rather than a blanket approval for all modifications performed by a particular bodybuilder. For the most significant safety-related vehicle modifications, such as the addition or removal of seating, each individual vehicle will require physical inspection. The BVRLA is working with the VCA on the details of this new approach. It has raised concerns about some modifications that would still require individual vehicle approval, including:
❱ Roof vents, locks and tow bars. ❱ Modifications in the cab area,
such as the fitting of satellite navigation systems, which affect headroom.
The VCA is now working with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on the process for approving bodybuilders. The VCA has indicated that this should be fairly straightforward, particularly if the bodybuilder is already accredited to an ISO standard. n Full details of the VCA’s draft approach can be downloaded from the BVRLA website: www.bvrla.co.uk
European Commission drops plan for yearly MOT tests on rental cars European Commission policymakers have abandoned plans to introduce annual MOT testing for rental cars and vans.
the costly task of managing the process – not least identifying the rental cars and vans that would face the extra testing.
The proposals had been mooted as part of the Commission’s attempts to harmonise vehicle testing across Europe. However, they were opposed by both the BVRLA and the UK government, which would have faced
“This proposal could have been a real headache for the rental industry and we are delighted that our lobbying to UK government helped lead to these plans being rejected at the first hurdle,” said BVRLA chief executive John Lewis. n BVRLA News | January/February 2013
Finance Bill: major tax changes set for April The BVRLA has stepped up its lobbying of HM Treasury ahead of the publication of the 2013 Finance Bill, which will implement the tax measures announced in last year’s Budget on 1 April. The key issues are: 100% First-Year Allowances The CO2 emissions threshold will be lowered to 95g/km, but rental and leased cars will not qualify for these allowances. Just before Christmas the BVRLA met with Treasury officials to try and persuade them to reverse the decision to remove the 100% first-year capital allowances available on low-emission cars, which would also impact rental firms. The Treasury confirmed that the restriction was intended to prevent a leasing company from taking advantage of capital allowances to provide cheaper vehicles to customers outside the UK. The BVRLA is unaware of this happening, but is working on suggestions for antiavoidance measures to remove the
theoretical risk. This could include a clause in the Bill requiring qualifying vehicles to be registered and used in the UK.
cancel the order without any penalty or cost, and pays for the vehicle when delivered, expenditure is incurred when the vehicle is delivered.
Capital Allowances The CO2 emissions threshold for the 18% writing-down allowance pool will change to over 95g/km but not more than 130g/km. The threshold for the 8% writing-down allowance pool will change to over 130g/km.
Lease Rental Restriction The CO2 emissions threshold above which a business can only claim 85% of the finance element of its lease rental payment against its taxable profit will fall to 130g/km.
The Treasury has confirmed that arrangements for the introduction of business car capital allowance thresholds on 1 April will be applied in line with Section 5 of the Capital Allowances Act 2001. This states that expenditure is incurred on the date that the obligation to pay for a vehicle becomes unconditional. For example, if a leasing company orders a car and is committed to buy, but pays for the vehicle upon delivery, expenditure is incurred when the vehicle is ordered. However, if a leasing company orders a car, but can
The BVRLA’s goals for Finance Bill amendments include a longer transition period for customers impacted by the Lease Rental Restriction (LRR), which limits the amount of tax relief businesses can claim when leasing higher-emitting cars. To ensure that customers who order cars before 1 April 2013 are not penalised due to the lead times of the manufacturer, the BVRLA would like a four-month transition period for cars ordered before that date. This means that these customers would only see the 15% LRR applied if their car was delivered after 1 August 2013. n
Driver CPC: lobbying continues as deadline looms The BVRLA is trying to ensure that rental company staff who deliver and collect lorries over 3.5 tonnes and minibuses with nine seats or more are exempted from the requirement to hold a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC).
As part of its input to the government’s Red Tape Challenge, the BVRLA continues to call for an exemption for vehicle delivery and collection drivers, because they carry neither goods nor passengers. BVRLA News | January/February 2013
Photo: Jeff Dalton / Shutterstock.com
A driver usually qualifies for the certificate by completing a series of four tests. Once obtained, eligibility for the certificate is maintained by completing at least 35 hours of training within a five-year period. Professional lorry, bus or coach drivers may obtain Driver CPC through ‘acquired rights’, because their experience is counted as equivalent to the initial qualification.
they are doing is renting out vehicles, it seems contradictory for Driver CPC training to be required,” said Jay Parmar, the BVRLA’s legal and policy director. The BVRLA estimates that Driver CPC could cost the industry around £4.8m over each five-year training period.
Driver CPC: is it really necessary for moving a truck between branches?
With the deadline for CPC compliance approaching fast, drivers of minibuses with acquired rights must complete their training by September 2013 and commercial vehicle drivers with acquired rights by September 2014. The BVRLA advises members to consider scheduling some training in case its lobbying is not successful. n
“With delivery and collection drivers exempt from the EU drivers’ hours rules and rental companies not requiring an operator’s licence if all
Further information can be found in Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Fact Sheet 578), which can be downloaded from the BVRLA website: www.bvrla.co.uk 3
Conciliation is catching on! The BVRLA Conciliation Service was more valuable than ever to members and their customers in 2012, dealing with 558 disputes, an increase of 31% on the previous year. This rise came from the rental sector, where disputes dealt with rose 74% to 361. This is probably due to increasing awareness of the scheme, which is now supported by organisations including Which? and Money Saving Expert. Additional charges, such as excess reduction products, upgrades and fuel options were the main subject of complaints in 2012, overtaking damage.
“Most disputes could be avoided if all additional charges were clearly quoted at the point of reservation by the rental company and explained to the customer before they signed a rental agreement,” said BVRLA legal and policy administrator Sallie Catchpole. Complaints against leasing companies fell by 10% year-on-year. Threequarters of them related to end-ofcontract charges for what the customer believed was fair wear and tear, or concerned damage they said was not present when the vehicle was collected by the leasing company. n
Summary of complaints investigated in 2012
2011 Statistics
558 complaints were investigated by the BVRLA (31% up on 2011)
425 total complaints
361 rental member complaints (74% up on 2011)
208 rental complaints
187 leasing member complaints (10% down on 2011)
207 leasing complaints
10 leasing broker member complaints (same number as 2011)
37% of the total complaints were upheld in favour of the complainant. 59% were not upheld. 4% did not reach a final resolution.
10 leasing broker complaints 47% for complainant 48% for member 5% for neither
BVRLA sets out the case for low-carbon incentives The BVRLA has contributed to a research project undertaken by the influential Institute for Public Policy Research think-tank, which is looking at policy measures the government could take to drive uptake of low-carbon vehicles. The association believes that the current Plug-in Car Grant has proved ineffective because it has been largely absorbed within manufacturers’ high list prices. Instead, it wants the grant replaced by guaranteed, long-term user incentives, such as subsidised charging infrastructure, free parking and exemption from congestion charges and motoring taxes like VED for a five or preferably ten-year period. These types of measure would benefit the first and subsequent owners or users of plug-in vehicles and boost a second-hand pull. The IPPR report is due for publication this Spring. n
Report reveals ‘real world’ cost of plug-in cars Rental and leasing companies already own or operate most of the low-emission vehicles on UK roads, but the BVRLA is now trying to help the industry make even greater strides in reducing carbon – by using more plug-in cars and vans.
industry experts and provides the most robust guide yet to real-world plug-in vehicle running costs,” said BVRLA chief executive John Lewis. “It is really encouraging to hear that, even with high list prices, residual value uncertainty and a lack of long-term user incentives, it is still possible to make a business case for running plug-in vehicles, in the right circumstances.”
The association recently held a joint workshop with the Energy Saving Trust to brief members on the results of the EST’s Plugged-in Fleets Initiative (PIFI), which gave 20 UK fleets a costbenefit analysis of whether electric vehicles could work for them. The EST has now been awarded government funding to undertake a further 100 PIFI audits and the BVRLA is sure that the rental and leasing industry will participate, either directly or by putting customers forward. 4
EST: spreading the word about plug-ins
“We welcome the publication of the first PIFI report, which has been produced by the EST’s fleet
Caroline Watson, knowledge manager at EST, said: “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to work with 100 additional fleets to help them identify their own business benefit for adopting plug-in vehicles. Support from the BVRLA enables us to reach a wide range of lease companies and their clients who will be vital in the fleet market’s transition to electrification.” n BVRLA News | January/February 2013
Fleets give £250k to charity by Backing BEN BVRLA members have raised over half a million pounds to help colleagues in need as part of the Fleets Backing BEN initiative. The scheme, which has been running for three years, sees leasing companies donate £1 to BEN, the automotive industry charity, for every vehicle they sell at auction. The participation of BVRLA members continues to increase, raising £250,000 in 2012 alone.
to forecast our income and run the charity more effectively and efficiently,” said Nigel Williams, BEN’s commercial development manager. “We face the same challenges as any other business in respect of forecasting and meeting objectives, and knowing when our income will be received allows us to optimise the support we offer.”
These contributions make a vital difference for BEN, which needs £12m a year to operate. Importantly, it ensures a smooth flow of income.
At any one time, BEN provides support to around 15,000 people connected to the automotive industry. The help it offers ranges from day care for the elderly to running residential homes, helping to pay for specialist equipment for people with disabilities, and giving advice to those in financial difficulty.
“Sustainable income is a key requirement for BEN, it allows us
When companies enrol in the Fleets Backing Ben scheme, they agree that
whenever they sell a used vehicle through a participating auction house, £1 of their proceeds will go to BEN. “Right from the start we have had a fantastic response from the BVRLA and its members,” said Williams, “but there is still more mileage in this initiative, which will allow us to provide even greater support to industry colleagues when they approach us.” n For further information about Backing BEN, contact Nigel Williams or visit www.backingben.org.uk Contact Nigel Williams, nigel.williams@ben.org.uk 07850 485836
Dinner speakers revealed as tickets sell out! The upcoming BVRLA Annual Dinner is once again a sell-out, with around 900 members and guests due to attend the London Hilton on Park Lane on Thursday 7 March. The headline entertainment on the night comes in the form of broadcaster and journalist Andrew Neil and comedian Alun Cochrane. A former editor of The Economist and The Sunday Times, Andrew helped to launch Sky Television and is currently hosting This Week and Daily Politics BVRLA News | January/February 2013
on the BBC. As well as having a ringside seat on Coalition politics, he also has some keen observations on the prospects for the UK economy.
With Alun Cochrane we have a master of wry, observational comedy, with TV and radio appearances ranging from Just a Minute to 8 Out Of 10 Cats. n 5
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BVRLA News | January/February 2013
Graphics: Iryna Sunrise / Shutterstock.com
BVRLA News | January/February 2013
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Now it couldn’t be easier to support your industry charity
www.backingben.org.uk Supported by all major auction houses
BEN is the automotive industry’s dedicated charity. Helping colleagues in times of need It’s simple - if you regularly sell cars at auction, all you have to do is sign an authorisation form and we’ll do the rest. Thereafter, every time the hammer falls, £1 is deducted from the sale value and donated to BEN. BackingBEN - one small payment from you, one giant contribution to BEN BEN - Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund. Registered Office: Lynwood, Sunninghill, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 0AJ. A charity registered in England and Wales (no.297877) and Scotland (no.SC039842). A company limited by guarantee in England and Wales. Registered company (no.02163894). Registered social landlord (no.LH3766)
The shape of car rental to come… It was a busy turn of the year for the car rental sector, with Avis’s £300m purchase of Zipcar and the arrival in London of car2go, the carsharing venture from Daimler and Europcar. And, as concerns grow about rising costs, increasing urban congestion and air pollution, new models of pay-as-you-go motoring are starting to appear. BVRLA News explores the changing face of car rental and its role as an alternative to car ownership. Car rental, car clubs, car sharing – there is a rapidly developing range of complementary pay-as-you-go motoring options that are enabling motorists to give up their own cars and opt for cleaner, safer vehicles that are more appropriate for their needs.
Industry solutions Government policymakers and local authorities are beginning to understand that all forms of payas-you-go motoring – not just car clubs – can help them meet targets on congestion, CO2 emissions, air quality and social objectives, including increased access and mobility. A growing body of research is helping to prove this point and the BVRLA will shortly be publishing a major new study into car rental use by UK consumers, commissioned from independent researchers TrL.
The availability and success of these different car rental models, particularly car clubs, can vary according to the enthusiasm and involvement of local authorities. Some are proactive and encourage alternative forms of car access, whereas others are not involved at all, either due to a lack of resources or because they do not understand the benefits.
Improved technology and connectivity, both in-car and in smartphones and other mobile devices, is making it easier to integrate different forms of car rental with the wider transport network. This includes providing realtime information on the availability of vehicles, parking spaces and train, plane and bus times. We are also seeing greater interoperability of back office and payment systems that can link operators of different transport networks together. One day soon, might we see Transport for London smartphone apps or Oyster Cards being used to pay for car rental?
London offers a huge potential market for car rental services. However, producing a harmonised policy in vital areas such as parking is virtually impossible with 33 different boroughs and Transport for London all having their own administrative, operational and environmental requirements.
With a business model based on on-street parking, the car club sector faces some specific challenges as it matures. As well as having to work within bureaucratic council processes in order to find new spaces, operators face the traditional issues of performing damage and maintenance checks on a dispersed fleet and coping with a utilisation model that sees demand outstrip supply at weekends and has cars sitting idle midweek. BVRLA News | January/February 2013
Photo: Maksim Toome / Shutterstock.com
Integrating car rental services with other transport options is an obvious requirement. Although this has been done successfully with airports, there is much work to be done in improving links with other transport hubs. For example, parking is a limited resource at railway stations, where there are a range of stakeholders to be dealt with, including train operating companies, bus companies and local authorities.
The rapidly developing range of complementary pay-as-you-go motoring options available to motorists is helping to expand the overall market for car rental. It is no surprise, therefore, that as these new start-ups mature and look towards profitable expansion, many of them are working with ‘traditional’ car rental companies that have the operational skills and economies of scale required to help them move forward. n The points raised in this article are addressed in more depth in Car Rental 2.0: New alternatives to car ownership, a recently published report from the BVRLA and the RAC Foundation, available to download from the RAC Foundation website: www.racfoundation.org 9
The BVRLA Fleet Forward Planner 2013 With plenty of legislative and administrative changes affecting vehicle rental and leasing set to come into force this year, it is best to plan ahead. Here are the key events for your diary, as compiled by the BVRLA’s Legal and Policy Department. If you want to plan even further ahead, see www.bvrla.co.uk
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BVRLA News | January/February 2013
Fair wear and tear: new standard for LCVs The industry fair wear and tear standard
ired, leased and financed for drivers and operators of contract-h up to 17 seats light commercial vehicles and minibuses
tion
British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Associa
FWT_LCV_2013_PRINT_17.indd
1
04/01/2013 10:18
What’s new in the LCV 2013 guide?
Photo: Nithid Memanee / Shutterstock.com
Dents on the roof and swage line of panels are not acceptable. Elsewhere, dents of 15mm diameter and less are acceptable. Wear and tear to ply-lining, where fitted, is acceptable – but there must be no distortion to any metal panel or deformation from the original shape of any component. Scuffs up to 50mm on the total circumference of the wheel trim and
on alloy wheels are acceptable. Damage to the wheel spokes or hub of an alloy wheel is not acceptable. In the event of a dispute over end-of-contract charges, customers of BVRLA members have the right to pay for an independent examination of the evidence. If the examining engineer finds in favour of the customer, the BVRLA member will refund the cost of the examination.
LeasePlan team gets accredited with the BVRLA LeasePlan’s entire Technical Team has been accredited under the BVRLA’s Technical Customer Service Advisor programme. Technical service advisors validate service, maintenance and repair expenditure and provide technical support for drivers and fleet managers. “Providing great service to our customers in controlling their costs and ensuring their vehicles are properly maintained is a key attribute for LeasePlan and having this backed up by a formal industry accreditation is an important part of this focus,” said Neil Dixon, head of procurement and supplier management at LeasePlan. “Keeping our team up to speed and ensuring that they retain the skill-set to BVRLA News | January/February 2013
do their job as efficiently and effectively as possible is of great importance given the ever-changing complexity of today’s vehicles. At LeasePlan we have over 200 years of technical experience within the team, but passing the ATA [automotive technician accreditation] standard shows that we are not resting on our laurels.” n
To find out more about ATA Technical Customer Service Advisor training, and to book a course for your team, contact member services sales administrator Fran Hampson. Contact Fran Hampson, fran@bvrla.co.uk 01494 545703 11
ISO 9001 for key services
Training
The BVRLA has achieved the ISO 9001 international quality management standard for its Driver Licence Check service and its membership applications procedure. This follows an independent audit of the association’s operational processes.
20 February, 15 May, 14 August and 13 November, Curdworth Our one-day course is aimed at fleet operators, managers, administrators and drivers who regularly discuss the condition of vehicles with customers. It enables participants to:
“Acquiring this quality accreditation is a fantastic achievement for the BVRLA because it recognises our commitment to members to achieve high standards and continuous improvement,” said Nora Leggett, head of member services. n
❱ understand and apply the BVRLA
BVRLA Events BVRLA Annual General Meeting Amersham Technical and Operational Management Forum Venue TBC Residual Value and Remarketing Forum Heritage Motor Centre BVRLA Golf Day Frilford Heath, Abingdon Technical and Operational Management Forum Venue TBC Residual Value and Remarketing Forum Heritage Motor Centre BVRLA Industry Conference Heritage Motor Centre
16 May 6 June 20 June 5 Sept 7 Nov 19 Nov 5 Dec
For enquiries about BVRLA forums, seminars, training and conference, and to book places: contact member services sales administrator Fran Hampson: fran@bvrla.co.uk, 01494 545703 For enquiries about the BVRLA Golf Day, and to book places: contact membership administrator June Dyer: june@bvrla.co.uk, 01494 545714 Full details of all BVRLA events can be found on the association’s website: www.bvrla.co.uk
New members Rental
Green Wheels
(London)
Pixo Rental
Ideal Car Hire
(London)
trg Vehicle Hire
(Glasgow) (London)
Associates
ATS Euromaster
ATS Euromaster is the largest comprehensive tyre distributor in Great Britain, operating from more than 350 service centres, backed up by the country’s largest mobile fitting fleet. It is experienced in helping car, van and truck fleet operators drive down running costs, whilst improving tyre life, safety and fuel economy. ATS Euromaster also offers car and van operators a full range of service, maintenance and repair skills. www.atseuromaster.co.uk
GreenFleet
GreenFleet is a magazine and series of events dedicated to promoting the manufacture and use of ultra-low-carbon vehicles and innovative technology to help fleet managers run their transport operations more efficiently. The Arrive’n’Drive event will take place at Rockingham on 16 May, featuring the biggest collection of low-carbon vehicles in the UK, for test drive. Attendance is free. www.arrivendrive.greenfleet.net
Green Motion
Green Motion Car and Van Rental is a franchise system that pioneered low CO2 vehicle rental, offering both corporate and leisure customers the opportunity to lower their emissions. Currently expanding its UK and international network, Green Motion is looking for high-quality franchisees: for further information, call 03338 884000 or visit the Green Motion website. www.greenmotion.com
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Fair Wear and Tear Training
Fair Wear and Tear Standard and appreciate how it impacts on the vehicle and its de-fleet value. ❱ identify repair methods correctly. ❱ develop effective communications with customers, reducing misunderstanding and resolving problems. ❱ carry out internal and external vehicle appraisals, relating findings to the Fair Wear and Tear Standard.
Fleet Consultant Development Programme
17-18 April & 26-27 June 2013 Amersham Our four-day course, delivered in a pair of two-day modules, is aimed at sales and account executives who regularly discuss fleet issues with their customers. Attendees will come away confident that they will be able to advise clients of the best options available to them. The course provides an overview of the new vehicle marketplace, indicating trends in private, business and fleet registrations, including light commercial vehicles. It also covers the market shares of the different methods of acquisition, the organisations and initiatives that drive development of the marketplace, and funding methods. What key benefits can be gained by attending the course?
❱ An industry-recognised qualification. ❱ Encouragement to discuss new and creative solutions. ❱ Opportunities for sharing ideas.
For further information on BVRLA training see www.bvrla.co.uk To book places on any BVRLA training course, contact member services sales administrator Fran Hampson: Fran Hampson, fran@bvrla.co.uk 01494 545703 BVRLA News | January/February 2013
from the BVRLA Do you want a cost-effective way to offer driver licence checking services to your clients? The BVRLA’s new Driver Licence Check service, exclusive to members, is flexible and low-cost, allowing you to provide extra value for your customers and generate additional revenue for yourselves. It can also help you meet your duty of care responsibilities for your own drivers. Our verification system, based on a three-year driver consent mandate, entitles us to access DVLA driver records. You decide on the frequency of that check. The service is fully compliant with the requirements of the DVLA and the Data Protection Act, providing you with clear, concise and meaningful reports. Sign up for a trial today!
Contact Nora Leggett nora@bvrla.co.uk 01494 545713