Jun 25, 2010
BUDGET NEWS JUNE 2010
Chancellor George Osborne’s first Budget contained a variety of measures that will have a direct impact on fleet running costs.
Apr 06, 2010
HILTON VEHICLE LEASING SPONSORS THE BRITISH OPEN
The H Factor Final presented by Equimax & Eraquell
Mar 26, 2010
NEW SHOWROOM TAX - APRIL 2010
Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Pre-Budget Report in November 2008, VED road tax rates planned for introduction in April of each year are as follows:
Mar 25, 2010
BUDGET: Company car tax incentive for low emission cars
The chancellor has introduced tax incentives for company drivers who opt for ultra-low emission cars.
Mar 09, 2010
Rental Car Shortage
The car hire shortage is likely to continue, with fleets advised to ensure their supplier has a strategy to prioritise corporate clients during peak demand periods.
Mar 09, 2010
Rising danger from staff using own cars for work
Thousands of small organisations remain completely oblivious to their legal occupational road risk management responsibilities in relation to employees who drive their own cars on business trips.
Mar 09, 2010
Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TDI 170 SE
For those confused by the A5 Sportback, Audi provides helpful guidance in its advertising: ‘think of it as a coupé with five doors’.
Mar 09, 2010
Manufacturer Safey Recalls
Vehicle recalls have been given unprecedented media coverage with Toyota in the spotlight because of the global nature of its problem and the large number of UK cars affected.
But recalls take place all the time, and context is often missing from these media reports.
Dec 10, 2009
Pre Budget Report - Electric Vehicles Get Major Tax Break
The chancellor Alistair Darling has confirmed he is giving company drivers of electric cars and vans a five-year holiday from Benefit-in-Kind tax.
Dec 10, 2009
Free Fuel for Company car drivers hit hard
The chancellor has raised the fuel benefit charge multiplier, effectively making employees who receive fuel paid for by the company for private use even more worse off.
Dec 10, 2009
Fuel duty will increase in April 2010
The chancellor has confirmed that fuel duty will increase next year as planned.
He ruled out any further increases in fuel duty, expect for those already announced.
Dec 08, 2009
November Registrations up 57.6% on 2008
New car registrations were up 57.6% in November compared to 2008 figures, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturer and Traders (SMMT).
Dec 08, 2009
Pre-Budget Report Signals Major Tax Break For Company Cars
The chancellor Alastair Darling is considering major tax cuts for electric fleet cars, according to reports.
Jun 04, 2009
Fleets opt for used vehicles to cut costs
A significant number of fleets are shunning new vehicles and buying used instead
Apr 22, 2009
2009 BUDGET NEWS 22/04/09
HELP FOR BUSINESSES
Apr 22, 2009
2009 BUDGET NEWS - 22/04/09
NEW CAR SCRAPPAGE SCHEME
Apr 22, 2009
2009 BUDGET NEWS - 22/04/09
FUEL DUTY
Apr 22, 2009
CO2 EMMISSIONS
Chancellor commits to CO2 reduction
Apr 08, 2009
Hilton Accident Management goes live!
If you have been involved in a road traffic accident that was not your fault, Hilton Accident Management can help you avoid losing time and money.
Jan 20, 2009
Warning: Vehicle Purchase Protection
Criminals are mounting a concerted attempt to defraud users of online car sales sites such as Auto Trader.
Jan 19, 2009
MINI E Drive
Electric cars have had a serious boost in credibility with BMW releasing a fleet of electric MINIs.
Jan 19, 2009
Rapidly rising tyre prices will hit fleets hard
The fleet industry is being warned that the unprecedented increase in the price of tyres that has been seen in recent months will continue.
Jan 19, 2009
MAZDA APPROVAL
Hilton Coachworks gains Mazda Approval to assist with their new alliance with Gates Motor Group.
Mar 25, 2008
Hilton Motor Group - Budget 2008 Tax Guide
Chancellor Alistair Darling delivered this year’s Budget speech on 12 March.
We have analysed and summarised the implications of this year’s announcement for fleets and company car drivers.
Mar 02, 2008
Hilton Smart Repairs Website goes live
The first stage of the new Hilton Smart Repairs Website is now live ......
Mar 02, 2008
Hilton Windscreen Repairs New Website
The new Hilton Windscreen Repairs website is now live .....
Oct 23, 2007
New Hilton websites launch
We are pleased to announce the first of our new websites is now live .....
Rising danger from staff using own cars for work
Known as the grey fleet, the raft of legislation that applies to the risk management of employees who drive company cars and vans equally applies to staff who drive their own vehicles for work purposes. And, while there has been more than a decade of focus by the fleet industry on encouraging companies to adopt comprehensive occupational road risk strategies to limit their exposure in the event of an employee being involved in a crash, there remains a belief that compliance has bypassed many smaller organisations. Additionally, there are increasing concerns that a widespread corporate focus on cost control and carbon footprint reduction – as well as safety – is being undermined by largely unregulated grey fleet use. Anecdotal evidence suggests privately-owned cars driven on business are older, larger and less fuel-efficient than fleet vehicles and almost certainly not equipped with the latest safety features, which would be standard equipment on the newest company cars. Evidence from ACFO (Association of Car Fleet Operators) and other studies, suggests that where employees have given up a company car and now drive their own car on business, emission levels could be around 20g/km of CO2 higher than the vehicle they gave up. And with few own use vehicle controls in place, employers have found that mileage being travelled is rising and as a result so are mileage reimbursement costs. The rising mileage means CO2 emission levels associated with vehicle use are also on the increase. And so is the risk of staff being involved in a road crash. While 40p a mile for the first 10,000 business miles travelled and 25p a mile for subsequent mileage is HM Revenue & Customs’ tax-free mileage reimbursement rate, some employers are paying significantly more. John Lewis, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, said: “Our own estimates suggest that a realistic rate for the average grey fleet car would be more in the range of 20-30p per mile.” Yet he claimed that many employers were paying up to 70p a mile – investigations by Fleet News revealed that some local authorities were paying 53ppm and some health trusts as much as 58ppm. While the initial concerns of allowing employees to drive their own cars on business are focused on risk management, issues around cost management and the environment are increasingly being used to support the argument that alternatives are available and, in many cases, a preferable option when considering safety, environment and cost issues. Lewis said firms should review their business travel plans and look at options such as tele-conferencing, public transport and vehicle rental and leasing. And he added: “Employers should prevent staff from using their own vehicles for business unless they can give proof that their car is roadworthy and insured.” Pro-active managers have spotted the link between cost, safety and the environment and have taken swift action, according to ACFO chairman Julie Jenner. These include: • A cap on grey fleet mileage – for example, if an employee travels more than 5,000 business miles a year they must drive a company car, particularly if they have opted for cash allowances. • Caps on CO2 emissions and MPG, thereby allowing staff to use their own cars on business but only if they meet the predetermined levels. • Introducing an age-related cap to grey fleet vehicles. Jenner said some organisations had banned grey fleet use or made it clear that own car use was a last resort for a business trip with permission having to be obtained. Promoting benefits She added: “These organisations are promoting the cost-effective, safety-focused and environmental benefits of alternatives such as public transport, audio or video conferencing, car hire and, in some cases, have reintroduced pool cars. Additionally, anecdotal evidence suggests that demand for company cars is rising for the first time in many years.” However, grey fleet use remains a conundrum for many organisations and specifically small business.According to health and safety lawyer David Faithful, a consultant at Lyons Davidson law practice, they remain immune to all the advice and information that is available because they do not consider themselves to be part of the fleet community. He said: “There must be thousands of small UK companies who operate vehicles on an expenses regime and have not focused on managing the risk posed by these cars.” Yet Faithful, who is also the legal adviser to road safety group RoadSafe, says smaller organisations are more at risk from prosecution if an employee is involved in a crash than a larger organisation. Road risk management He said: “Most larger organisations have at least some occupational road risk management policies and procedures in place so in the event of a road crash can demonstrate to the police that they are managing the health and safety of their staff and other road users. But many smaller organisations do not have such policies and procedures in place and therefore are wide open to prosecution.” Credence to Faithful’s view is given by the fact that the first prosecution under the 2007 Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act – although not related to a road crash – involves a small west country company, Cotswold Geo-technical Holdings. It is charged with the unlawful killing of a young geologist by gross negligence and director Peter Eaton is also charged with manslaughter under common law. The trial is due to start in February. If an employee is involved in a road crash while driving on business – irrespective of who owns the vehicles – the police will want answers to a series of questions around the vehicle, the driver and the journey. Records relating to the maintenance of the vehicle, that it was fit for purpose and correctly insured and has a current MoT if required will all be requested; records relating to the well-being of the driver, including medical and eye sight checks will all be required; work and appointment schedules may also be examined, particularly if, for example, fatigue caused by a long hours culture was suspected as a reason for a crash blame; and details of the journey will also be examined, in relation to whether enough time was allowed. However, an employee does not have to be involved in a fatal road crash for the long arm of the law to strike either their employer or managers/directors. Various legislation, including the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 highlight that, so far as is reasonably practicable, firms must manage the health and safety of all employees while at work and that includes when driving their own vehicles on business. Need to know: policing the grey fleet • Check validity of employees’ driving licences and for those with points check licences as frequently as quarterly • Check business insurance cover is in place • Check vehicles are serviced and maintained in accordance with manufacturer recommendations • Ensure vehicles have an MoT certificate if applicable • Ensure own-use vehicle drivers have to report accidents • Ensure the vehicle being driven is suitable for the job • Implement a vehicle age and CO2 cap • Implement a cap on the number of miles to be travelled annually • Ensure all drivers undergo a risk assessment and use the results to trigger further training • Introduce eye sight checks for all drivers and make notification of medical conditions compulsory • Remind drivers of key issues – no mobile phone use while driving, take regular breaks, plan journeys, check tyre tread and pressures etc. – with regular communications to develop a safety culture within the business