THE annual survey of the UK's top 40 contract hire companies, produced by Fleet NewsNet's sister publication Fleet News, has revealed a 10% expansion in fleet size over the past year. Smaller companies have achieved the largest percentage growth, with a leap in the minimum qualifying fleet size to 7,000 vehicles, from 5,500 just 12 months ago.

At the top, Lex Vehicle Leasing has overtaken British Car Contracts to occupy the number one spot. Overall, however, it remains a fragmented market with the top 40's combined fleet of some 837,490 vehicles, representing roughly two-thirds of the total contract hire market.

The much-predicted explosion in contract hire has clearly failed to occur. The survey suggests that fleet decision makers are either unaware of the full impact of the new tax situation, or unconvinced of its benefits.

1. Lex Vehicle Leasing, Marlow, Bucks - 72,500

2. British Car Contracts, Solihull, Birmingham - 71,128

3. Cowie Interleasing, Birmingham - 65,000

4. Dial Contracts, Putney, London - 49,000

5. Swan National Motor Finance, Croydon, Surrey - 48,500

6. Lease Plan, Windsor, Berks - 42,300

7. Ford Contract Motoring, Warley, Essex - 35,500

8. Avis Fleet Services - 35,000

9. Peugeot Contract Hire, Ryton, Coventry - 31,000

10 PHH Vehicle Management Services, Swindon - 28,000

11. Vauxhall Master Hire Leasing, Leamington Spa - 26,250

12. Hertz Leasing, Uxbridge - 20,500

13. Kenning Leaseline, Waterlooville, Hants - 20,000

14. Automotive Leasing, Rustington, Sussex - 18,400

15. VELO, Marlow, Bucks - 18,000

16. Appleyard Vehicle Contracts, Leeds - 18,000

17. Autolease, Yardley, Birmingham - 17,350

18. ACL, Cardiff - 16,346

19. Highway Vehicle Leasing, Windsor, Berks - 15,609

20. Godfrey Davis Contract Hire, Bushey, Herts - 13,800

21. Arnold Clark, Glasgow - 12,700

22. BRS Car Lease, Leamington Spa - 12,000

23. Marshall Leasing, Huntingdon, Cambs - 10,552

24. BCH Vehicle Management, Bristol - 10,074

25. Mann Egerton Vehicle Contracts, Norwich - 10,000

26. CW Car Lease, Bracknell, Berks - 9,244

27. Black Horse Vehicle Management Services, Edinburgh - 9,000

28. Pendragon Contracts, Derby - 9,000

29. Fleet Management Services, Shrewsbury - 9,000

30. Robins & Day Leasing, Birmingham - 8,600

31. Eden Vehicle Rentals, Carlisle, Cumbria - 8,500

32. Ryland Multi-Fleet, Coleshill, West Midlands - 8,400

33. Jessups Vehicle Contracts, Hoddesdon, Essex - 8,180

34. Hartwell Motor Contracts, Dunstable, Beds - 8,000

35. Fleetlease, Newbury, Berks - 7,500

36. Motorent UK, Stanmore, Middlesex - 7,500

37. Elton Vehicle Contracts, Bury, Lancs - 7,500

38. AT&T Automotive Services, Manchester - 7,500

39. NWS Contract Hire, Edinburgh - 7,057

40. Masterdrive, Colnbrook, Berks - 7,000