INTERNATIONAL Fleet Management, the 10-month-old multi-marque leasing division of Volkswagen Financial Services, has contracted the RAC for accident services. With the RAC already on board as provider of roadside assistance, IFM consulted its customers on the services they most wanted to see as part of an outsourced fleet management operation.

Accident management was voted the number one priority. Graham Wheeler, of VW Financial Services corporate and fleet market centre, said: 'After detailed analysis of the market, we felt RAC Accident Services most closely fitted both our and our customers' needs.

'As well as demonstrating an ability to act swiftly in managing and pushing through quality repairs, providing a replacement vehicle as needed to get drivers back on the road, without delay, RAC also proved cost efficiencies across the whole of the accident management process.'

Milton Keynes-based IFM is part of VW Financial Services' pan-European leasing operation, now collectively managing more than 700,000 vehicles across the UK and Europe.