COMPANY car drivers will start swapping their saloons for supervans as a result of next year's company cartax changes, according to CAP Network.

While 18,000-plus business mileage drivers in typical fleet cars like the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra could see their company car tax bills increase under the new emissions-based system, vans will still be taxed at a £500 flat rate.

And with smart new car-derived vans, like the Peugeot 206 and Vauxhall Corsa, with options like electric windows and air conditioning, could be enough to make drivers switch.

Dave Hill, editor of Fleet Matrix, said: 'Drivers of big-engined cars could see their bills rocket - but company van drivers will still be charged on a fixed rate of £500. As a result some companies are changing much of their fleet to vans to limit their employees' tax liability - and car-derived models like the Peugeot 206 van are the obvious choice.

'No doubt commercial vehicle tax will be next on the Governments agenda for rule changes, but for the time being they represent a good option for tax-efficient company vehicles.'

Bosses at Southern Tree Surgeons, based in West Sussex, have already shifted its sales team out of Vauxhall and Citroen cars into Peugeot 206 vans.

• COMPANY car drivers interested in cutting their tax bills by driving a van should take a look at the new Renault Clio Van. It comes with the option of a £995 'Sports kit' that includes alloy wheels, fog lights and body kit. The standard van costs £8,200 (+VAT) and offers a payload of 535kg. It is powered by a 1.5 dCi diesel engine and comes with ABS, power steering, airbags, remote central locking and electric front windows.