DRIVERS opting out of company car schemes are being offered a monthly maintenance payment plan to avoid sudden bills for servicing or repairs.

Backed by Castrol, AXA Assistance, Warranty Direct and merchant bank Singer and Friedlander, motoreasy will take care of the costs of servicing, repairing faults and passing an MoT, along with comprehensive breakdown cover throughout the UK and, for up to 60 days, in Europe.

The motoreasy scheme was originally launched in 1999, but ran out of funding. The following two years were spent improving the product and building new partnerships under the leadership of managing director David Gerrans.

He said: 'The scheme has been conceived to remove the doubt associated with running a car. The monthly payment plan makes budgeting easy, allowing our customers to spread their motoring costs.'

A website, www.motoreasy.com enables visitors to calculate monthly or annual costs.