THE downturn in residual values has driven business forward for the end-of-contract inspection service of vehicle refurbishment and logistics firm EuroFleet.

Its Inspect and Collect service is on track to double its business over the next 12 months, having handled 50,000 cars and vans this year on behalf of clients such as Thrifty Car Rental, GE Capital Fleet Services/TLS, Inchcape Vehicle Contracts and Renault.

Chris Hughes, EuroFleet director, said: 'Residual value deterioration has made accurate term-end inspection and remarketing a most critical part of the leasing and rental cycle.'

Inspect and Collect technicians use EuroFleet's Autograph software on hand-held terminals to estimate prices for rectifying wear and tear damage to vehicles, based on the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association's fair wear and tear guide. This data is transmitted by GSM to the EuroFleet central computer system at the end of the inspection, giving clients immediate access to the inspection results.

'The customer can access live information on the status and condition of their end of contract vehicles more easily,' said Hughes. 'Once they have identified the condition of the vehicle over the internet they can immediately decide whether the car needs rectification work before being sold, or whether it can be offered for sale in its current condition. We then transport the vehicle to the requested location.'

EuroFleet has invested more than £400,000 in 10 Mercedes Atego trucks that can carry up to three cars, to serve its Inspect and Collect division.