FINAL details of the Fourth European Motor Insurance Directive, due for publication within days, are unlikely to force fleets to register vehicles they have for less than 14 days, fleets have been told.

The Directive requires fleet operators to send information on all vehicles covered under their insurance to the Motor Insurance Database and keep the information up to date as the fleet changes.

Fleets feared that with fast cycle vehicles, such as rental cars, the costs of keeping the database up to date would be too large.

Members of the Association of Car Fleet Operators heard that the draft legislation makes it clear that fleet managers must register all temporary fleet vehicles – rental cars, courtesy cars, demonstrator vehicles – which are on a fleet for more than 14 days with the Motor Insurance Database.

Director Stewart Whyte said: 'Most members have made some preparation, although a few have done nothing to collect any information at all.

'While collection of data for core 'permanent' vehicles is relatively easy for many fleet managers, the complexities around fleet use of temporary vehicles are enormous.

'A lack of comprehensive information from Government on how these vehicles would be treated under the legislation has been cited as the main reason for delays in fleet managers addressing the compliance process.'

Concerns have been raised that many fleet members are unsure of the new directive and the implications it has on their business.

Chevin Fleet Solutions director Ashley Sowerby said: 'At our annual client networking and workshop day in October only four customers out of the 50 who attended had heard of the Directive. I find this quite concerning. Does this not make the UK unprepared?'

Hertz Lease has also hosted a seminar on preparing for the Fourth European Motor Insurance Directive. It has issued fleets with a compliance list to prepare themselves for the forthcoming legislation.

The list says:

fleets should contact their insurer or broker now to find out how data can be submitted to the database.

fleet managers should prepare vehicle data for provision to insurers and the MID. Insurers and brokers will advise on the best way to this.

data should be submitted either by sending it directly to the insurer/broker, or by sending it through a secure internet connection as specified by them.

update the data whenever there is a change to the vehicles covered by the fleet policy.