PETTY vandalism of company cars has reached record levels and could be costing the UK fleet industry more than £15 million a year, according to contract hire company Lex Vehicle Leasing.

And the company estimates that the cost of an average repair has increased by more than 10% over the past year to £61.43.

Lex has reported more than a 100% increase in the cost of rectifying minor damage caused by vandalism across its 93,000-vehicle fleet, from £200,000 to £420,000.

Topping the list of vandalism was body glass damage that accounts for about 40% of all problems. Scratches and dents accounted for 31% of vandalism acts and mirrors/all other damage accounted for 28%.

Lex managing director Jon Walden urged fleet drivers to be extra vigilant where they park their cars to help reduce these costs.

'With most fleets having an insurance excess of £500 upwards across their company car fleets, any costs for repairing damage caused by vandalism is met directly by the company themselves,' Walden said.