FLEETS are being urged to teach their drivers how to park their vehicles properly after new research revealed bumper damage tops the list of the most common type of car damage.

Other minor prangs in the top five most common are knocks on alloy wheels, chipped glass, dents in doors and scratched boot lids.

The survey, which analysed thousands of vehicles, has shown that parking and manoeuvring accounts for most of the damage with the average cost of repairing a minor bump notching up at £200. Spread across a large fleet, this can run into thousands of pounds.

Clive Forsythe, managing director of Arval PHH's business customer division, the group which completed the survey, said: 'Three of this top five come from minor impacts caused by tight manoeuvring, so it's clear that motorists need to brush up on their parking skills.

'Because the damage is not critical it often gets ignored. However, even negligible problems can grow into much more expensive ones if left unrepaired.'

Wear and tear on vehicles can have a detrimental effect at disposal time and Forsythe says fleets need to be vigilant with drivers. Even fleets leasing vehicles can incur penalties at the end of the vehicle's contract if wear and tear damage is unacceptable.

Forsythe said: 'When the time comes to sell vehicles, be they private or company cars, excessive minor damage will severely impact their second-hand value.'

'Vehicle owners need to take these costs more seriously and make sure the damage is repaired before there is further deterioration.

Forsythe added: 'Traffic congestion is on the increase, with more vehicles on the road leading to an increased likelihood of minor impacts. Motorists need to take as much care when parking and manoeuvring as they do when driving along the motorway. It could save employers a lot of money in the long run.'

Most common wear and tear

  • Damaged front bumpers: Manoeuvring in tight spaces often leads to front bumper scuffs. Parking and three-point turns are the activities most likely to result in minor impacts on the bumpers
  • Damage to alloy wheels: Wheels are damaged when drivers park too close to the kerb
  • Chipped and cracked glass: Many drivers do not repair windscreens when flying debris chips the glass. These chips then expand to cracks, which are more expensive to fix
  • Dents in car doors: Many drivers end up too close to walls or other vehicles and cause damage when opening doors
  • Scratched boot lids: Briefcases and bags that are rested on the boot lid or dragged along it will damage the surface Source: Arval phh

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