SMALL businesses are more likely to be failing to comply with their duty-of-care obligations when it comes to employees driving their own cars.

New research suggests that on average 37% of companies with car fleets have employees using their own cars on company business.

But the figure is higher among those with fleets of between five and 24 vehicles, where 50% of vehicles used are likely to be owned by an employee.

Mike Waters, head of market analysis at Arval, which carried out the survey, said: ‘It is a concern that smaller fleets remain on a duty-of-care tightrope by allowing employees to use their own car for business purposes, possibly with insufficient policing of vehicle suitability or insurance. ‘It is vital that small business takes control of its employee business mileage.’