Vehicle rentals from franchise car dealers are being extended for increasingly longer periods.

"It has been a general trend across the short-term car and van hire sector that rentals are getting longer, but dealer-based rental seems to be doing even better than the norm,” Network Automotive managing director Colin Bruder said.

“Our belief is that this is being powered by dealers getting better at marketing their car and van hire operations to businesses, resulting in them winning more deals for longer term rental.”

More fleet managers are tending to hire vehicles for periods up to six months to cover fixed term contracts or a new employee’s trial period, says Mr Bruder.

"This means they are not committed to a three year lease car if the relationship does not work out on either side.”