HMRC has introduced an initiative to try to get the grey fleet drivers covering the highest mileage into company cars.

It wanted to get the top 100 grey fleet users – those that covered over 7,500 business miles a year - out of their own cars and into fuel efficient models that would be cheaper to run than the 40p per mile their grey fleet cars were costing.

It applied for and received a grant from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, which allowed it to buy 88 Volkswagen Bluemotion Golfs.

The VW’s were purchased outright using the grant.

The cars are for the use of the grey fleet drivers, who can only use them for business – there is no personal use allowed not even commuting to and from the office.

Fuel costs are covered using fuel cards.

Both mileage and costs have been reduced as a result. However some drivers were reluctant to give up their AMAP payments.

“Our initiative was to remove the highest mileage grey fleet drivers,” says Gleeson. “It is fair to say there was a mixed reaction. It met with limited success.”

For more information about grey fleet drivers and grey fleet driver management, come to the Fleet News grey fleet section.