New fuelcard technology in the United States will automatically read a company car’s registration plate and mileage as the vehicle drives onto a petrol station forecourt.

Global payments specialist Mastercard has developed the technology which works either via a dongle installed in the car or syncs directly with a connected vehicle.

The service aims to eliminate errors in mileage capture and give fleet managers more accurate and more immediate data on the usage of their vehicles.

Kiki Del Valle, senior vice president, Commerce for Every Device, Mastercard, said: “Combining digital payments capabilities with data from connected vehicles allows banks to give fleet managers a unique view into the inner workings of their business.”

The new system can alert fleet managers if drivers spend more on fuel than the volume required by their vehicles, but it’s also flexible enough to allow employers to relax controls so drivers can make purchases other than fuel.