How to Manage Wear and Tear in the Company Car: 6 Tips

How to Manage Wear and Tear in the Company Car: 6 Tips

Your company car can suffer damage like your personal car, whether you’re the driver or one of your employees caused it. To mitigate the wear and tear, follow these six tips for managing your company car with the utmost care.

1. Educate Your Employees

A practical first step in protecting your car is to teach your employees the policies on using it. You and your company may allow employees to use the vehicle if it’s a business-related venture. When operating the car, personnel must be sober and respect all traffic laws, especially the speed limits.

Employees should check fuel and tire pressure levels before departing for their safety. They also should not text and drive — distracted driving is dangerous and causes thousands of accidents annually. A damaged car can cost the company thousands of dollars in repairs.

2. Change the Oil

The engine oil is one of the most critical elements of your car. It acts as a lubricant and helps the part run smoothly with all its moving pieces. Oil reduces the friction and keeps the engine from wearing down quickly.

Check your vehicle’s manual to see how often you should change the oil, but a good rule of thumb is to change the oil every 3,000 miles. If you do it yourself, fill the oil levels without going overboard to avoid leaving a mess under the hood.

3. Watch the Dashboard Warnings

When something is wrong in a car, one of the first ways to tell is by being vigilant of the dashboard lights. Modern-day vehicles can detect low tire pressure, an overheating transmission, a low battery and many more issues. You and your employees must document these issues when they occur.

Immediately detecting and addressing the problem can save money at a mechanic’s shop because it will be easier to fix. Additionally, taking regular care of the vehicle can save headaches later if someone needs it for a long trip.

4. Clean the Stains

When you drive a car, accidents can happen to the exterior and the interior. Sudden braking may lead to a spilled cup of coffee or juice. The celebratory cake you’re transporting may fall out of the box and cover the backseats in frosting. Not only is this a pain to deal with, but it could leave a permanent mark.

These stains take a toll on your interior — especially on leather seats — and can be challenging to clean. For leather seats, try home remedies like lemon juice and cream of tartar to clean dark remnants of messes. 

5. Wash the Exterior

If you’re cleaning the car’s interior, be sure to clean the outside of the vehicle or take it to a car wash regularly. When your car leaves the carwash, it will look spiffy and shine bright under the sun.

It can also extend the life of your company car. When you drive, the vehicle accumulates dirt and debris underneath itself. Over time, all that soil, road salt and garbage can accrue and harm systems like the suspension.

6. Add Useful Technology

In the 21st century, cars have fantastic technology for improving driver safety and reducing accidents. Investing in these features can be a handy tool for you and your employees.

For example, a backup camera will make life easier when you need help exiting a parking space. This can help prevent damage and reduce your blind spots.

Another helpful piece of technology is a dashcam. These cameras record the driver and the front windshield while the car operates. If an accident happens, you can review the footage and see who was responsible for the crash. The dashcam’s video will help your company in court if you decide to sue the other driver for fault.

Conserving Company Cars

Whether the vehicles are old or new, your company car deserves excellent treatment. Regularly cleaning the vehicle inside and out, changing the oil and teaching proper guidelines to employees can show your business means business and takes things seriously.

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