Businesscar’s complete alphabetical guide to fleet industry’s vital terms and phrases, starting with A-C
A
Apps
Apps, short for applications, are computer software programs used in technology such as smartphones. A fast-growing arena, fleet-relevant apps include, for example, those that record business miles, or can provide parking assistance or the ability to book maintenance work.
ACFO
The Association of Car Fleet Operators is the leading organisation for business car operators. Its aim is to help them improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of their business travel operation, while it also lobbies Government departments such as HMRC.
AFR
Advisory Fuel Rates are the rates at which company car drivers can claim back fuel used for work business. Reviewed quarterly by HMRC, the rates shift to reflect fuel prices and are divided into petrol, diesel and LPG figures for three different bands of engine size.
AMAP
Authorised Mileage Allowance Payment rates are the rates per mile that employees using their own vehicles for business can claim back, and covers wear and tear, increased mileage impacting the car’s value, and business insurance.
Auction
A public sale where cars are sold to the highest bidder. Fleets and leasing companies regularly use auctions for vehicle disposal. BCA is the largest player in the UK market.
Accident management
A service, often outsourced, overseeing the aftermath of an accident including accident claims notification, deployment of vehicle hire and repairs.
B
Benefit-in-kind
The tax paid by an employee for the right to run a company car for personal use, rather than only using it for business purposes.
Bluetooth
A wireless technology, Bluetooth can connect a range of electronic devices. Typically found in cars, it facilitates drivers to use mobile phones hands-free through the car’s audio system.
Budget, The
The Budget is an annual statement that announces the Government’s financial and economic plans for the UK for both personal and business purposes.
BVRLA
The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association is a trade body representing the vehicle rental and leasing industry.
C
Capital allowance
The amount of the original value of a car a company can write off against tax each year.
Car sharing
The practice of employees sharing a car, rather than driving individually, for the purpose of, for example, attending a conference or commuting to and from work. Firms may consider introducing car sharing to a fleet policy to help reduce cost and vehicle wear and tear.
Carbon offsetting
A system by which companies can fund environmental programmes as a way of offsetting the emissions of their vehicles or even their entire business.
CO2
The periodic table symbol for carbon dioxide. The element, which is emitted from vehicles, is used by the Government to set vehicle tax boundaries.
Combined cycle
The official EU test to measure a vehicle’s average fuel consumption under laboratory conditions, giving each car a figure to measure against its competitors.
Congestion charging
A surcharge for drivers using congested road networks at certain peak times. Certain vehicles may be exempt, for example, London’s congestion charge excludes transport below 100g/km CO2 meeting Euro5 standards as well as electric and plug-in hybrids.
Contract hire
Leasing a vehicle over a set period of time rather than buying outright, before returning it to the lease company at the end of the agreement.
Corporate & Social Responsibility
Often referred to as CSR, the term broadly refers to a business having a positive impact on society. For fleets, this might be introducing electric or low-CO2 cars to demonstrate its environmental awareness.
Corporate manslaughter
The law, introduced in 2008, means that a company can be found responsible for an employee’s death if it was caused by corporate negligence.
