Company car drivers should treat their vehicles as their own to help avoid their employers, according to a major leasing company.
Research by Lex Autolease suggests drivers can help save their companies money by early reporting of damage and maintenance issues.
It states that the average cost of windscreen replacement is £435, compared with the cost of repairing a small crack or windscreen stone chip of £68.
Likewise, the study claims the average cost of correcting a misfuelling error is £341, an action that should be preventable if drivers paid more attention.
The report said a company car is off the road for almost seven days during its rental period because of driver negligence.
Steve Osborne, head of fleet management at Lex Autolease, said: 'Firms should encourage drivers to treat their company car like their own property. Some of our customers disclose their repair bills to drivers to demonstrate the importance of looking after their car to ensure it spends more time on the road than in the garage.'
What is 'fair wear and tear'? Read our advice.