Europcar study reveals 4 in 5 UK businesses rely on grey fleet

A new study from Europcar Mobility Group UK has revealed that 81% of UK businesses are relying on ‘grey fleet’ – employees using their personal vehicles for work-related travel such as meetings, site visits, or deliveries – a trend that raises critical concerns about safety compliance and sustainability.

The research, outlined in the report Greening the Grey Fleet, surveyed 250 motorists who use their own vehicles for business purposes. It found that 40% of employees believe reliance on grey fleet has increased since the pandemic, driven by the high cost of company vehicles and shifting work habits, including more remote work and reduced in-person meetings.

Alarmingly, the report highlights that one in four employees are not asked to provide evidence of basic legal driving requirements such as a valid driving licence, insurance, or vehicle excise duty. This oversight exposes businesses to significant liability risks in the event of an accident.

Beyond compliance, sustainability is a growing concern among employees. Nearly a third (32%) feel their employers are not doing enough to provide green travel alternatives. With the expansion of Clean Air Zones across the UK, the environmental cost of grey fleet reliance is becoming harder for companies to ignore.

“Grey fleet is a major issue for businesses today,” said Tom Middleditch, Head of Electric Mobility at Europcar Mobility Group UK.

“It is important that businesses take steps to ensure that their employees are driving safely and sustainably. Unfortunately, employers are already facing rising mobility costs so many cannot afford to upgrade or expand their entire fleet to remove the need for grey fleet vehicles. In recent years we have seen many of our business customers take a very successful transitional approach, steadily reducing emissions through limiting journeys, alongside testing hybrid and electric alternatives through rental.”

The study serves as a wake-up call for employers to rethink their mobility strategies – balancing cost, compliance, and carbon impact. As more employees call for greener transport solutions, businesses that ignore the shift may not only face regulatory and legal risks but also struggle to meet employee expectations for sustainable practices.