Growing corporate demand for Kwik-Fit Fleet to regularly service company cars and vans has led to the fast-fit giant improving its offering to businesses to meet their requirements.

And the first company to sign up to use Kwik-Fit Fleet’s new ‘While U Wait’ manufacturers’ service initiative is Lex, which, with 278,000 vehicles on its fleet, is Britain’s largest contract hire and leasing company.

With customers able to book a service at a minimum 48 hours notice it means Kwik-Fit Fleet is able to offer vehicle servicing significantly more conveniently than franchise dealers where, says Britain’s leading independent fast-fit company, 14 days notice could be required.

Head of Kwik-Fit Fleet Mike Wise said: “Our new vehicle servicing offering will radically shake-up the entire fleet sector as an increasing number of vehicle owners look to reduce costs and speed up service scheduling by turning to Kwik-Fit.”

Kwik-Fit Fleet enjoys a long-term sole supply arrangement with Lex, which now stretches into two decades and covers the supply of a comprehensive range of services, including tyre, brake, battery and exhaust repair and replacement, and now extends to vehicle servicing.

Lex is making the service available to all of its drivers and is the first ‘While U Wait’ service that it has adopted.

“There are times when the driver is happy to wait at a centre for the work to be done to their car, especially for smaller services that don’t take too long. Working with Kwik Fit in this way effectively increases our servicing network by another 300 outlets which further strengthens our nationwide concentration of suppliers,” explained Paul Kerrigan, Lex associate director customer care and supplier development.

“More importantly any work that is undertaken on the cars doesn’t interfere with the validation of a vehicle’s warranty. This is vital in the long term as our research shows that cars sold at auction with full service histories are worth more than those without.”

Kwik-Fit’s existing all-makes fixed price menu driven vehicle servicing offer has been a largely retail initiative since launch two years ago. There are eight price bands based on vehicle engine size, fuel type and oil type.

However, while there has been significant fleet demand for Britain’s largest independent fast-fit company to undertake servicing on company cars and vans there has been concern in some quarters that such a move could breach manufacturer warranties.

Now, Kwik-Fit Fleet has introduced new computer software at its 300 centres currently offering vehicle servicing that enables technicians to download each vehicle manufacturer’s exact service schedule on a model-by-model basis. The cost of each service is individually calculated by adding together ICME service time, hourly labour rates and spare part prices.

Mr Wise explained: “Most retail customers drive cars that are more than three years old and therefore outside of the warranty cover offered by most carmakers. Vehicles are serviced using long-established service procedures and even if warranties are in place they are not impacted.

“But, even though the current Block Exemption, which is designed to open up servicing to the independent sector, enables organisations like Kwik-Fit to undertake vehicle servicing without warranty cover being breached some fleets have expressed reservations.

“Therefore, with the majority of fleets operating vehicle that are under three years old and well within warranty cover, we now have a database that details point-by-point every single aspect of all vehicle manufacturer’s service schedules.

“While, companies have, in reality, had nothing to worry about as far as breaking warranty is concerned by having their vehicles serviced at Kwik-Fit centres, our new move allays any concerns. Technicians will now be able to download the exact manufacturer service schedule for each model requiring a service and use spare parts sourced via Unipart that meet Block Exemption requirements of being a standard equivalent to that used by a vehicle manufacturer.

“Following the early January software testing phase we are now delighted to be able to offer a complete vehicle servicing programme to all fleets in accordance with full manufacturer service schedules.

“While every fleet service will now be priced differently, depending on parts required and the length of time taken to complete a service as specified by each vehicle manufacturer in addition to hourly labour rates, companies can rest assured that the final Kwik-Fit price will be lower than having servicing carried out at a franchise dealer.”

Kwik-Fit centres undertake around 11,000 MoTs and 6,000 vehicle services a week, but those numbers are expected to increase significantly as fleets capitalise on the cost effectiveness and prompt availability of the company’s service offering.

Mr Wise added: “Time is money and for that reason fleets want a fast and efficient service that is convenient for their company car and van drivers. Our seven-day-a-week opening and our ability to offer a service promptly rather than the 14 days of some franchised dealers makes our expansion into this sector very attractive to fleet operators and drivers.”