Helping fleets access lower insurance costs by proving they represent a better risk is the aim of new affinity partnership signed by FleetCheck.

1st Choice Insurance are a specialist fleet broker based in Shrewsbury, who represent a panel of the UK’s largest and most experienced fleet insurers.

The two companies are working together to identify fleets that are managing risk well and producing good results, something that can be tracked through FleetCheck’s software.

Callum Watkins, managing director at 1st Choice, said: “The insurers with which we work are looking for fleets that represent a lower than usual risk. They want to build a client base of businesses that are controlling their risk successfully through a defined and effective strategy.

“The fact that a business is a FleetCheck customer and has sufficient interest in risk to buy software in order to manage it is a good sign for insurers, but the crux is being able to produce information that shows how well this is working.

“Of course, this won’t feed through into premiums immediately but we are generally able to offer rebates to fleets in year one based on their performance and also help them to contain costs over the longer term as we build a picture of their risk through data.

“Over time, we hope to build a joint client base with FleetCheck that is recognised as a high quality ‘book’ of fleets by insurers, and who will receive preferential treatment as a result.”

Peter Golding, managing director at FleetCheck, added it was looking to help its fleets better understand how to improve their risk profile through the partnership.

“The objective of working with our affinity partners is normally to help our software client base access better services and rates than their current supplier but with 1st Choice, a key part of the arrangement is to help fleets better understand their risk profile.

“Most fleets have seen an increasing cost of claim, based on factors that are largely out of their control such as general inflation and rising cost of vehicle repairs, but much can be done to mitigate premium increases through advice on how insurers perceive risk.

“Effective strategies for reducing insurance costs can range from enhanced safety measures and changes in your fleet composition through to improved driver retention rates and enforced driving standards, all of which can be achieved with the help of our software.”

Matthew Gregory, head of fleet services at 1st Choice said: “Our aim is to talk to FleetCheck customers a couple of months before they are due to renew their insurance and walk them through a process that looks at their claims history and a range of other factors. We aim to get them the best premium with their current record and provide them with a clear roadmap for future improvements.”

FleetCheck’s Affinity Services programme was created in 2020 to offer a range of discounted and enhanced services from providers of essential fleet services to the company’s more than 2,000 customers.