A “carmageddon” is expected this Easter weekend with some of the busiest roads since 2022 and an estimated 21m planned car trips. But it’s a surge in Britain’s motorists manipulating their fuel expenses that employers should fear.
New research from Cubic3, a global vehicle software provider, reveals that 19% of employees are now more likely to commit fuel fraud due to rising prices from the Iran war. For employees aged 18 to 35, this figure nearly doubles to 39%.
Petrol and diesel prices continue to climb sharply and squeeze the finances of drivers and businesses alike. The RAC reported that fuel price rises in March were the highest on record, adding an “unprecedented” £11 to the fill-up cost for an average vehicle.
“Amid soaring petrol prices, it’s only human to be tempted to alleviate the impact by exaggerating fuel expenses,” says Paul Foley, vice-president of in-vehicle commerce at Cubic3. “Younger drivers [who earn less] will be travelling home to be with their families, meaning they will be hit hardest.”
Nearly one in 10 drivers admitted they have already falsified fuel expenses at least once, according to a national Censuswide survey of 2,000 UK drivers. Cubic3 research found that businesses are “dangerously unprepared” to prevent expense fraud, and suggests replacing fuel cards and slow manual processes with real-time payment platforms that make it harder to “game the system”.
The current price volatility is already drawing comparisons to the 1970s fuel crisis. While it remains uncertain when the frenzy will end, industry watchdogs hope for more thorough checks on prices to curb larger financial problems for businesses.
Photograph by JMF News/ Alamy
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