FLUCTUATING fuel costs, the price of new vehicles, and changing is being felt most keenly by SMEs, says Right Fuel Card, which supplies fuel cards to small businesses.
“While businesses of all sizes feel the effects of financial and legislative changes, it’s safe to say it’s SME’s that feel the brunt of it,” said Matthew Briggs, Right Fuel Card’s CEO. “They’re operating on much thinner margins and are much more susceptible to shifting landscapes, for example, the upcoming increase in fuel duty, which is sure to have some smaller fleet operators struggling to keep that margin anywhere near the same level.
“Then there are other smaller decisions at the local government level, which affect small businesses to a much greater degree, mostly when it comes to parking. An increasing number of councils, such as Cardiff and Calderdale, are either upping parking costs or converting areas that were previously free into paid spaces in an effort to free up space. Unfortunately, this also has the effect of incurring additional costs to trades like electricians and plumbers who need to park in these areas to conduct their work, or even upping the cost of a permit to park outside their own homes.”
Used and EV markets thrive
The evidence for businesses trying to adapt to these financial challenges, lies in evolving vehicle purchasing habits, Matthew says.
According to SMMT, new LCV registrations fell by 10.3% in 2025, with vans seeing the largest drop at 20.7%, signalling how businesses are struggling to buy vehicles fresh off the line.
On the other hand, year-on-year EV registrations were up by 44.7% in November. “Electric vehicles are already often viewed as being cheaper options in the long run than their counterparts,” he adds. “But the exemption of commercial vehicles from new EV taxes is sure to have cemented this view even further, so we can expect to see the sales of electric vans and other commercial vehicles continue to rise in the near future.
“Businesses are also turning to the second-hand market to help keep costs down, with 36% of used LCVs being listed between £10,000 and £20,000, potentially saving hundreds, if not thousands, when adding to their fleet.”
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