The BVRLA was formed in December 1967 when 12 senior executives of prominent rental companies and at least one leasing company met at the Waldorf Hotel in London. Their aim was to ‘encourage, promote and protect the interests of the members of the association’. That aim is still true today.

The Association’s first business in 1967 was to deal with the Control of Hiring Order, a device which in a harsh economic climate caused immense complications for both rental and leasing companies. Now, the Association deals with a multitude of matters on behalf of its Members. The Association lobbies effectively with many government departments including the Department for Transport, HMRC, DTI, the Treasury and the Cabinet Office, as well as allied agencies such as the DVLA, VOSA and the police, all in order to ensure, as a minimum, fairness for Members.

The BVRLA has nearly 800 Members today who between them run more than two and a half million vehicles and who buy more than 44% of all new vehicles sold in the UK. In doing so, they spend in excess of £15.4 billion each year on vehicles and around a further £4 billion on support services. And importantly, through its Members and their customers, the BVRLA represents the interests of more than two million business car drivers along with the 10 million plus drivers who each year use a rental vehicle.

The BVRLA has had a Code of Conduct since 1969 which is mandatory upon all Members. It is the code by which Members conduct their business, whether that is in the vehicle rental, leasing or fleet management for passenger and commercial vehicles.

It sets out the general principles by which BVRLA Members must operate and establishes the standards of behaviour expected, in short the code protects customers and ensures that a professional service is offered at all times.