Can my company make me use my personal car for work?

[Bohally]

Sford said:

I regularly go 'on call' with the company I work for and a requirement of theirs was that I use my car. Due to the nature of what I do a level of anonymity is required and as I drive an easily recognisable car, I stated politely that I would not want any repercussions as a result of my work to be taken out on my personal possessions. I also stated that I do not have business insurance and if they were not willing to pay to add it to my policy I was not prepared to use it. I also pointed out the amount they would pay out (35p a mile I think) and that it is more cost effective to hire a car through hertz and pay the fuel on the company card/reimburse me than it would be to use my own and pay per mile. We also have pool cars and they are not always available due to managers 'reserving' them. In the end, they agreed and we now have an account with hertz who will drop a car off to the office in very short notice, with the ability to accommodate a large amount of equipment and/or people.

Top lurking! Some sort of detective/PI?

[Dapster]

Can't you just get approval to hire a car and submit the rental and petrol receipts, which if the journey is more than 200 miles or so would be cheaper than claiming at 45ppm + insurance upgrade anyway? Last time I rented a car, I booked a £23 a day "Focus or similar" and got the mother of all upgrades to 12 plate Merc S350 Bluetec for a week...!

I worked for a large company a few years ago where if the pool cars were booked out you could ask a company car driver for their car and they were obliged to give their car up. The games this forced were hilarious - leaving it to the very last second second for the bottom of the range Montego Diesel skip to be booked out so you could ask someone 275 levels above you for their Jag for the day. Most people wouldn't have the balls but it's amazing what you'd do for a nice car for a day.

[john2443]

Even if you are insured, what happens if you have an accident while on company business? Will they provide a car while yours is fixed, pay your excess, pay increased insurance next year, spend time on the phone to the insurance co, search Auotrader for you if it's written off?

Will they buggery!

[xRIEx]

bakerstreet said:

Wild Swordfish said:

I've looked into this when first finding out I would be using pool cars for work. Yes, I would have to declare I've had an accident, but it wouldn't count as a claim as it's not my policy..

Yes it would

I have class 1 business use on my policy and it is more than £20. I'd check what they are offering.

Carrying company equipment in your car is another minefield.

This - I've had 2 accidents in my company car and they've loaded my personal premium.

[CraigyMc]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

1. It's not difficult to get a job at all, if you have the right skills.
2. If there's an accident - even a non-fault one (eg. a taxi driver reversing into a properly parked car in a carpark), OP will be out of pocket in future years.

I speak from personal experience on both counts.

C

[ALawson]

The OP hasn't confirm the main details.

1) Does he get car allowance for using his own car?
2) Can he claim milage?

If he gets either of the above as part of his contract then he should make sure he has the correct insurance cover and get on with it.

If the answer is no to the above then they can go stick it. As other posters have all stated he will not be insured.

Personally I would worry about any company with such an approach with their staff about something so obviously against the law.

Tell them that you cycle to the office, what would they do then?

[DaveEssex]

"DaveEssex said:
Colonial said:
Yes, but are they serviced by public transport? If so, then it's not an issue.

Or you dense or just being intentionally obtuse?
Don't wish to report you for abuse!!!
You think that's abuse?

I'm sorry. Not for what I said, but for your delicate constitution."

I joined this Forum intending to offer a lifetime of experience in the Automotive Industry to those here who might benefit from it, but with people like this on board, the ship can sail without me.
Goodbye.

Edited by DaveEssex on Thursday 1st November 10:05

[Mr E]

LooneyTunes said:

If there are no pool cars left, then surely a hire car is in order?

Or indeed somebody elses company car. They are company cars, after all...

[jay140285]

Last year before gaining a car allowance and now having a company car on order I started to do a lot of miles covering multi sites not just one.

No questions asked, Worked ordered a hire car on a week by week basis and gave me the authority to call the hire company the day before I need it and get it delivered to my home.

This remainined in place for 3 months until my contract was changed adding more money and a car allowance or car onto it.

[Manicminer]

DaveEssex said:

I joined this Forum intending to offer a lifetime of experience in the Automotive Industry to those here who might benefit from it, but with people like this on board, the ship can sail without me.
Goodbye.

[djdestiny]

What would the company do if you didnt own a car or if it was off the road for whatever reason?
Id tell them to do one.
As for worrying about promotion, thats rather an oddly run company if they base it on whether or not you are willing to use your own car!

[Marlin45]

DaveEssex said:

"DaveEssex said:
Colonial said:
Yes, but are they serviced by public transport? If so, then it's not an issue.

Or you dense or just being intentionally obtuse?
Don't wish to report you for abuse!!!
You think that's abuse?

I'm sorry. Not for what I said, but for your delicate constitution."

I joined this Forum intending to offer a lifetime of experience in the Automotive Industry to those here who might benefit from it, but with people like this on board, the ship can sail without me.
Goodbye.

Edited by DaveEssex on Thursday 1st November 10:05

No great loss

[300bhp/ton]

897sma said:

oyster said:

No, it sounds like the OP is trouble. As a manager, I would look elsewhere for promotion candidates.

Most people I know use their own cars for work and don't moan about it. It's what mileage allowance is for.

+1 why such a big deal for the op? Mileage allowance will cover fuel plus extra for wear & tear etc.

Yet completely misses the point being made or the question being asked.

[AB]

In our place, if you don't have a CC or an allowance in lieu (i.e. if you're at graduate level) then it is a written rule that you can borrow one of the senior staffs car if required.

[djfaulkner]

Its worth asking the questions about milage and insurance allowances.

How long do you need the car for?
Could you ask to borrow another company car, tell them it would save the company money.

If you are carrying company equipment, look into the insurance requirements for that too.
As you might be liable if the equipment is damaged in an accident. Or if it gets nicked.

[richb77]

oyster said:

calibrax said:

I'd start looking for a new job NOW. It sounds like the management are not the sort of people anyone would want to work for.

No, it sounds like the OP is trouble. As a manager, I would look elsewhere for promotion candidates.

Most people I know use their own cars for work and don't moan about it. It's what mileage allowance is for.

Where do you work?

I only ask so i know never to apply for a job there!

I refuse to use my own car for business use. Partly because the company will NOT pay the extra for business use meaning i am uninsured and also the mileage allowance doesnt cover my fuel (yes i like juicy motors) let alone wear and tear.

[Colonial]

DaveEssex said:

"DaveEssex said:
Colonial said:
Yes, but are they serviced by public transport? If so, then it's not an issue.

Or you dense or just being intentionally obtuse?
Don't wish to report you for abuse!!!
You think that's abuse?

I'm sorry. Not for what I said, but for your delicate constitution."

I joined this Forum intending to offer a lifetime of experience in the Automotive Industry to those here who might benefit from it, but with people like this on board, the ship can sail without me.
Goodbye.

Edited by DaveEssex on Thursday 1st November 10:05

Toodles xox.

[PAULJ5555]

Face for Radio said:

They had a caveat in the company car policy, that anybody needing the use of a vehicle when a pool car wasn't available, is eligible to requisition the company car from it's user for business use.

I would check to see if they have a similar clause in your company car policy and fire that one back at them. Someone used that nugget on a senior manager and he went spare, can hardly do anything about it though as a quick phone call to HR would confirm it and he'd have to give up his keys anyway.

This, but you will P people off.

[jet_noise]

Dear WS,

why is it that you are the one who is "not allowed" to use a pool car next week?
All in use?
A change in "policy"?
Company in trouble?
I see nothing at all wrong with your stance. Decent managers should respect this choice, time to leave I think.
As other posters have suggested be aware that even if you have business use added to your insurance it will not cover any company kit.
A nicked laptop is worth a bit.

If the trip is a day trip from the office how about asking if you can borrow one of those company cars which are sitting in the car park all day? ETA see above

I've been lucky but dependent on company policy/my garage I've always had the choice of mine or a company supplied car (pool or hire) for business trips. None of my employers have ever had an employment condition of using my own car on demand.
At times every mile I drove in my own car made money - good ppmile expense rate/cheap car. At others it would cost me so I've used a pool or hire,

regards,
Jet

[RevolveR]

I would refuse because your insurance policy won't cover you for business miles. Plus there is the wear & tear on your vehicle.