Where do I stand on not wanting to drive my car for work?
Discussion
Hi folks
I have been working for a really good IT company for coming up to a year now, however as I have become more and more qualified / experienced, I am being sent out on a lot of jobs. Some which are over 50 miles away. Now whilst I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of the job, I am pissed off with driving my car for work nearly every day.
My predicament is, I don't want to piss the team off, as there are only 4 of us there. We do have a pool car, but I can't be insured on it until I turn 25 in May and even then, the car is forever in use by other people. So I doubt I will be able to use it.
That is the outline of my problem, but as of May I will be buying a Honda S2000 however more importantly, a low mileage mint example (when I find one) and I will not drive it on my long journeys. As to me it's a car I've saved up for ages for and I want to keep the miles down and just keep it mint.
So where do I stand on this? I do get paid my expenses for fuel/parking at the end of the month, it also isn't in my contract to drive my car. So I would like to know the best way to approach my boss with this? It is a big part of our business to go to see our clients and this will have an effect on their operations, which I don't want to happen.
Thanks for any advice,
P.B
I have been working for a really good IT company for coming up to a year now, however as I have become more and more qualified / experienced, I am being sent out on a lot of jobs. Some which are over 50 miles away. Now whilst I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of the job, I am pissed off with driving my car for work nearly every day.
My predicament is, I don't want to piss the team off, as there are only 4 of us there. We do have a pool car, but I can't be insured on it until I turn 25 in May and even then, the car is forever in use by other people. So I doubt I will be able to use it.
That is the outline of my problem, but as of May I will be buying a Honda S2000 however more importantly, a low mileage mint example (when I find one) and I will not drive it on my long journeys. As to me it's a car I've saved up for ages for and I want to keep the miles down and just keep it mint.
So where do I stand on this? I do get paid my expenses for fuel/parking at the end of the month, it also isn't in my contract to drive my car. So I would like to know the best way to approach my boss with this? It is a big part of our business to go to see our clients and this will have an effect on their operations, which I don't want to happen.
Thanks for any advice,
P.B
Edited by Pig benis on Wednesday 13th March 20:46
If you need to drive for your job there are at least 3 standard options
1 claim 45p per mile (up to 10k miles in the tax year, then 25p)
2 pool car, and get reimbursed for fuel
3 hire car, and get reimbursed for fuel
4 company car, and get reimbursed for fuel, but have to pay tax as its a 'benefit'.
There's no legal reason for or against these options. You have to negotiate with your boss.
Boss might think you're being awkward because you're buying a car which you don't want to drive for work.
But how would they deal with it if you didn't own a car? There will be an answer to that, but despite that you DO own a car and be will probably think you're being awkward.
Why not drive the pool car when you can and get 45p/mile when you can't? You might not make a lot of money on 45p per mile, but work out the cost per mile of fuel, servicing, brakes, tyres and depreciation. You might make a little bit? Sure the car is worth less when you sell it, but you've had a load of extra cash in the meantime.
1 claim 45p per mile (up to 10k miles in the tax year, then 25p)
2 pool car, and get reimbursed for fuel
3 hire car, and get reimbursed for fuel
4 company car, and get reimbursed for fuel, but have to pay tax as its a 'benefit'.
There's no legal reason for or against these options. You have to negotiate with your boss.
Boss might think you're being awkward because you're buying a car which you don't want to drive for work.
But how would they deal with it if you didn't own a car? There will be an answer to that, but despite that you DO own a car and be will probably think you're being awkward.
Why not drive the pool car when you can and get 45p/mile when you can't? You might not make a lot of money on 45p per mile, but work out the cost per mile of fuel, servicing, brakes, tyres and depreciation. You might make a little bit? Sure the car is worth less when you sell it, but you've had a load of extra cash in the meantime.
1. how is 50 miles a long journey
2. Do you want a job, yes or no
3. They pay for your mileage
4. What the hell ?
5. Buy a diesel snotter for work
6. See four
I am honestly stunned by this. I'd like to buy a really unsuitable car, please don't make me drive it, I am worried it might lose value......
Justayellowbadge please comment along religious lines.
2. Do you want a job, yes or no
3. They pay for your mileage
4. What the hell ?
5. Buy a diesel snotter for work
6. See four
I am honestly stunned by this. I'd like to buy a really unsuitable car, please don't make me drive it, I am worried it might lose value......
Justayellowbadge please comment along religious lines.
Gargamel said:
I am honestly stunned by this. I'd like to buy a really unsuitable car, please don't make me drive it, I am worried it might lose value......
Ah the old PH, "I should pay to go to work and be thankful for it" brigade.I had the same issue when I first started work, I hadn't signed up for using my car for business mileage and didn't want to use my car for it. Let your boss know your concerns, ask them to provide you with a hire car. If the travel is going to be a regular thing, buy a snotter for work mileage. It'll pay for itself in due course.
Burrito said:
Agree with others saying get a snotter and reap the rewards to spend on your S2000.
However, given the miles you're covering I would make sure you have business cover on your insurance.
Oh my, this didn't even cross my mind. That is really bad. However, given the miles you're covering I would make sure you have business cover on your insurance.
I have just put it onto my insurance and I had to pay an extra £30, is it a bit cheeky to claim this back?
Gargamel said:
1. how is 50 miles a long journey
2. Do you want a job, yes or no
3. They pay for your mileage
4. What the hell ?
5. Buy a diesel snotter for work
6. See four
I am honestly stunned by this. I'd like to buy a really unsuitable car, please don't make me drive it, I am worried it might lose value......
Justayellowbadge please comment along religious lines.
1. It is usually 50+ miles one way2. Do you want a job, yes or no
3. They pay for your mileage
4. What the hell ?
5. Buy a diesel snotter for work
6. See four
I am honestly stunned by this. I'd like to buy a really unsuitable car, please don't make me drive it, I am worried it might lose value......
Justayellowbadge please comment along religious lines.
2. Of course I do, hence why I am concerned about this issue, if I didn't want a job, I would out rightly say no to driving
3. I get 40p a mile
4. Calm down, love. It's only piston heads
5. I don't want to drive a shed
6. see four
Just a note, the law changed 6th April 2012. As you start 11th April you can be dismissed within the first two years for no reason. You can not be discriminated against (race, sexuality, age, ethnicity etc. etc.) but the boss can say 'Sorry, it's not working out... Bye.'
Some bosses would be rubbed up the wrong way if you make their life hard (by asking for a hire car, refusing to drive your own). These kinds of bosses are usually the bad ones.
It comes down to how reasonable your boss is, and whether you can get the message across without looking like a moaner.
Defo would agree with buying a diesel and then flogging it when you get access to a pool car, you won't loose much on a cheap diesel.
I would focus on getting in the years of experience and qualifications now so you can earn proper money a bit later (maybe at another firm). And then you'll be able to run two cars or you'll get a company car of your own.
Some bosses would be rubbed up the wrong way if you make their life hard (by asking for a hire car, refusing to drive your own). These kinds of bosses are usually the bad ones.
It comes down to how reasonable your boss is, and whether you can get the message across without looking like a moaner.
Defo would agree with buying a diesel and then flogging it when you get access to a pool car, you won't loose much on a cheap diesel.
I would focus on getting in the years of experience and qualifications now so you can earn proper money a bit later (maybe at another firm). And then you'll be able to run two cars or you'll get a company car of your own.
pboyd said:
Not sure OP is serious
I am. I thought PHers would at some point, felt this way. I really don't like putting extra miles on my car for work. In the last 5 months, I have done an extra 4k in mileage and that isn't taking into consideration my wear and tear. Plus, the 40p per mile I get doesn't cover my fuel enough for me to keep driving. I wouldn't call my car particularly economical, but I don't care about that outside of work hoursGet a 'snotter' - which I think is PH for 'car that person poorer than I am drives'
For example, my Leon (see garage) was £700 with lots of tax and test and a full history. Sure, it was 11 years old, not very fast, but it was utterly reliable and looked reasonably smart. You could also use this car for messy jobs (tip, DIY, Christmas tree etc) plus if you ever need to carry more than one passenger you'll find that it's a much better car than your S2000
Or you could get a diesel Punto, they do about 4000mpg or something (70-odd from memory) Get an old enough car and you will be on engine size car tax, remember, Depending on the car this may be a good thing or a bad thing.
Personally I'd take the money and drive the S2000. I used to claim 40p/mile driving my own Ka in my first job, and worked out that over about 55mph I made more from the mileage allowance than I actually got paid (not counting depreciation or wear and tear) They used to send me to work at an office a 70 mile round trip away 3 times a week, and told me to put the travel time on my timesheet. I just looked on it as 90 minutes listening to the radio instead of actually working, but getting paid more than working. Made it much more bearable
For example, my Leon (see garage) was £700 with lots of tax and test and a full history. Sure, it was 11 years old, not very fast, but it was utterly reliable and looked reasonably smart. You could also use this car for messy jobs (tip, DIY, Christmas tree etc) plus if you ever need to carry more than one passenger you'll find that it's a much better car than your S2000
Or you could get a diesel Punto, they do about 4000mpg or something (70-odd from memory) Get an old enough car and you will be on engine size car tax, remember, Depending on the car this may be a good thing or a bad thing.
Personally I'd take the money and drive the S2000. I used to claim 40p/mile driving my own Ka in my first job, and worked out that over about 55mph I made more from the mileage allowance than I actually got paid (not counting depreciation or wear and tear) They used to send me to work at an office a 70 mile round trip away 3 times a week, and told me to put the travel time on my timesheet. I just looked on it as 90 minutes listening to the radio instead of actually working, but getting paid more than working. Made it much more bearable
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