Damge to car while out on business

[Brown and Boris]

I use my own car for business and we are a limited co.

Just before Christmas I was at a clients when one of their family let a gate swing on my car, scratching the rear quarter. They offered to pay thinking it was a scratch which just needed polishing out or could be done by a Chips Away type repairer. It turns out it is £220 worth and my excess is £275. I suspect they will still be willing to pay for the damage but I wonder how I stand if I charge the repair or part of the repair cost to my company to maintain the relationship with the client? Is this an allowable business expense?

I know the 40p a mile I am paid covers insurance but this is, in effect, an uninsured loss due to the policy excess.

[Eric Mc]

I doubt it. It's not a business owned asset so repairs to it are not really business related.

The fact that the 40p per mile rate may be iandequate to cover such "out of the ordinary" motoring costs is academic.

[RJD223]

Claim for a "business trip" which was 550mls away?