Company Vehicle
Author
Discussion

rufmeister

Original Poster:

1,474 posts

146 months

Monday 9th December 2024
quotequote all
Looking to get a vehicle for our Business Development Manager.

20k miles per annum +/-
Auto
Ideally a diesel but due to tax we think a PHEV would be best.

His mileage seems to kick leasing into touch.

So do we buy a used PHEV or a used diesel?

Is it correct that he would pay huge amounts of tax personally on the diesel?

Really struggling with this as we need to get him something, but cant break the bank as hes only a few months in.

Any suggestions welcomed!


Uncle boshy

485 posts

93 months

Monday 9th December 2024
quotequote all
Presumably a 40% tax payer?

If so bik will be a killer on diesel, plus not many brands sell them.

For example a Skoda superb is about £5k a year tax for a 40% tax payer

A bmw 330e hybrid is about £1.5k per year for a 40z tax payer.

Have a look at comcar.co.uk for a tax comparison of different cars

rufmeister

Original Poster:

1,474 posts

146 months

Monday 9th December 2024
quotequote all
Uncle boshy said:
Presumably a 40% tax payer?

If so bik will be a killer on diesel, plus not many brands sell them.

For example a Skoda superb is about £5k a year tax for a 40% tax payer

A bmw 330e hybrid is about £1.5k per year for a 40z tax payer.

Have a look at comcar.co.uk for a tax comparison of different cars
Yeah he is, so diesel out!

Will check that site thanks.

plfrench

4,363 posts

292 months

Monday 9th December 2024
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Couldn’t you give him a car allowance and allow him to choose what he wants and then claim business mileage back? Might be the easiest option all round?

Silvanus

6,904 posts

47 months

Monday 9th December 2024
quotequote all
Does he need to use it for private use? If it's just for business miles only wouldn't that mean no tax.

rufmeister

Original Poster:

1,474 posts

146 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
quotequote all
Silvanus said:
Does he need to use it for private use? If it's just for business miles only wouldn't that mean no tax.
Would that mean it would need to be classed as a pool car and stay at the office?

He’s located around 40 miles from office.

I do know people would just put it down as a pool car and run the risk but that always worries me.

Silvanus

6,904 posts

47 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
quotequote all
rufmeister said:
Silvanus said:
Does he need to use it for private use? If it's just for business miles only wouldn't that mean no tax.
Would that mean it would need to be classed as a pool car and stay at the office?

He’s located around 40 miles from office.

I do know people would just put it down as a pool car and run the risk but that always worries me.
We have a whole fleet of cars that are used entirely for work, with zero private mileage. We are home based and have to fill out a mileage return detailing to journeys we take and have signed a statement. Insurance stipulates no private mileage. I don't know the ins and outs of the rules, but I do know it's been checked that it doesn't fowl any tax rules.

RayDonovan

5,734 posts

239 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
quotequote all
PHEV would be good for you both if he can plug in and charge. If he can't, the fuel bills will be high for the company, especially if he's doing 20k.

Diesel is a no-go now due to BIK

Electric? What's his normal working week? Lots of small trips or longer journeys?

interstellar

4,792 posts

170 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
quotequote all
I have 20 employees in cars. We go the car allowance route, yes they get taxed on the allowance but then choose what they want and pay no company car tax. Swings and roundabouts.

Our guys see it as a benefit. We then refund all business mileage at the approved rate.

We pay them £750 per month before tax so he could get something for around £450 before it costs him any money but depends on his insurance situation and of course he needs tax, mot and pay for the services, tyres himself.


rufmeister

Original Poster:

1,474 posts

146 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
quotequote all
interstellar said:
I have 20 employees in cars. We go the car allowance route, yes they get taxed on the allowance but then choose what they want and pay no company car tax. Swings and roundabouts.

Our guys see it as a benefit. We then refund all business mileage at the approved rate.

We pay them £750 per month before tax so he could get something for around £450 before it costs him any money but depends on his insurance situation and of course he needs tax, mot and pay for the services, tyres himself.
Given our guys mileage, at 40p a Mille we will end up costing ourselves a couple of thousand a month if we were to give him the £750 as well.

Thanks for all the ideas guys, will chew it over.

interstellar

4,792 posts

170 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
quotequote all
rufmeister said:
interstellar said:
I have 20 employees in cars. We go the car allowance route, yes they get taxed on the allowance but then choose what they want and pay no company car tax. Swings and roundabouts.

Our guys see it as a benefit. We then refund all business mileage at the approved rate.

We pay them £750 per month before tax so he could get something for around £450 before it costs him any money but depends on his insurance situation and of course he needs tax, mot and pay for the services, tyres himself.
Given our guys mileage, at 40p a Mille we will end up costing ourselves a couple of thousand a month if we were to give him the £750 as well.

Thanks for all the ideas guys, will chew it over.
You don’t refund him at 40p a mile. If he buys say a 2.0 diesel it’s 12p per mile. The difference between that and the 40p/45p he claims that via his end of year tax settlement. Thats not your issue or your cost. He will claim tax relief on that.

RayDonovan

5,734 posts

239 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
quotequote all
interstellar said:
rufmeister said:
interstellar said:
I have 20 employees in cars. We go the car allowance route, yes they get taxed on the allowance but then choose what they want and pay no company car tax. Swings and roundabouts.

Our guys see it as a benefit. We then refund all business mileage at the approved rate.

We pay them £750 per month before tax so he could get something for around £450 before it costs him any money but depends on his insurance situation and of course he needs tax, mot and pay for the services, tyres himself.
Given our guys mileage, at 40p a Mille we will end up costing ourselves a couple of thousand a month if we were to give him the £750 as well.

Thanks for all the ideas guys, will chew it over.
You don’t refund him at 40p a mile. If he buys say a 2.0 diesel it’s 12p per mile. The difference between that and the 40p/45p he claims that via his end of year tax settlement. Thats not your issue or your cost. He will claim tax relief on that.
Yep, I get 7p/mile from the business and then claim 15p/mile tax relief via HMRC (electric).

rufmeister

Original Poster:

1,474 posts

146 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
quotequote all
Ok, got it, thanks.

Just dawned on me, we have mobile operatives who take a van home every night, and don’t use it for personal use, we could do the same for the BDM as stated by someone else. As long as we ensure we have documentation to prove he doesn’t use it personally and mileage logs we should be ok?

RayDonovan

5,734 posts

239 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
quotequote all
HMRC really don't like that arrangement, especially with cars (as opposed to vans)

GreatGranny

9,519 posts

250 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
quotequote all
So he gets a company car but can't do any private miles in it?

What did you say regarding company car when you offered him the job?

Did the job description state company car/allowance?


PoorCarCollector

240 posts

44 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
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A car allowance is 100% the way to go. No financial risk then if he chooses to leave after a short time and you have a vehicle to deal with.

rufmeister

Original Poster:

1,474 posts

146 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
quotequote all
GreatGranny said:
So he gets a company car but can't do any private miles in it?

What did you say regarding company car when you offered him the job?

Did the job description state company car/allowance?
We took him on in a bit of a rush, and it was agreed a temporary vehicle would be available for his use, so we bought him a 2015 fiesta to get him mobile, its now 5 months or so since he started and he needs something more fit for purpose.

He does have access to a private car, however we all know, he would use his company car for private use, so guess thats out also, and if correct as pointed out, that HMRC dont like that arrangement, we are back to square 1.

He doesn't have a great credit rating, so getting what would be deemed a suitable car with an allowance would be a struggle also.

We want to have a newish car, that has some nice features and keeps him happy and safe, and also doesn't look terrible to clients.

I'm thinking a used PHEV may be the way forward.

RayDonovan

5,734 posts

239 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
quotequote all
Have a look at a Toyota Corolla self charging hybrid.

No need to plug in, diesel like economy but lower BIK and a 10 year Toyota warranty

The dealers (in my experience) are utterly brilliant, the cars are well made and the warranty support is 1st class. Lots to choose from, estates and hatches, 1.8 or 2.0, and spec levels from OK to kitchen sink.

Hugely underrated cars

interstellar

4,792 posts

170 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
quotequote all
In that case a 330e or similar will do the job unless you can get a used ev which is better for him but the complications of charging on the move may be an issue.

By the way, a used PHEV won’t really benefit him as most company car drivers never charge it and just fill it up with petrol on the company as there’s no incentive for them to use their own electric to charge it up. My next door neighbour had an outlander for three years and never once plugged it in. He just drove it as a petrol vehicle.

Lefty

19,844 posts

226 months

Tuesday 10th December 2024
quotequote all
If you can do it before April get him a diesel pickup truck. The new tax rules kick in from 2029 so he can have that for 4 years with low BIK and you get all the vat back.

New Ranger is meant to be good.