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Original poster

Nhs fleet solutions - anyone know about it?

32 replies

AXCS · 15/01/2023 14:03

Hello!
so I’m just starting at the NHS (band 2 admin) and I see that leasing a car through nhs fleet solutions is classed as a ‘benefit’.
I wonder if anyone here has done this and has experience with it?
I know once I’m settled in I can find the policies and take a look for myself but any info you guys may have would be great - really in need of a new car this year?

just a few things I’m wondering about - it’s a salary sacrifice so what happens if you go on say Mat leave?
what kind of price range is it per month, do you have any examples of standard family 5 door cars and how much the lease is per month? (Currently own a mini which is getting on a bit now, love it but it’s only 3 door)
Are there restrictions e.g. do you have to have worked for the nhs for a certain amount of time to be eligible? Or be of a certain grade/band?

basically any info would be appreciated as I wonder if it’s an option at all for me, or if I should look elsewhere.
I will check out the policies at work when I’m settled in and know where to find everything

thanks in advance!!

OP posts:
cire · 15/01/2023 14:29

It can be a bit complicated. The salary sacrifice part reduces the amount of tax you pay so the car in real terms is a bit cheaper. The costs vary wildly depending on type and availability. There are very long lead times so be prepared to wait. The amount taken off your salary can't take you below minimum wage so on Band 2 make sure you are clear on the figures. I don't think you have to be with the NHS for a specific time but you do need to have a permanent contract.
I pay £280 a month for a VW Polo. The peace of mind of only being responsible for the petrol is worth it for me. When I worked out how much I'd paid for my last car each year in repayments, repairs, service, mot, insurance etc I'm breaking even.

Original poster
AXCS · 15/01/2023 16:07

cire · 15/01/2023 14:29

It can be a bit complicated. The salary sacrifice part reduces the amount of tax you pay so the car in real terms is a bit cheaper. The costs vary wildly depending on type and availability. There are very long lead times so be prepared to wait. The amount taken off your salary can't take you below minimum wage so on Band 2 make sure you are clear on the figures. I don't think you have to be with the NHS for a specific time but you do need to have a permanent contract.
I pay £280 a month for a VW Polo. The peace of mind of only being responsible for the petrol is worth it for me. When I worked out how much I'd paid for my last car each year in repayments, repairs, service, mot, insurance etc I'm breaking even.

Thank you that’s really useful information!

OP posts:
PepsiMaxLime · 15/01/2023 16:45

If you have a particular car in mind, Google owner forums and there’s probably lots of info. I’m looking into a Tesla (not through NHS) and the forums are full of chat about the NHS salary sacrifice scheme.

there’s quite a bit of negativity about them as they can impact your pension contributions and it sounds like this isn’t explained well when signing up, so definitely do your research.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General money
cire · 15/01/2023 17:54

It can impact pensions depending on what scheme you are on and if you are in the last 5 years of service. I'm in all the schemes because i qualified last century! So I have no idea re how it will affect each scene but a reliable car with no impact on credit rating and the lack of worry is worth it for me

cire · 15/01/2023 17:54

Scheme not scene

Daisy95 · 15/01/2023 17:54

I'm a band 5 and have one, we've got it in July. We absolutely love it. It's salary sacrifice so the amount comes out before tax. They sorted all the insurance and pay for services and any faults on the car. It also includes breakdown cover.
Only thing I would say have you looked into what you could get as most of my band 2 colleagues couldn't get one.

Daisy95 · 15/01/2023 17:55

The other thing is if you leave the nhs you have to pay a fee and give the car back.

itsjustnotok · 15/01/2023 18:04

I’m glad that you’re looking into it. DH did not and what we didn’t realise was that a percentage of the value of the car was added to his salary. We didn’t realised and it took him over £50k. We got a letter 3 years later threatening legal action for owing money on the child benefit.

mrsmarmalade12 · 15/01/2023 18:07

Be aware that the deduction can't take you below the living wage, at a band 2 I'd be very surprised if you'd be approved.

Sugarplumfairy65 · 15/01/2023 18:57

I thought it was only band 4 and above who can do it?

SomethingLessIdentifiable · 15/01/2023 19:01

mrsmarmalade12 · 15/01/2023 18:07

Be aware that the deduction can't take you below the living wage, at a band 2 I'd be very surprised if you'd be approved.

This.

I asked for a quote on 3 cars, one of them a ridiculously expensive car, one a moderately priced car, and one very cheap and cheerful.

Yje response was that I wasn’t eligible to apply for the first 2 cars as the monthly payments would take me below living wage.

I was band 4 at the time

OhBitchPeas · 15/01/2023 19:13

The cheapest one that I could see today when I looked was £259

But when you go in to get a quote it changes it to £297

There was a Zoe for less but that definitely couldn't be considered a family car.

The main ones were MG's or Mazda M-30's (off the top of my head)

Then you have to consider the amount of electricity you pay per kWh, then where you will charge the car.

And the fact that you're "stuck" in your job for 3 years unless you move over to another Trust that also does that kind of deal.

As for maternity leave? I wouldn't want that kind of chunk taken out my wages.

OhBitchPeas · 15/01/2023 19:15

Daisy95 · 15/01/2023 17:54

I'm a band 5 and have one, we've got it in July. We absolutely love it. It's salary sacrifice so the amount comes out before tax. They sorted all the insurance and pay for services and any faults on the car. It also includes breakdown cover.
Only thing I would say have you looked into what you could get as most of my band 2 colleagues couldn't get one.

Which car did you get and how much do you pay?

Daisy95 · 15/01/2023 20:03

@OhBitchPeas we got the Audi etron sportback electric we paying £405

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 16/01/2023 06:19

I'm a band 4 and had a look recently. Cheapest car was about £325 and the website said that on my salary that would take me below NMW so they wouldn't quote

Original poster
AXCS · 16/01/2023 07:20

Thanks everyone! Sounds like a lot of pros and cons and real consideration. I would imagine it would take me below nmw and therefore may not even be a possibility.
Thank you!

OP posts:
Mummmidwife · 22/04/2023 14:08

I have a car on lease through the nhs fleet solutions and am trying to work out if I can drop my hours. Is the minimum wage requirement hourly or annually eg around 20k per year or pro rata eg if I earn 16k on 16 hours which is more than the minimum wage would that be the calculation - I suspect not unfortunately!! I have a part time job so can afford to pay it and am keen to reduce a day in the hospital but not lose the car!
If my wages were to drop after the new lease started so I continued to pay the amount from my salary would that work?

Hm1 · 16/10/2023 23:06

Hi @Daisy95 do you mind
me asking what company you got your lease through? I’m a band 5 yet can’t seem to get anything, I’ve been looking on the Knowles fleet site?

Daisy95 · 17/10/2023 07:54

@Hm1 hi, mine is through nhs fleet solutions, I think your trust has to be signed up to it.

Mushroo · 17/10/2023 08:12

DH uses it and has done for years. It’s great - everything is included, no stress, and you can add quite a few named drivers so I’m on there, as are a couple of our close friends.

Weve ordered a Ford Kuga and think that’s about £370pcm.

Which considering it’s a brand new car and we essentially just add fuel I think is decent. Also because I hugely cba with the stress of buying a second hand car atm!

Paradiseflycatcher · 17/10/2023 08:21

I think it's an expensive and complicated scheme. I'm in the NHS myself and looked into it. I decided against it and went for an independently sourced PCP lease car which costs me £200 per month for a brand new VW Polo , cheaper than pp on this thread for same car via salary sacrifice. I decided the scheme had too many restrictions and implications for my liking.

WickWood · 17/10/2023 08:32

I looked into this as a band 4 but wasn't approved as it could take me below NMW if its increased, so you wouldn't be approved either. I called and asked if we could put a deposit down but they wouldn't allow that.

So now I have an even more expensive car! The Fleet car would definitely have saved me money.

Tses · 20/12/2023 18:27

Hi any luck with this! What’s the minimum salary you can get a car on? I’m part time so they won’t consider my other job but just want to see if I’m wasting my time!!

Georgia143 · 14/01/2024 00:39

Hi, I hope someone can offer definitive advice about the NHS salary sacrifice car scheme and how this may impact UC. I am currently a band five but only work 24hrs as a lone parent to a young child. The car I own is on its last leg, and unfortunately, I can not afford to pull out the cost of a replacement. In addition (embarrassingly), I also have poor credit, so I would struggle to source finance privately, so I feel like my options are limited. Can anyone who has used the car scheme and is receiving UC please comment on how this impacted their monthly payments? TIA x

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 15/01/2024 17:34

I asked and was told the minimum was £27,500 pa

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