I can't afford a car then?

[Rakatakatar]

I'm self employed, started my own business domestic cleaning 4 months ago. Has been doing really well, just gone up to 3 days a week.

My car is on its last legs, it has MOT due in March but it isn't worth saving as it's a 2006 model with a heap of problems.

I assumed I'd be able to get finance of some form but nope. Nowhere will accept me, being self employed without 6 months proof of earnings is working against me, plus I have bad credit from years ago.

This morning I decided to suck it up and ask my parents for a loan. They said no 🥴

Anyone been in a similar position? What did you do?
I'm worried that if I can't get a car sorted I won't be able to work and then I'll really be screwed.

Well no - lots of places don't have public transport and even if they do, it's not reliable or regular.

Yes.

Also, you "upped" to three days...can you increase to 5 days even until it's time for MOT so you will have more money at that point.

Yes, you don't have to be able to drive to buy a car. My son owned his before he passed, just insurance will be higher

I agree this doesn't sound right. I suspect what she means is if she had X coming in and chose to spend Y on something that might not be considered a legitimate business expense, then any UC would be calculated as you having an income if X not X-Y

You didn't say you had a DH

Get him to finance the car then

If you absolutely don’t have any other options there are finance companies who’ll lend to self employed people or those with bad credit. I had to do this once as I needed a car for work and there was nowhere else to turn. Unfortunately the APR will be much higher so it’s worth seriously thinking about whether you can afford the repayments.

Have you looked at borrowing from a credit union rather than a bank? They’re often more flexible and understanding of applicants with less than perfect credit history/circumstances.

Obviously it will depend on the area you’re in, but most places will have a local one. This is one example:

www.leedscreditunion.co.uk

Public transport or cycling will not be suitable for the OP. She has to get from one job to another quickly and carrying equipment.

OP your husband buying the car and insuring you as main driver sounds the best bet. Somewhere like "We buy any car" will likely give you something for your car. I've used them and found the price offered to be fair.

Dh could finance the car.

What car is it, @Rakatakatar ?

Rakatakatar Do you have to provide all your equipment and cleaning products.
Or is it just getting yourself from A to B
Would a big suitcase or crate on wheels or back pack be enough then space clients to allow enough time for public transport.

I think to raise money you have to have a 2 pronged attack.

1st look at all of your outgoings. Are you on the cheapest deals for insurance, Power, telephone rent etc. always do a review every few months. Even food, meal plan and can you do cheaper by shopping later in to get the discount stuff

2nd Look at income. Can you raise money by selling stuff you don’t use or need.
Even if it is only once per month. Can you get freelance work that you pick and choose your shifts to add a few more £s to the car fund.

Never used them and no idea of cost but I think they are called zip cars and are parked on the street. Could you hire one of those to get you from A to B then returning it to a nearby parking space then later hiring or to go from B to C etc or could you get a bike with one of those attached carts and a big basket on the front to get around with equipment.
Might be able to pick one up second hand on gumtree or eBay or FBMP

I always think where there is a will there is away

Your DH can definitely "buy" the car. While he is learning you can insure it with you as the main driver. The person who owns the car doesn't need to be the person driving it necessarily.

I think that is your best option - buying a cheap car might buy you a new set of problems and you could find yourself back at square one in a couple of months time.

you can buy a £500 car

Insurance and finance are two entirely separate things. So DH could buy a car or take out a loan and give you the money, or get a credit card. Whatever you think best.

Then you take out an insurance policy on your name.

If the car is in DH’s name, that is fine. There will be fewer insurance providers that will be ok with this, but some will. Or just ask him to take out loan or credit card but out the car in your name.

@WeepingSomnambulist no, and that’s fine if you are using the money for personal reasons but if you want to save up for a large business expense such as a van (if that’s what the op decided to do rather than buying a family car) there is no way to do it as any extra that you haven’t spent that month is classed as earnings and taken from your uc. If you can get credit for a business vehicle and pay it back every month then it would be a business expense and you wouldn’t lose that money in your uc. It was relevant to my previous post about getting a start up loan and buying a work vehicle so the Op could at least get to work. Sorry if I’m not doing a good job of explaining!

Your husband can apply for a loan for a car and allow anyone he wants to drive it. In fact he could give/sell you the car (depending on loan)...however.....any driver must be appropriately insured, so if you're the main driver your cover should reflect this.

Why would your Dh have better credit?

I presume you are financially linked so when companies search his file your file would be shown also

Garage might be able to point you in the direction of a cheap runaround, rather than getting car finance.

DH gets a loan or a credit card, buys the car and you are insured as main driver.

Pay car off asap to minimise interest. Keep the car in as good order as you can with regular services to prolong the life.

Good point about business insurance. It doesn't generally add a lot to the policy.
Lots of takeaway delivery drivers have been caught out this way.

Depending on how far between jobs, could cycle

That’s not true. DH owns our car, the insurance is in his name BUT I am listed as the main driver of the car.

Why would UC know what you spend your money on?

They don’t go through your bank statements. Only when you get over a certain amount of savings does any sort of penalty kick in

My DH 'owns' both our cars, just the way it worked when we bought them. But one is insured with me as the main driver with business insurance and one with him as the main driver.
OP having your DH buy the car is your solution. The insurance company doesn't mind who owns it as long as the person driving it most is named as the main driver.

He can buy a car for you to drive but he will need to be on the insurance.

But maybe this is an unrealistic dream atm
BTW my friend worked as a self employed cleaner for 6 years. She doesn't drive. She had a tartan shopping trolley and walked.