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AIBU?

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Original poster

Using your own car for work?

109 replies

girlfriend44 · 16/08/2023 21:09

I don't mean driving to work, I mean using your own car as part of the job. Visiting People and Places etc as part of the Job.

Although you get paid mileage, that dosent really cover the true cost of using the car for example wear and tear?

You see alot of jobs say must drive but how many people are getting the true cost of using their car back.

Does it annoy you?

OP posts:
theysaiditgetseasier · 16/08/2023 21:56

Interesting thread as I'm just applying for a job that requires my car for travel and the rate is 45p per mile,

when I did this in the past I was actually more in pocket, that was 7 years ago so interesting to hear from someone others!

Peanutbutterandmarmalade64 · 16/08/2023 22:00

VisionsOfSplendour · 16/08/2023 21:40

Employers can't claim back the mileage they pay form anyone. That can pay as much as they like as long as all the tax is done properly

Show quote history

I used to claim back from HMRC when we ran a Ltd Co a few years ago. I based my reply on that. As stated, unsure if rules have since changed

bellalou1234 · 16/08/2023 22:05

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 16/08/2023 21:33

Is that a lease car?

I'm an nhs community nurse and I get 52p a mile. I make money on the millage because I have a very small, economical car.

Show quote history

No my own car I will look into this. We normally have access to a fleet of cars but when they all taken we use our own .

PeskyPotato · 16/08/2023 22:06

It's been 45p since 2011, it's time it was increased again.

Pineapplemonkey · 16/08/2023 22:12

Of the 45p only around 12p is for fuel (this is as per HMRC), the rest is for wear and tear. My car does around 450 miles a tank which at 45p a mile would get me just over £200. To fill up its around £65. That’s £135 for wear and tear. Unless you have a super gas guzzling car (and it would have to be really really gas guzzling) or have some kind of super duper premium car (think Ferrari, Lamborghini etc) there is no way you won’t profit from 45p a mile.

So no, it doesn’t annoy me because I think it’s a fair amount

GladAllOver · 16/08/2023 22:16

Of course you will be paying the extra insurance premium for driving your car on business. That isn't worth it for just a few miles a year.

Cracklecrack · 16/08/2023 22:30

Yup it annoys me. I’m on 40p a mile. The same payout it’s been in nearly 20 years of public sector working. Car goes in the garage more than if i didn’t use it for work. But then working annoys me so maybe it’s that.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 16/08/2023 23:37

It was 45p in the 1990s!

UsingChangeofName · 17/08/2023 00:28

I think some of this is going to depend on what mileage you do.
Then if you need to carry round loads of equipment.
When I started my present job, there was different mileage rates depending on the size of your car (engine).

The way I think of it, is that I have a car anyway. I haven't bought a car / I don't run my car just because of this job, so I'd be paying all the expensive part of car ownership anyway - purchase price / depreciation, car tax, MOT, insurance, wear and tear.
So - although technically wear and tear is more, I don't do thousands of miles a year so I don't think it has that much impact - in my mind, the 45p per mile is FAR more than it costs in petrol, so I am happy with that.

If you wouldn't otherwise have a car though, I can see you'd be looking at it from a very different perspective.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 17/08/2023 00:31

I get 45p a mile too, if I have to travel to our office it’s nearly 500 mile round trip. My diesel is usually around £60 - £70 so it seems fair enough to me to cover wear and tear.

DustyLee123 · 17/08/2023 07:02

It didn’t cost any more when I put business on my insurance.

NEmama · 17/08/2023 07:17

Business insurance didn't cost me more either.

BarbaraofSeville · 17/08/2023 07:27

What @UsingChangeofName said. If you have a car anyway, unless it's very thirsty and/or expensive, eg a Range Rover, using your car for work is a good way to get a significant part of the fixed costs of running a car paid for by your employer because 45 p per mile pays for a lot more than the fuel used.

Eg I drive a 4 YO Citigo that I've had for a couple of years and will drive until it is not economical to keep going and it costs about 14 p a mile in petrol. Most of the time we use pool or hire cars, but if I'm not going very far, I can use my own car, so I do this for a few hundred miles a year as it's profitable to me to do that.

But I do think that the 45 ppm should increase as it's been that for a decade or two as far as I can remember.

maddening · 17/08/2023 07:29

I just did a rac fuel calculator on my diesel car and it costs me 5p in fuel per mile - I think I would be OK with 45p a mile coveting fuel and wear and tear?

gogomoto · 17/08/2023 07:40

My car get 42 miles to the gallon, (2017 model, 2 litre engine so hardly an economical car) old car got 32 (2009) so cars have got more economical which very approximately matches the increase in fuel. I get 45p a mile. It costs me approximately 18p a mile in petrol so even if traffic is bad so I don't get normal fuel economy there's still plenty for west and tear.

My dp chooses to have a 3l gas guzzler, his choice, he knows he only get 45p a mile plus an annual car allowance, his choice of vehicle should not penalise the company ! Sometimes he takes mine Confused so he paid for my new brakesGrin

gogomoto · 17/08/2023 07:41

Business insurance added for both of us was £1.50 for the year, hardly an expense

GreenBurritos · 17/08/2023 07:43

I get 45p a mile. Doesn't cover my fuel really but I knew that when I accepted the job.

What on earth are you driving that has a fuel cost of more than 45p a mile??

JaukiVexnoydi · 17/08/2023 07:44

I use my car for occasional business trips where there isn't a quick/convenient rail service to where I need to go. I find the 45p rate more than adequate because my car costs way less than 45p per mile in petrol so the remainder is a fair contribution from my employer to insurance, long term upkeep and eventual replacement of the vehicle.

littlegrebe · 17/08/2023 07:48

I get 45p a mile which more than covers my costs. There is a pool car available but the time and hassle of driving to get it is not worth it.

Crazydoglady1980 · 17/08/2023 08:00

GreenBurritos · 17/08/2023 07:43

I get 45p a mile. Doesn't cover my fuel really but I knew that when I accepted the job.

What on earth are you driving that has a fuel cost of more than 45p a mile??

This! I would look at getting a cheaper car as most cars cost significantly less that 45p a mile on fuel

OneTwoThreeShake · 17/08/2023 10:53

My petrol averages about 14p a mile and I receive 45p. And I receive a car allowance (opted against a company car) and travel allowance. The travel allowance is intended to compensate for wear and tear.

Mumof2teens79 · 17/08/2023 10:56

girlfriend44 · 16/08/2023 21:09

I don't mean driving to work, I mean using your own car as part of the job. Visiting People and Places etc as part of the Job.

Although you get paid mileage, that dosent really cover the true cost of using the car for example wear and tear?

You see alot of jobs say must drive but how many people are getting the true cost of using their car back.

Does it annoy you?

Mileage rates set by Inland Revenue do take into account additional costs, not just petrol.

RedPony1 · 17/08/2023 11:28

I'm classed as a hybrid worker, but spend 80% of my working hours WFH. My base is 14 miles away. I always cycle commute when I go there. I have to go to alternative places (not my base, not home) several times a week to work. My employer will only pay me mileage on anything above home - base - home. It stinks! Hence I now refuse to use my car.

@perpetuallybusy Deducting your regular commute miles is normal. i've never worked anywhere that doesn't do this.

Mumof2teens79 · 17/08/2023 11:39

RedPony1 · 17/08/2023 11:28

I'm classed as a hybrid worker, but spend 80% of my working hours WFH. My base is 14 miles away. I always cycle commute when I go there. I have to go to alternative places (not my base, not home) several times a week to work. My employer will only pay me mileage on anything above home - base - home. It stinks! Hence I now refuse to use my car.

@perpetuallybusy Deducting your regular commute miles is normal. i've never worked anywhere that doesn't do this.

It's an inland revenue rule, not a company rule

CornishGem1975 · 17/08/2023 11:41

It does cover wear and tear but it's been the same rate for so long now it probably doesn't cut it. Used to be a steal years ago when I was getting 40p a mile and fuel was super low!