Employing a new nanny that doesn’t drive - advice

[mumtoone2025]

Hi there, Just seeking some advice on how others have worked this situation

Had our first Nanny for a year who’ll be leaving us soon. She was a driver and ideally that’s what I hoped for in a new perspective Nanny. Our past Nanny was live in. And new perspective, Nanny will be live in also.

I have found A great potential Nanny to join us who isn’t a driver. Not a huge issue as there are Transport links etc. (We don’t live in central London or anything like that, but there’s adequate public transport - It just means it takes much longer for her to get anywhere with my little one then if they had a car and a license.

With this potential candidate ideally in the long-term if she is going to stay with us for awhile, being a driver would be best. I don’t want to discount her Due to not being a driveras she ticks so many boxes annd more. And the best profile and Person I’ve come across with my current search for our replacement Nanny.

Can I ask how others have navigated this.. Where they may have had a Nanny join them who isn’t a driver. But ideally, them being a driver in the long run would be ideal.

Did you help to put them through a driving lesson course etc. Obviously, I’d have to provide a car. (We’re by no means a high net worth family like that, But I can make it work somehow by getting an affordable car that also is not too vast an expense to ensure for a Newly qualified driver).

What’s peoples opinions on this? Have you done this with a no driving license Nanny?

Is there any stipulations in a potential new Nanny contract that if I’ve paid out for her driving course and she doesn’t end up staying with us long-term (Although she is hoping for a long time role). That the money spent on paying her through a driving course isn’t wasted. Something a friend suggested, but I have no idea how you would implement that into a nanny contract Or if that’s fair?

There’s possibility to claim back some of the expenses of acquiring a cheap car and some of her car running costs through my own work business. I’ll have to speak to an accountant, Maybe I can claim back the cost of her driving course who knows..

I think I’m more asking about the logistics of if others found a great Nanny but she didn’t drive and ideally you needed them to drive in the long-term. And they’re happy to drive if they had a license etc

Our nanny didn’t drive. It was never a problem. We are zone 6 of London but buses nearby and trains into London did the trick.

I live in Edinburgh. My nanny didn't drive and this was 31 years ago when the traffic was quieter and there were no potholes. She was brilliant, got them on and off buses and walking everywhere. Youngest 1 and oldest 3 at beginning and she had them for 2 years. Come to think of it my next nanny didn't drive either.
I think if you're in a major town it probably isn't a problem

we’ll be in the Home Counties, So slightly less as good Transport links that you have.

She’s coming for a trial, so I guess during that trial, she can see how she feels about the public transport in our area. She’s fully aware of the area we live and doesn’t seem phased by it. But I know she’s worked previously in central London where we all know (Having lived in Central myself previously) How easy public transport is and no car is needed

But I also like the idea of a car in case there’s ever an emergency as I am a lone parent Household. If I’m not around someone that has a car to hand and can drive If there’s an emergency or public transport issues Can at least get to where they need to be quickly, Far quicker than the Transport links in our area 😬

Why is it so important she drives? If it takes longer to get somewhere then she just needs to allow plenty of time. Many households don't have a car. We have two but I rarely use mine, I walk most places as do the children. They've been enrolled in lots of clubs over the years and it's not been a problem. Does she even want to learn? Not everyone does.

Foe my first nanny job, I was 18 and learning to drive. However because of the cost it was taking a while, so my boss paid for a crash course in lessons. I basically had 5 days of lessons. I didn't pass the first time but I did the second. There wasn't any mention of paying it back or anything, I was with them for two years in the end.
We did live in a small village so in the long run I needed to be able to drive.

Does this new nanny want to learn to drive, that would be my first question? And would you be happy for your DC to be driven around by a new, in experienced driver would be my second?

I always think you need to drive in case of emergencies

We’re not so much in a major town/city. Not totally rural. But a small village 8 mins drive from The local town. Which then has good Transport links (trains) Into London. But that’s if you’re driving just to get to the local town it’s eight minutes. I’ll have to check how long it would take for public transport to get to the things she’d need to get to. But I also don’t want her to feel isolated..

Yes, she’s willing to have a license.

Do you live quite central to a town? That’s my only issue as we aren’t so much

Plus, I’m alone parent household with no immediate family nearby. So a car would be beneficial if there’s ever any emergencies when I’m not around

I wouldn’t want a new/inexperienced driver driving my dc around tbh.

Thanks for this for sharing from The aspect of being in the Nanny’s position. I do feel it would be beneficial for her to not feel she needs to be reliant on public transport where we live.

That’s what I was thinking about one of those crash courses. I’ll chat about it with her. As she really is a great potential candidate I don’t want her to feel the role isn’t for her when she comes for a trial due to the huge difference in public transport compared to that of what she’s used to in London in her previous roles

No I live semi rurally in the north east with quite mediocre transport links, we walk a lot. If there's an emergency surely she could just call a cab or get an Uber or something.

A new inexperienced driver would be a greater concern to me than someone who didn't drive.

Yes, she’s open To getting a license. But that’s another aspect that a friend mentioned to me that you’ve just mentioned.. A new driver driving around my daughter..

ahhh yes, this is very true. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this.. uber! 💡

When you weigh up the cost of getting the license sorting out the car, insurance, etc

Maybe if she’s happy with the Transport links when she comes for her trial, there may be no need to go down the getting a license route and like you said for any emergencies or anything there’s always taxi option.

You need to be aware that booking a test is a jeffing nightmare. You can’t book a test until you have done the theory test (not too hard to book). Then you need to log on on a Monday at 6am to try and get a test slot anywhere. Then you need to try and get a swap to somewhere you can actually get to

Is there uber or similar where you live? You will be able to pay for a LOT of Uber trips for the money it would cost to pay for driving lessons, buy a car, and run a car and insure it.

I can’t really advise as we live in zone 2 London with good public transport so I’ve never had a nanny drive my DC. But then I don’t drive them round myself during the week either - we always take the tube to school, etc. I do think it is good for kids not to expect to be chauffeured everywhere, and to get comfortable with walking and taking public transport most of the time if possible. I think in your shoes if the nanny is that good, I’d hire her and get them generally taking public transport, but be generous about Ubers/minivans when the weather is bad or the bus is super delayed or whatever.

It may well take most of a year for her to qualify

And if she fails the practical then you have to start again trying to get a test slot.

Yes, since another poster commented about this, I think you’re right about this regarding the overall costs and the fact uber is so easily sorted when it’s needed to be. Thanks

Not sure of age of child but will car seats for uber be doable?

Just pay for the taxis. Not driving lessons.

Ahhhh! Good point! Little one is 22 months atm

No way would a new inexperienced driver be taking my 2yr old in a car.

My dd has just passed her test and although she is a good and confident driver you can tell she is still new and admits herself she can get nervous when unexpected things happen.

I’d rather a non-driver than an inexperienced driver to be honest.

I don’t drive and rely on walking and public transport to get my child everywhere and it’s fine. His nursery always comment on the fact that he’s one of very few children that don’t complain when they go on outings where they are walking to places in our town. The others who get driven everywhere always complain that it’s too far!

What I would look at is if there is a good quality car seat that you can get that she has access to that is easy for her to install in taxis/ubers etc. I’m not sure if there is quite a compact own for that age group where it wouldn’t be a hassle keeping it with her on outings? Could be something to look into ☺️

If there is an emergency then can she not get an uber ?

I had a non driving nanny
she walked the kids to school and back and to appts
used local buses etc
its total doable if you have stuff on walking distance and decent public transport