Accepting payment from friend

[AdoraBell]

May I ask a quick question please?

I am driving friend's DCs home from school. This is a regular, long term, arrangement. Friend wants to pay me but that makes my private car a taxi, so I've said thanks but no thanks.

If she occasionally gives me something like a store gift voucher (her idea) or the odd box of chocs/ bottle of wine(my idea), does that still constitute payment in the legal sense?

Is there an intention to create legal relations? Is the friend merely contributing to petrol and running costs? Or paying you for their time?

It's paying for time as well, she wants to pay the same rate as she would pay a private school bus driver, just doesn't want to use the bus service.

I think you might invalidate your insurance by doing that. Sharing fuel costs would be another thing altogether, as would be her buying you regular gifts as thank yous. I haven't a clue about regulations covering taxis and private hire, but I suspect you'd fall foul of regulations there too. You're right to decline her offer. Can she do something for you in return, like babysitting? If there is no intention to create legal relations, then I'd imagine that would be fine.

Thank you, and yes it would invalidate the insurance, as I understand it. Because it is regular rather than a one off favour it makes it a taxi service as opposed to private car, of course I'm not insured to drive a taxi and don't want to be either.

Thanks for your help.