Leaving job after maternity leave - when can they take company car back?

[posypom]

I'm due to return to work in July but I'm planning to leave and go freelance instead. I'm only getting SMP which has now run out so I'm only hanging on for my accrued holiday which I'll be able to take as a lump sum. As a matter of courtesy I think it's polite to tell them my plans in plenty of time so they can find a replacement but if I hand in my notice earlier than my required one month notice period, will they be able to ask for my company car back sooner? Or is it my best interest not to tell them until the last possible moment, which will make things awkward for them? Now I've made the decision not to go back I don't want to string them along but I don't want to shoot myself in the foot at the same time.

Are they still paying running costs for your company car? Might they ask you to reimburse if you don't return to work?

They pay the insurance, tax and maintenance costs which are part of the 'benefit' so they can't ask me to repay that. I pay for my diesel. There's nothing in my contract about repaying anything if I don't go back as I didn't get anything above the statutory minimum.

Bump?

Depends, is it a benefit or business need car. I.e. was it listed as part of your package and do you pay tax on the benefit of it.

It was listed as part of my package and I do pay tax on it. Does that mean they can or can't take it early?

In 2008 I was due to return to return to work after maternity leave. I knew I wasn't going to go back (iirc I gave slightly more than the recommended notice). I kept my car until my last day with the company and then bought it from the lease company, and so it legally became mine (or actually DH's) the day I officially left the company.

So not sure if that is helpful to you or not....but with the company I worked for, I kept my car until my last day of maternity leave and apart from tax (got a bloody underpayment statement from HMRC for the car the other day ), I didn't have to pay the company anything back.

They can't take it early, no, you're entitled to keep all your benefits throughout maternity leave.