Advice wanted - Company Pool car
Discussion
I work for a small company that just has the one pool car that is for anyone to use on company business.
As that car is rarely used, it sits in the car park for weeks on end until someone needs to go out in it, when (suprise, suprise) it refuses to start or the brakes have seized up etc. (Last time someone tried to look under the bonnet, the release catch had rusted so badly that the bonnet could not be lifted!)
As seem to be the only one in the company that can be bothered to look after my company car, I have been offically asked to look after the pool car. While I am not bothered by having this extra duty added to my job role, I am wondering about any potential (legal or otherwise) shortcomings that could be 'attached' to this responsibility.
Would it be worth having some kind of written agreement as to exactly what I should be checking / testing and if so can anyone suggest anything?
Thanks in advance
As that car is rarely used, it sits in the car park for weeks on end until someone needs to go out in it, when (suprise, suprise) it refuses to start or the brakes have seized up etc. (Last time someone tried to look under the bonnet, the release catch had rusted so badly that the bonnet could not be lifted!)
As seem to be the only one in the company that can be bothered to look after my company car, I have been offically asked to look after the pool car. While I am not bothered by having this extra duty added to my job role, I am wondering about any potential (legal or otherwise) shortcomings that could be 'attached' to this responsibility.
Would it be worth having some kind of written agreement as to exactly what I should be checking / testing and if so can anyone suggest anything?
Thanks in advance
From a company perspective, I'd have thought the order or priority here would be safety followed by reliability.
You could do a lot worse than get the car in for a full service and checkover at a local garage. This is as much for the employer's benefit as yours (minimising liability issues etc).
In the absence of a service, somewhere like Kwik Fit should offer a free vehicle safety check to confirm the roadworthiness of the car - tyres, brakes etc.
We have a fairly basic company car policy we issue to our staff. It lays out the responsibilities of the Employer and the Employee. Our situation is somewhat different to yours though in that our staff are dotted around the country and I do not get to see their cars often enough to check their roadworthiness. Hence we insist they are serviced religiously in accordance with mfrs schedules and that tyres and brakes are checked weekly (they do bucket loads of miles !). I'd be more than happy to mail you a copy. There may be bits and pieces in there which are of help.
Regarding 'pool cars'. The taxman has decreed that a pool car should remain at the office overnight and should not be used for an employee to drive home and then back the following morning. Whilst many people take the risk, declare their company cars as 'pool cars' and use them as regular company cars, you do run the risk of an over zealous tax inspector paying an impromptu visit. If he decides that you have not been using the car as a pool car (as defined by their definition) then you may find yourself liable for a heap of backdated company car BIK tax.
You could do a lot worse than get the car in for a full service and checkover at a local garage. This is as much for the employer's benefit as yours (minimising liability issues etc).
In the absence of a service, somewhere like Kwik Fit should offer a free vehicle safety check to confirm the roadworthiness of the car - tyres, brakes etc.
We have a fairly basic company car policy we issue to our staff. It lays out the responsibilities of the Employer and the Employee. Our situation is somewhat different to yours though in that our staff are dotted around the country and I do not get to see their cars often enough to check their roadworthiness. Hence we insist they are serviced religiously in accordance with mfrs schedules and that tyres and brakes are checked weekly (they do bucket loads of miles !). I'd be more than happy to mail you a copy. There may be bits and pieces in there which are of help.
Regarding 'pool cars'. The taxman has decreed that a pool car should remain at the office overnight and should not be used for an employee to drive home and then back the following morning. Whilst many people take the risk, declare their company cars as 'pool cars' and use them as regular company cars, you do run the risk of an over zealous tax inspector paying an impromptu visit. If he decides that you have not been using the car as a pool car (as defined by their definition) then you may find yourself liable for a heap of backdated company car BIK tax.
WannaNiceCar said:
I work for a small company that just has the one pool car that is for anyone to use on company business.
As that car is rarely used, it sits in the car park for weeks on end until someone needs to go out in it, when (suprise, suprise) it refuses to start or the brakes have seized up etc. (Last time someone tried to look under the bonnet, the release catch had rusted so badly that the bonnet could not be lifted!)
As seem to be the only one in the company that can be bothered to look after my company car, I have been offically asked to look after the pool car. While I am not bothered by having this extra duty added to my job role, I am wondering about any potential (legal or otherwise) shortcomings that could be 'attached' to this responsibility.
Would it be worth having some kind of written agreement as to exactly what I should be checking / testing and if so can anyone suggest anything?
Thanks in advance
I would have a check list (oil, water, service, mot, insurance tax) etc & check it off as a matrix. It would help you remember, and serve as documentary evidence.
I'd also log the mileage & users in & out! I note you already have a company car, so presumably you won't take this one home. This avoids a benefit in kind risk.
>> Edited by 2 Smokin Barrels on Wednesday 2nd February 18:30
Some good info there, thanks. Just to clarify a couple of points raised for anyone else who might have some suggestions / comments..
The car has been serviced at the correct intervals by the main agents (IIRC it has only done around 26k) although it should be about due for the next service soonish.
As far as taking the car home at nights and the taxman is concerned, this isn't a problem as I have to pay full benefits for my own company car anyway as I take that home every night and all fuel is paid for by the company.
Milage is supposed to be recorded by each user that takes the car out, although I haven't checked that this is being done, but this would be outside my remit anyway.
The car has been serviced at the correct intervals by the main agents (IIRC it has only done around 26k) although it should be about due for the next service soonish.
As far as taking the car home at nights and the taxman is concerned, this isn't a problem as I have to pay full benefits for my own company car anyway as I take that home every night and all fuel is paid for by the company.
Milage is supposed to be recorded by each user that takes the car out, although I haven't checked that this is being done, but this would be outside my remit anyway.
An afterthought on the way home from work....
Its worth checking everyone's driving licence to make sure its valid and to enable you to notify your insurance company of any endorsements.
You (or rather your company) don't want to be in the situation where the insurance company decides you are uninsured after an incident.
Its worth checking everyone's driving licence to make sure its valid and to enable you to notify your insurance company of any endorsements.
You (or rather your company) don't want to be in the situation where the insurance company decides you are uninsured after an incident.
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