Car share is it fair to ask for a small contribution?

YorkshireBoy

Gin_and_Milk wrote: »

My insurance covers me for business and domestic use (I sometimes have to travel to meetings, carry passengers etc).

It may not cover you if you make a profit from the activity...

http://www.carpooling.co.uk/pages/service_insurance

So you might want to keep records (if you decide to go ahead).

YorkshireBoy

fivetide wrote: »

edit to add- there is no reward, you aren't profiting.

OP said they drove past the work colleague's house. It doesn't cost £2.50 to stop and start again...twice.

Likewise taxman so ignore that.

Did you miss the 'wink'?

Mojisola

Gin_and_Milk wrote: »

A colleague of mine is moving very near to where I live, in fact I'll be driving past his flat (or very near to), 4 days per week. As he doesn't drive I have a sneaky suspicion that he'll be hoping for a lift to and from work.

Would it be fair to ask for a contribution for fuel, say £10 per week, or am I being tight fisted? It's a ten mile journey each way, so 80 miles per week.

He is registered disabled and doesn't have to pay any travel costs, but he also earns quite a bit more than me. My OH and I have just moved down to one car as we need to save money.

So am I being tight because I wouldn't I have to go out of my way, or fair to ask for the equivalent of £2.50 per day?

If he wasn't prepared to get to work on public transport, he shouldn't have chosen to move to the new house. If he's moved there presuming that you will give him a lift, he's being very arrogant. I'd be quite happy to ask for £10 if that's his thinking.

When you weigh up the cost of a door-to-door taxi service to work or the extra traveling time if he went by public transport, I'd think I'd got a bargain if I were him. He always has the option of saying "No, thanks" to you if he doesn't want to pay £10!

Personally, I'd be wary of making it every day, twice a day. If you're already a bit resentful of the way you think he's "forcing" you into offering a lift and you enjoy your quiet time in the car, you're starting off on the wrong foot. If he isn't always on time and you have to wait around for him or he starts suggesting you "just stop off at the shop so he can pick up some things" on the way home, it's going to get very difficult.

System

You need to be careful that you do not become his 'chauffeur' he needs to be aware that the time of the lift is based on your working day and not his. For example if you finish early you will not wait for him.

Gin_and_Milk

I won't offer him a lift - I'll leave it to him to ask, then mention 'car share'. Although £10 per week was a figure that popped into my head, I was also mindful of the 'convenience' factor when it did. That said, I spend more than a tenner, so no way am I making a profit. I did find a website (I'm not allowed to post a link), whereby an amount was calculated for car sharing. After inputting details such as engine size, mileage, number of journeys, passenger numbers etc, it said the amount paid should be £2.85 a day (it takes into account emissions too). I wouldn't ask him for that much, but it did make interesting reading.

HappyMJ

Gin_and_Milk wrote: »

I won't offer him a lift - I'll leave it to him to ask, then mention 'car share'. Although £10 per week was a figure that popped into my head, I was also mindful of the 'convenience' factor when it did. That said, I spend more than a tenner, so no way am I making a profit. I did find a website (I'm not allowed to post a link), whereby an amount was calculated for car sharing. After inputting details such as engine size, mileage, number of journeys, passenger numbers etc, it said the amount paid should be £2.85 a day (it takes into account emissions too). I wouldn't ask him for that much, but it did make interesting reading.

What website is that? The cost of fuel is 15p per mile for a small petrol or medium sized diesel car (HMRC advisory rates) http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cars/advisory_fuel_current.htm split that between 2 is 7.5p each multiplied by 10 then by 8 is £6 per week. If you charge more than that you would be making a profit.

If you want your own personal space for 20 minutes twice a day then don't offer the lift.

zappahey

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

It may not cover you if you make a profit from the activity...

http://www.carpooling.co.uk/pages/service_insurance

So you might want to keep records (if you decide to go ahead).

On the other hand, they could just be realistic and not bother.

Mojisola

HappyMJ wrote: »

What website is that? The cost of fuel is 15p per mile for a small petrol or medium sized diesel car (HMRC advisory rates) http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cars/advisory_fuel_current.htm split that between 2 is 7.5p each multiplied by 10 then by 8 is £6 per week. If you charge more than that you would be making a profit.

What about all the maintenance costs, insurance, car tax, and MOT.

The cost of a car journey involves a lot more than the fuel in the tank.

Also compare £10 to the time he is saving every day and the benefits of not having to be out in the winter weather.

If he didn't value the lift to work enough to give me £10, I wouldn't pick him up every day.

Reggie_Rebel

I'm on the other side to the OP as in not being able to drive due to a medical condition at the moment. I have been getting a lift from a colleague and are more than happy to give her a tenner a week for picking me up.

SailorSam

I'd be happy to pay someone £10 a week to take me to and from work.
I'm like you and prefer the 'me' time, the trouble with giving lifts is you always start thinking of them, and times you don't want to go into work or perhaps go somewhere on the way home and instead of doing what you want you'll find you go out of your way for your mate.