Is it ok to be getting lift to work?

DundeeDoll

My neighbour gives me a lift most mornings. Her and my work are very close and her husband drops us off. She texts if she' elsewhere and i walk or get the bus. I let them know in good time if I don't need a lift. Seems to work very well. They didn't want petrol money, seemed embarrassed by the idea but I sometimes buy chocolates for them if I go away.

charlies-aunt

Not much help and I am no legal eagle on these matters but I seem to think that the giving and accepting of petrol money for lifts does "something funny" to the terms of your car insurance - legal technicalities I guess....something along the lines of that the cars is no longer for your own private use and its being used for hire & reward and the passenger has an informal contract with you to supply lifts in exchange for money/gifts.... and if [God forbid] you have an accident, the insurance policy would not pay out because the car was not in private use when the accident occurred and the passenger would claim compensation for any injury directly from the driver


I drive as part of my job and am insured by my Company for driving in working hours ... but both my own and the Company Insurance is invalidated if I carry any passengers other than other members of staff in working hours

Pollycat

charlies-aunt wrote: »

Not much help and I am no legal eagle on these matters but I seem to think that the giving and accepting of petrol money for lifts does "something funny" to the terms of your car insurance - legal technicalities I guess....something along the lines of that the cars is no longer for your own private use and its being used for hire & reward and the passenger has an informal contract with you to supply lifts in exchange for money/gifts.... and if [God forbid] you have an accident, the insurance policy would not pay out because the car was not in private use when the accident occurred and the passenger would claim compensation for any injury directly from the driver


I drive as part of my job and am insured by my Company for driving in working hours ... but both my own and the Company Insurance is invalidated if I carry any passengers other than other members of staff in working hours

Good point ^^^^ :T

A quick google has found this:
http://www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/blog/ways-to-invalidate-your-car-insurance/

Your cover can also be invalidated if you start accepting money for lifts. Although insurers don’t mind you driving friends and family around, once you start charging people – and if you’re making a profit from these payments – you’re heading into ‘taxi’ territory and will need to change your insurance to reflect this.


According to The Association of British Insurers, car-sharing only doesn’t affect the insurance of their members provided the vehicle seats no more than eight passengers, and no profit is made from any payment by passengers.


The reason that accepting money could invalidate your cover is that most car insurance policies will only cover you for ‘social, domestic and pleasure’ use. This can even sometimes exclude commuting to work, which frankly seems a bit daft given that this is often the main reason for people even having a car.

Prothet_of_Doom

charlies-aunt wrote: »

Not much help and I am no legal eagle on these matters but I seem to think that the giving and accepting of petrol money for lifts does "something funny" to the terms of your car insurance - legal technicalities I guess....something along the lines of that the cars is no longer for your own private use and its being used for hire & reward and the passenger has an informal contract with you to supply lifts in exchange for money/gifts.... and if [God forbid] you have an accident, the insurance policy would not pay out because the car was not in private use when the accident occurred and the passenger would claim compensation for any injury directly from the driver


I drive as part of my job and am insured by my Company for driving in working hours ... but both my own and the Company Insurance is invalidated if I carry any passengers other than other members of staff in working hours

The opposite is true. Taking money to help pay for the petrol, is not a business, and insurance companies, and the HMRC are happy for it to continue.

Whilst you are driving your own car in your own time (or even a company car provided as part of a salary package), then there is no issue.
Whilst you are being paid to drive as an integral part of your job, then, you are making the company vicariously liable for your mistakes, which is why the insurance company would want to charge more for that risk, and why you are banned from giving lifts.

Lynplatinum

Evening

Dont think anyone on here has mentioned the possibility of the lift giver just doing it because they can?? Because they would like to add to the goodness in the world?? I have often given/offered lifts because I remember when I didnt have a car and how grateful I would have been for a lift.

Most folks have just said thank you which is all I required. A few gave a presy at Christmas. Very kind but not in the least expected. :A

Only once did I stop giving a lift - I went to a school about 10 mins from another teacher whos child, along with mine attended the same Scouts. She asked for a daily lift as we were working so near. I agreed. Unfortunately she was repeatedly late getting to mine which made me late. As teachers you cannot be late because 30+ kids are waiting for you AND you are supposed to set an example. then it seemed her husband could get out of bed and give her a lift!! He was unemployed!

But on the whole I recall fun conversations - useful exchange of information - and several acts of kindness from my liftees.
Take care all.

tori.k

I think your overthing it, I often give lifts to my work collegues one lady I picked up on route for two years same start times different finish, the reason she has said no to money as it's on route she not going out of her way, you will also want to get another form of transport for when she is on holiday or off sick.