Is this an allowed use of a company car?

Sunday88

Hi all

Just trying to plan some cost savings and unsure if this is allowed...

Currently I lease a car through NHS fleet solutions - this contract ends in June and I will be giving the car back. 
My husband has a company car however since the pandemic he is WFH most days, and may have to go back in for some meetings/national visits maybe 2 or 3 times per week going forward.

I am also a 'hybrid' worker now and annoyingly we are often both wfh with both cars sat on the driveway, which seems like a huge waste of money.

When my car lease is over in June I was hoping to use my husbands company car to travel to my place of work if he is WFH, and if we both need to be out on the same day I will get public transport or an uber and this would still be cheaper than paying for an expensive lease car.
However just thought - will his company car insurance cover me for travelling to my own place of work? I will check the contract but does anyone have any understanding or knowledge of insurance cover, and if I am not currently covered is it possible to add on business cover for someone else's commute to a company car contract?

Many thanks

Brie

I doubt his company insurance would cover you at all.  Additionally you may not be allowed to drive it (other than perhaps in an emergency) particularly as many companies have a policy of employees needing to take safe driving training.  Ultimately I think you will have to confirm exactly what his company allows, or more precisely he'll need to confirm.  And get it in writing if someone says you are allowed.  

Grumpy_chap

Sunday88 said:

Hi all

Just trying to plan some cost savings and unsure if this is allowed...

Currently I lease a car through NHS fleet solutions - this contract ends in June and I will be giving the car back. 
My husband has a company car however since the pandemic he is WFH most days, and may have to go back in for some meetings/national visits maybe 2 or 3 times per week going forward.

I am also a 'hybrid' worker now and annoyingly we are often both wfh with both cars sat on the driveway, which seems like a huge waste of money.

When my car lease is over in June I was hoping to use my husbands company car to travel to my place of work if he is WFH, and if we both need to be out on the same day I will get public transport or an uber and this would still be cheaper than paying for an expensive lease car.
However just thought - will his company car insurance cover me for travelling to my own place of work? I will check the contract but does anyone have any understanding or knowledge of insurance cover, and if I am not currently covered is it possible to add on business cover for someone else's commute to a company car contract?

Many thanks

This varies.
The only way to get an answer is to check the actual insurance in force plus the policy at your husband's employer.
Start by looking at the contract of employment, staff handbook etc.

Sunday88

Thanks both. I think I am already covered for personal use however have never considered that a business use might not cover me for another employer. Will definitely get it all in writing!

Ebe_Scrooge

Grumpy_chap said:

Sunday88 said:

Hi all

Just trying to plan some cost savings and unsure if this is allowed...

Currently I lease a car through NHS fleet solutions - this contract ends in June and I will be giving the car back. 
My husband has a company car however since the pandemic he is WFH most days, and may have to go back in for some meetings/national visits maybe 2 or 3 times per week going forward.

I am also a 'hybrid' worker now and annoyingly we are often both wfh with both cars sat on the driveway, which seems like a huge waste of money.

When my car lease is over in June I was hoping to use my husbands company car to travel to my place of work if he is WFH, and if we both need to be out on the same day I will get public transport or an uber and this would still be cheaper than paying for an expensive lease car.
However just thought - will his company car insurance cover me for travelling to my own place of work? I will check the contract but does anyone have any understanding or knowledge of insurance cover, and if I am not currently covered is it possible to add on business cover for someone else's commute to a company car contract?

Many thanks

This varies.
The only way to get an answer is to check the actual insurance in force plus the policy at your husband's employer.
Start by looking at the contract of employment, staff handbook etc.

This ^^^^  There simply is no correct generic reply to your question - it depends entirely on the company's own policies & procedures, and what level of cover their insurance policies provide.  Some companies will restrict cover to only a single specified driver, some will allow "any company employee", some will allow "specified driver plus immediate family as long as they're over 25 and have no more than 3 points on their licence", etc. etc.  Your husband needs to verify with his employer.

If it turns out that you're not covered, it may be worth asking if you could be added if you pay any additional premiums that become due.  No idea if this would be possible, but no harm in asking.

But whatever the outcome, please make absolutely sure you're clear on what the company's rules are.  Worst case, you could end up with you being done for driving without insurance as well as your husband facing a disciplinary .....

Sunday88

Yes definitely need to be completely clear that we are covered before I use it. I have never driven it even for personal use so I have until June to clarify what the situation is and hopefully be able to add on additional insurance before my lease car is given back. 

Ebe_Scrooge

Sunday88 said:

Yes definitely need to be completely clear that we are covered before I use it. I have never driven it even for personal use so I have until June to clarify what the situation is and hopefully be able to add on additional insurance before my lease car is given back. 

Hopefully it won't be too difficult to find out for certain.  Most larger companies have a "fleet manager" or similar who's job it is to look after all the company cars.  They'll be well-versed in all the in's and out's, and in all probability will already have been asked this very question dozens of times before

marlot

As an alternative, is it possible for your husband to give back his car and change to a car allowance?  You could then buy/lease a car and insure it for you both to use for business?

Car_54

Ebe_Scrooge said:

Grumpy_chap said:p

Sunday88 said:

Hi all

Just trying to plan some cost savings and unsure if this is allowed...

Currently I lease a car through NHS fleet solutions - this contract ends in June and I will be giving the car back. 
My husband has a company car however since the pandemic he is WFH most days, and may have to go back in for some meetings/national visits maybe 2 or 3 times per week going forward.

I am also a 'hybrid' worker now and annoyingly we are often both wfh with both cars sat on the driveway, which seems like a huge waste of money.

When my car lease is over in June I was hoping to use my husbands company car to travel to my place of work if he is WFH, and if we both need to be out on the same day I will get public transport or an uber and this would still be cheaper than paying for an expensive lease car.
However just thought - will his company car insurance cover me for travelling to my own place of work? I will check the contract but does anyone have any understanding or knowledge of insurance cover, and if I am not currently covered is it possible to add on business cover for someone else's commute to a company car contract?

Many thanks

This varies.
The only way to get an answer is to check the actual insurance in force plus the policy at your husband's employer.
Start by looking at the contract of employment, staff handbook etc.

This ^^^^  There simply is no correct generic reply to your question - it depends entirely on the company's own policies & procedures, and what level of cover their insurance policies provide.  Some companies will restrict cover to only a single specified driver, some will allow "any company employee", some will allow "specified driver plus immediate family as long as they're over 25 and have no more than 3 points on their licence", etc. etc.  Your husband needs to verify with his employer.

If it turns out that you're not covered, it may be worth asking if you could be added if you pay any additional premiums that become due.  No idea if this would be possible, but no harm in asking.

But whatever the outcome, please make absolutely sure you're clear on what the company's rules are.  Worst case, you could end up with you being done for driving without insurance as well as your husband facing a disciplinary .....

… and a charge of permitting?

Grumpy_chap

Ebe_Scrooge said:

Sunday88 said:

Yes definitely need to be completely clear that we are covered before I use it. I have never driven it even for personal use so I have until June to clarify what the situation is and hopefully be able to add on additional insurance before my lease car is given back. 

Hopefully it won't be too difficult to find out for certain.  Most larger companies have a "fleet manager" or similar who's job it is to look after all the company cars.  They'll be well-versed in all the in's and out's, and in all probability will already have been asked this very question dozens of times before

It is worth checking what the available "rules" say in documents that the OP already has.  They may be clear and avoid the need to ask.

Maybe not if the OP's husband works for a larger company with a "Fleet Manager", but if the OP's husband works for a smaller / mid-sized company, this is the type of question that, if asked, a Line Manager just says "no" without really thinking or bothering to look it up, but says what they think is protecting the business against an "outrageous" misuse of company assets.  I've also worked for smaller companies where the "Fleet Manager" or HR or the General Administrator did not have a company car so any request with regard to use of the car is met with belligerence.

If the OP's husband's car cannot be used for the OP to commute to work, there are alternative options rather than a renewal of the lease cycle. 
The OP has mentioned UBER.  
The OP could also consider an older, cheaper car if the need is not there for every-day use (given hybrid working).

As an outlier option, does the OP's husband have an option to give their car back and take a car allowance instead?  One owned car between the OP and the OP's husband would be without the rules and restrictions that keeping the company car may have.  The benefit of the company car is reduced if the use is now less and / or restrictions are requiring another car anyway.

Grey_Critic

Back in the days when I had a company car both my wife and I were covered for SDP - only I was covered for work.