Working for council, using own car.

ohreallƳ

https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2026/03/mileage-rate-review-is-long-overdue-says-unison

What has trade union said. Personally I wouldn't tolerate how the council are handling this.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81997994#Comment_81997994

You say your job is transporting people… are you sure you dont need Hire and Reward rather than business use?

You should be able to add the vehicle as a Temporary Additional Vehicle to your own policy if the courtesy car doesnt cover what you do as standard. Its also possible to hire taxis (as in a taxi driver hires one to use whilst their car is in for repair so they can keep earning) and so appropriate hire vehicles are available, obviously its up to you to determine if its more cost effective to hire a vehicle or take a days holiday.

MasterG83

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81998098#Comment_81998098

Dont forget depreciation and additional 12500 miles a year would add.

Savvy_Sue

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81999390#Comment_81999390

I'm not sure you can hire a taxi unless you've got the appropriate licence from the local authority. (I discovered this when we had a vehicle at work and were investigating adapting a taxi for that purpose. Could not hire or borrow one to check whether it actually did what we needed.)

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81999889#Comment_81999889

Having handled many claims from taxi drivers that our insured have hit I can certainly say it is possible but yes its not as straightforward as hiring a regular car… there are even specialist accident management companies to cash in on it like https://www.cabaid.co.uk

Our non-specialist hire car company could sort out vehicles for major metropolitan areas, no idea if it was their own or they subcontracted, but there network wasnt infinite and they'd probably decline the job for some remote welsh village.

Hated dealing with taxi drivers, almost everyone of them claimed they worked 7 days a week, taking at least £1,000+ a day but couldn't provide any paperwork as they'd only been going 6 months. The fact that many declined our offer a replacement licensed vehicle probably tells you enough but most settled at a reasonable number especially after we informed them that HMRC could be interest in their claimed £400k revenue

sheramber

Somebody else must transport the people when your are off.

Could they do it permanently and you no longer need to do it?

Was it part of the job description when you accepted the job and were you happy with arrangement?

Isthisforreal99

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81998805#Comment_81998805

Nothing stopping an employer paying more (subject to tax) if they wantes ro and some employers do.

Neil_Jones

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6668254/working-for-council-using-own-car

I'd probably argue if you work for the council and your job is to transport people, shouldn't they be providing the transport vehicle and you drive these people around in that?

World of difference between using your car to get from council site to council site to work (and most councils will probably have hundreds of council buildings) and using your vehicle to deliver a service (presumably)

BikingBud

Can't see where the OP said they also do personal miles as many seem to be surmising.

Perhaps the OP has other transport that meets their other needs yet the council has enforced essential car user status as cheap way out, based upon 45p per mile being much lower than actual capital and running costs.

I would work the maintenance into my normal weekly schedule and advise you line manager that due to vehicle being serviced full range of tasks cannot be assured.

There are many routes to getting the vehicle serviced, dropping it off or getting it collected being the simplest.

Scottish_Dorset

Thank you for all of the comments, always appreciated.

Yes, I do have to supply a vehicle as per my contract. I do not work from an office, my work hours although generally 8 hours per day, vary with start and finish times which change regularly. That is I can't book in somewhere at 4pm for next Thursday as I don't know where I will be or when I will finish. I don't work alone, I am part of a team so there is cover as when I am on A/L. My job is not for hire and reward, but transporting people is part of it, I work for Children's Services. I have to provide proof of licence, MOT and insurance every year. And yes, as someone stated, it looks as if the the 45ppm is enough, but there is more servicing/repairs/replacements required, along with a higher/quicker level of depreciation. I do about 2K per year personal mileage in this car. I have other transport that I use for my personal use. Often weekend work is more expensive in some garages. If I get in my car in the morning and it won't start, I would have to take a day off as A/L.

I will probably contact my Union, on behalf of myself and my work colleagues.