Getting work car allowance

Paris2 · Nearly there... Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Karma :

My annual review for work is imminent, and I would like to argue the case for getting a car allowance. Currently I am getting 45p per mile for the mileage I do.

I have now been working at my current place for a year and as such will now be going on call. I will be one of 4 engineers who will be on 24/7 call out, one week in four. All 3 of the other engineers currently get a car allowance as part of their salary, I am not sure how much this is but circa 3-4k.

So what arguments can I put forth to my manager to give me an allowance following my review? The only obvious one is that once I am on call I may need to use my car at a moments notice possibly driving to the other side of the country, so having a well maintained car is a must?

The arguments against getting it that my manager may use is that the other engineers worked here for 2 years before getting an allowance. And I have already done many cross country jaunts and just obtained my 45ppm for it, so why should now be any different just because it could be the middle of the night.

Does anyone have any strong arguments I can use as this will boost my salary quite significantly.
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Matt B · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 May 2012 Karma :

Only that if you are doing the same job as the other 3 then you should have the same benefits regardless of how long you/they have worked there.
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dydey90 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2013 Karma :

How much are you driving for these callouts? If it's quite a lot (12k~ per year estimate) then you may be better off with the 45ppm.

I used to get that as an apprentice having to drive a long way for training courses every week and it added about 40% to my salary!

...Then they started giving me a hire car and that went away :/
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slowlydoesit · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 14 Oct 2012 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

OP may wish to point out that they REQUIRE class 1 business insurance and that the allowance will go towards it.

Paris2 · Nearly there... Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Karma :

Thanks for the answers so far.

The point about the business insurance is a good one, as I have had this insurance for the past year (paid for by myself).

The 45ppm will drop to just having used fuel paid for through expenses.

Mileage will vary greatly, some months I have done 1-2k, some months I have done zero. So in all an allowance will without a doubt have me better off than 45ppm.
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J0Al1 · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Nov 2006 Karma :

Marmalade · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Karma :

angryjonny · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Karma :

I get/got 45p a mile for business travel and I've been happy to do so over the years. But last year the company brought in this policy where you have to submit your licence and insurance details and do driving assessments if you want to drive for work. My response: fine, I'll go everywhere by taxi then. Idiots.

Paris2 · Nearly there... Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Karma :

I am happy for the 45ppm, as some months I have made a small chunk of money. Though with servicing and upkeep, having other months with no extra money at all doesn't help when the car needs money spent on it.

I think I have a reasonable argument for an allowance, as if they expect me to have a car in tip top condition ready to travel at a moments notice then surely they should pay for that privilege and not me?

If achieved it will more than pay for the running of my 8 year old Focus Very Happy

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angryjonny · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Karma :

Is ownership of a car a requirement for your job, contractually? If not, sell it. Tell them it needed too much work doing and it wasn't economical to keep on the road any more. Now you don't have a car. So you can't travel. Unless they give you a car.

Paris2 · Nearly there... Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Karma :

It is a requirement yes.

I had to sell my bike after working there for two months Crying or Very sad

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angryjonny · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Karma :

You should probably quit.

Seriously though... the only argument they'll listen to is what's in it for them. Think of something that justifies the outlay. Cheaper for them in the long run, less risk, your greater availability for being on-call. Whatever. It's not about what you want, it's about what's best for them. All you can do is spin it in their favour somehow.

Wonko The Sane · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jan 2013 Karma :

Paris2 · Nearly there... Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Karma :

My car is 8 years old, so is getting on a bit. The other guys at work have cars around the same age (albeit bmw's).

I'll try and sway it to sound in their favour, might be a bit hard though. They will need my car to be in good condition so that I can actually do my job? The less time I am able to be on call, the more time my boss has to be? Laughing

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Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Whatever you go for, don't push it. More and more companies are working that it's cheaper and easier to have an account with Enterprise than to have to handle the admin of car allowances, company cars, mileage claims, servicing, knowing who is allowed to claim what, etc.

There is probably nothing much in it for you, particularly if the car allowance is taxed.

angryjonny · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Karma :

My wife gets a car allowance. She doesn't drive for work. She doesn't even drive to work. They don't even have a car park. Funny old world.

Suntan Sid · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2009 Karma :

This is no help whatsoever but I was getting 59ppm 12 years ago, things are slipping! Confused

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Paris2 · Nearly there... Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Karma :

So I have had my review, and no I did not get offered a car allowance.

So I am now on 24/7 call out, 2 weeks out of 6, for which I may need my car. I will be paid the normal 45ppm but will have no contribution towards anything else car wise.

It is a done thing now, but is there any way I can argue this further/put my point across better with my managers?

On an extra note I was also made aware at my interview that I would need to purchase a car (I used to commute by bike), as I will need one for my job. Fair enough, I sold my bike and bought a sensible diesel.
I was told that I would get a car allowance "in due course" for said car. Fair enough. I am now at the point where they need me to have a working car to do my job (not just use occasionally) so I would call right now "due course"?

Would anyone else be frustrated in my position, or am I over reacting?
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ficedula · Scooby Slapper Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Karma :

It's perhaps a little crap of them to promise a car allowance 'in due course' and not deliver when you're actually required to have a car for the job, but you could've squeezed a firmer commitment out of them at the time, so it's not like they've done anything too shifty. It's kind of plausible that they figured 'in due course' meant 'after two years'.

Frankly if you're getting the full 45ppm out of them you''re not too screwed - even a reasonably sized petrol car will cost <20ppm in fuel, so you really should be covering your running costs, unless business coverage on your insurance is sky high for some reason.

In your position I might just get them to confirm in writing that the car allowance comes after two years - since you said that's when the other engineers got it. Then at least that's official, rather than a vague 'in due course, maybe, some day'.
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JonB · Afraid of Mileage Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

45ppm is a really good rate that you are getting however.

I do get a car allowance and that covers my loan payment on my car.

But I only get 25ppm to cover fuel, maintenance, insurance, tax etc. But I have no problem at all covering these.

My car gets about 50-55mpg. I get about 550 miles to £60. If you bear in mind that at 25p per mile, if every mile of the tank was business, i'd get paid nearly £140. That's £80 to take care of wear and tear.

If you are careful and accrue the money claimed back it is easy to pay for a car.

Are other companies with the same role offering car allowances for your level of seniority? If so, get a new job.
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Paris2 · Nearly there... Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Karma :

The problem I have is that some months I do no miles at all, leaving me just worse off for having a car at the ready.

If I didn't need a car for my job, I wouldn't have one, simple. I would still be on the bike, which probably makes me a bit more bitter about the whole thing.
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JonB · Afraid of Mileage Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

If that is the case, you don't need a car allowance. Your business needs a car rental account. Why would a business pay you money for a car if there is the chance it won't be used for potentially a month or more? Unless it is a perk of course.
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Paris2 · Nearly there... Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Karma :

gavcarter · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 28 Mar 2009 Karma :

sell car, get another bike. Tell boss no CAR ALLOWANCE = NO CAR - business insurance, petrol, repairs all too much you've covered it for x years and you need to control spending now.

You have bike to get you to and from site and / or work - if they want you on call out they can give you small van/ car to use - or pay you the allowance.

May not be "right" but its deffo what I would do - but then again im the type of person who wont use my own tools to do a company job etc if they dont have the right tool it doesnt get done etc.