Hi Folks,

I'm in the process of applying for a new job at a local authority. They have stated that a condition of employment is access to your own vehicle.

Is it unreasonable to ask that the council cover the added cost of the business insurance & pay mileage allowance at interview? At my current employer there are pool cars available so this isn't an issue.

Rather than asking will they pay for the insuarance and fuel, it may sound better to just ask what their policy is. they will have a policy and I doubt you would be at a disadvantage from it.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Changing to business insurance will have an admin fee for changing you policy mid way through. When you renew you may well find it's only a pound or two more than social/domestic/commuting. It was for my wife.

Depends on your insurers. I got business cover for free incl no admin charge or premium loading.

Some policies cover business use as standard.

Own vehicle does not mean at your cost. I think it just mean that you're not getting a company car. But you should enquire insurance/ fuel regardless.
In my company we have a special form to claim own car fuel use when on work duties.

Both my sister and her boyfriend work for their local council, but their roles have different vehicular requirements. My sister is a LifeLine Warden, which means she has her own small van supplied from the council, which is obviously insured and fuel supplied by the council. However, she can't use the van for any non-work mileage - even if she's passing Tescos, for example, she's not allowed to go into there (even if she's finished work and on her way home!), the van has a tracker on it and they apparently know if she does.

Her boyfriend works in the village (cleaner), and uses his own car for certain work duties - for which he gets paid a mileage allowance (wear and tear) and claims his fuel back for that mileage - if he has to attend a meeting at the council head office he gets paid extra. Not sure what his insurance arrangements are - technically, he should be covered for business use, but whether he is or not I couldn't say.

I worked for two different local authorities in the past. One paid an amount to cover the use of my car (£1000 p.a. IIRC over the year) and a reduced mileage rate when I was an essential car user, the other paid me a better rate of mileage but nothing more when I was a casual car user.

I'd be amazed if they weren't at least paying mileage rates.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/nimmanual/nim05740.htm