Company Car Advice

I think it's still do-able, but with some very tight constraints.

If you work in a fixed location, the vehicle has to be left there
overnight.

If you're 'field based', then you can't use it for *any* private use at
all. Hence the stickers you see on a lot of works vans that instruct the
police to pull them if they're seen driving around in the evening or
weekend. (I know that's a crime reduction thing, but there would be no
point putting such stickers on if the employee had private use of the
vehicle)

 

Yep, a year or so back.
http://www.businesscarmanager.co.uk/pages/LawTaxfull.asp?id=12

 

I've only driven one once and as a car (aren't they a van with more
seats?) they're pretty crap but as a load carrier that you can stick
passengers in the back of they're ok.

 

I work from home so the rules are slightly different for me.

You're allowed a certain degree of private use before you pay any tax
but it's not a lot. We've been told that the tax man will accept the
occasional trip to the council tip or to a DIY shop but not using it
as your only form of private transport.

My company reckon that if I want a pick up I can have one and they'll
give me magnetic company logos to stop any snoopers from having a
close look at my personal use. At that point it's still a commercial
vehicle and I can play games with the tax man but it's one of those
things that if you get caught fucking about then you'll have your
mileage examined for previous years and could end up paying back tax
for no reason.

 

That ties in pretty much with my understanding of things.

The only other thing I'm not sure of is the tax implications if your
employer charges you for private mileage. Some of the guys I work with
declare vans/pick ups as being used for private trips and accept the
£3k liability but they claim back for money paid to the company for
private use.

 

A Zafira is an Astra estate with a high roof. You can flatten/remove the
rear seats to make a reasonable load carrier or take 7 adults in relative
comfort. I wouldn't want to own one but they work well as company pool
car/van combos.

 

We've got a Ford Ranger crew cab thing that isn't much better than a
Navara. I'd say avoid those as well.

 

[Zafira]

Pretty much a conventional estate, the bench seat slides about a foot
either way and there's two part time seats that fold into the boot
space. So you can do 5 adults in comfort and two with slightly less
room or 5 plus luggage.

 

I'm surprised Platy hasn't popped up and mentioned the Fuglipla yet.

 

Fugliplas are vastly superior to Zafiras. When they work.

 

Oh, very well, then.

"Platybus."

 

Mine has just short of 99K on the clock, 90K of which it's done in my hands.
It's had occasional problems, but overall it's been very reliable.

 

The S-Max 2.0TDCi 140PS is now available with the DPF 6-speed auto
transmission.

 

Just don't go trying to convince the clones on the Dartford Crossing
(highway robbery) that your pickup is your "private car".
We had that arguement in a Skoda Felicia Fun (don't ask) and a P100, both of
which were registered, taxed and insured as private cars but the DC guys
insisted they were commercials.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Dave Emerson

I had that once on the M6 toll road with a Pan Euro wivva trailer.
Northbound they charged me an extra quid. Southbound they wanted to
charge me as a car.

I got off the bike and entered into a looooooong philosophical
discussion in to the essential non-carness of my motorcycle.

When the queue got past 100 yards they agreed and took my money.

 

I had to remove my helmet at passport control on Sunday. I took care to put
it back on properly, fasten it, and then did the same with the gloves. Then
I started the bike and headed for check-in.

 

I took my lid off while waiting in the queue at passport control, then
left it hanging off my mirror stalk until I was on the boat. But then
I'm not as keen on futile gestures as you, apparently.

 

It's the first time in years that I've been required to remove my helmet at
passport control. I guess I'm less supine about this sort of thing than you
are.

 

One of the advantages of flip lids, although I am not sure the doris
in passport control considers easy access to view my visage an
advantage or not. I thought the french security check going was much
more in keeping with the free movement idea.

 

In your passport photo, is your face mostly obscured by a crash helmet?