We know that getting a new car involves making a lot of decisions, and this is especially true if you're considering a car benefit from your company. So that you can make the right decision we think it's important you have all the information you might need which is why we've put together this piece outlining what your responsibilities would be if you took a salary sacrifice car.
The points mentioned below are just general guidelines and your company may have specific responsibilities that are relevant to your role or industry. For example, some companies require their driver carry safety equipment and it's their responsibility to make sure it is present and working correctly.
You will be responsible for ensuring that your salary sacrifice car is safe and legal. If you do find any issues then you'll need to communicate these to your fleet manager as soon as possible so that they can be fixed.
You won't be responsible for the cost of servicing and maintenance as these will usually be included in your salary sacrifice lease. But you are responsible for getting the car seen to when it's needed. The cost of repairs due to normal wear and tear or accidental punctures is also covered, but damage caused by negligence is not.
In order to do the above most companies will ask you to:
If your company has partnered with us to provide their salary sacrifice schemes then your main responsibilities will be:
There may also be additional responsibilities depending on your business' requirements. We will let you know these at the point of joining the scheme.
At the end of your agreement you will be responsible for any damage that is more than “fair wear and tear”. Most schemes will adhere to the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) guidelines on wear and tear, which are designed to be fair to both driver and funder. We recommend inspecting the vehicle around a month before the end of your contract so that you can spot any issues you can arrange for these to be repaired with your employer.
All car lease agreements are based on a set number of miles each year (usually between 5,000 and 10,000 miles). If at the end of your lease you have gone above your lease contract mileage allowance then there will be a charge for this, which is charged as pence per mile. For example, if your contract has an excess mileage change of 25p per mile and you exceed the total mileage allowance by 100 miles then you'll be charged £250.
Any end of contract charges will usually be invoiced to your company by the vehicle funder and then your company will contact you to advise of the additional costs. How you pay these charges may vary depending on your company's policy but this will all be outlined in your agreement.
When you take a salary sacrifice car you will be responsible for making sure that it is in a legal road-worthy condition. This will involve you checking over the car regularly for any potential issues and contacting your fleet management team to rectify them.
When you're inspecting your vehicle you want to look at:
If you spot any issues then you'll simply need to let your fleet management team know
It will depend on your specific scheme but generally, maintenance will be included with your salary sacrifice car and you'll be given the relevant phone number for your funder's maintenance team, or you can contact your fleet manager and get the details from them.
You will need to let your fleet manager know if there is any damage to your car. If this is something caused by general wear and tear then they will arrange for this to be looked at as part of your maintenance package. If the problem is due to driver error or an accident then you will still need to notify your fleet manager and they'll be able to advise you on the course of action based on the individual circumstances
