Car Use During Working Hours
Car Use During Personal Time
Insurance Deductible
Gas Allowance
Regular Maintenance and Repairs
Setting Limits
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Car Use During Working Hours
It is standard within the nanny industry to provide a nanny use of a car during working hours. Although there are a growing number of nannies willing to use their own cars to transport their charge, that is still the exception rather than the rule.
If a prospective employer is not offering a car for work use, make sure you discuss the reasons during the interview process. Some employers are not comfortable with their child being “out and about” which can be a very difficult situation if you don’t fully agree with that philosophy. If an employer is not providing a car because of financial reasons, suggest they buy a used car, lease an inexpensive 3rd car or pay you to use your own car.
Car Use During Personal Time
Although the trend is shifting, there are still a significant number of families that provide live-in nannies with a car for personal use. Most employers have a 3rd car designated for the nanny. For safety or space reasons, the nanny will often drive the “kid car” (i.e. van, SUV) during the day and switch with a parent for evenings and weekends. Some employers that use public transportation for their daily commute leave their car for the nanny to use during working hours and then share their car with the nanny during off hours. This situation can work, but it has many potential problems so consider this issues carefully before accepting a job with a shared car. Some live-in nannies already own their own car and continue to use it during personal time.
More and more higher salaried live-out nannies are asking for (and getting) a car for personal use as well. This is a new benefit to hit the industry but it is catching on. Employers are finding it a great way to attract and retain quality, long-term caregivers. Because the nanny doesn’t have to take on the cost of car payments, maintenance, repairs or insurance, this benefit translates into significant dollars for her. But to an employer that already provides the nanny with a car during working hours, the additional cost is negligible.
Insurance Deductible
Generally, the employer pays the deductible if the nanny is involved in an accident during working hours regardless of who is at fault. This includes the time she is transporting children and any time she is doing household errands. If the nanny is involved in an accident during personal time, some employers pay the deductible in any circumstance, some pay the deductible only if the nanny wasn’t at fault, some don’t pay the deductible al all. This is really a personal decision on the employer’s part. Whatever your policy is, it should be agreed upon before an accident happens. Also, make sure you knows of and agrees to the deductible amount if you are responsible for paying it. Many families carry a much higher deductible than a nanny can afford.
Gas Allowance
It is an employer’s responsibility to pay for the gas used during working hours. If you use the car during both work and personal hours, you can keep track of the work-related costs by tracking the mileage for work-related driving and figuring the corresponding cost of gas.
In many cases, the weekly amount will be the same (or close to it) so employers often pay a standard amount that only needs to be adjusted if the amount of driving or the cost of gas changes significantly.
Regular Maintenance and Repairs
As the owner of the car, the employer is responsible for the full cost of regular maintenance and any repairs needed. However most employers ask their nanny to schedule appointments and take the car in for service.
Setting Limits
As owner of the car, the employer has the right to set limits on its use. The key is finding a fair balance between her needs and your needs. Some will ask that you stay within yearly mileage limits or that you don’t allow anyone else to drive the car. Only you can decide what limits you can comfortably live with. All restrictions should be discussed and agreed to in advance and clearly outlined in the nanny / family work agreement.
