How far would you travel for a gig?

[acnm]

Need to change your thinking IMO. You are a flexible resource to multiple clients where ever they are so a car is part of your ability to deliver. You can also claim mileage to go towards covering all those costs.

This is the first gig where I've even had to consider buying a car. Every other gig has been easily accessible by train/tube/bus.

I find it odd that people feel that you must have a car. Parking alone where I live is £1800pa (no street parking available). Add that to all of the other expenses and it becomes hugely expensive. We have a zipcar bay right outside so on the odd occasion I need to drive I use that.

Assuming I were to bite the bullet what is the cost per mile that can be claimed? Alternatively I assume I could arrange a long term rental or lease via my Ltd company?

[northernladuk]

Well your location has a massive bearing on the situation. Public transport severely limits your options on Manchester. I think saying you find it odd is a bit extreme but I guess if you live in London you could be forgiven. Everywhere else it's odd to think you wouldn't consider a car.

Car mileage is. 45p per mile for the first 10k miles and 25p after (but check that). Company cars are not efficient on the whole. It's a cost of doing business (outside the capital).

[eek]

Everywhere else it's odd to think you wouldn't consider a car.

Yep someone living near me is currently traveling to clientco via public transport. I think he needs lift / taxi, 2 trains and a 15 minute walk / bus each way. Granted it can take between 50-90 minutes to drive here but that's less painful than that journey.

One of the wisest moves my parents ever made was to move next to the railway station. knocking 1 step out of your journey makes everything far more pleasant..

[kevpuk]

Current gig is just under 90 miles, door-to-door, but can take up to 2.5hrs even though all motorway/dual-carriageway.
I choose to stay away for up to 3 nights each week, WFH at least 1 day/week, renting room via Spareroom. Of course, the balance is everything; trying to spend 4hrs+ each day driving, after a full working day, each and every day is too much, but the flip-side is that not at home with Mrs kevpuk and the kevpuk jrs......
I think around an hour each way is where I would draw the line for commuting, but this is tempered by being (currently) close enough to home to be able to readily choose to make the trip if I want to, each day, or need to.
Besides, new car just arrived at Killingholme docks, and when I collect in a couple of weeks I don't want to be loading the miles on

[SimonMac]

I have a rule of thumb, if its an hour, an hour and a half at a push I will commute, any more than that I will stay over.

But like you I was spoilt on my last contract where I was very close to home

[FiveTimes]

I've done 150 miles (2.5 hours) but have stopped away. Or if I was feeling very brave I drove up/down in the same day and worked the rest of the week from home.
My current gig is 129 miles (2 hours getting to clientco and nearly 3 hours home) but I stop out a couple nights a week.

The closest was 5 miles from home but it was crap rate and even worse gig

[Forbes Young]

Can any consultant/contractor beat

Rugby to Gatwick and back again ... every day. We have a client that does that.

[northernladuk]

Can any consultant/contractor beat

Rugby to Gatwick and back again ... every day. We have a client that does that.

You mean that's what puts on his expenses

[Project Monkey]

This is the first gig where I've even had to consider buying a car. Every other gig has been easily accessible by train/tube/bus.

I find it odd that people feel that you must have a car. Parking alone where I live is £1800pa (no street parking available). Add that to all of the other expenses and it becomes hugely expensive. We have a zipcar bay right outside so on the odd occasion I need to drive I use that.

Assuming I were to bite the bullet what is the cost per mile that can be claimed? Alternatively I assume I could arrange a long term rental or lease via my Ltd company?

WTF is a zipcar and park your car on you drive/in your garage FFS!

[acnm]

WTF is a zipcar and park your car on you drive/in your garage FFS!

Zipcar - car club so you have access to a car when you need one.

Don't have a drive, don't have a garage. Have underground communal parking: Cost £1800pa.