Shared car usage

[knight007]

The car is worth only £400. Its insured under third party only.

becoming the registered keeper of the car and insuring the car on my name is going to cost me almost £2000.
Keeping it on my mothers name is £350 due to the no claims she has built up.

That's why I need a way to be able to claim business mileage without being questioned.

[northernladuk]

If you have an accident be careful as an insurance company will presume it is fronting due to you paying for everything especially if you are under 25 or a newish driver.

Also some insurers will not allow named drivers to use the vehicle for anything apart from social use so if you don't have a business extension on your policy it's likely you are uninsured.

It's better to have the insurance policy in your name and the registered keeper as a named driver if you do most of the driving.

WSES +10

If you have an accident on the way to work it will be automatically assumed this is the main use of the vehicle and will be difficult to prove otherwise. Fronting was very popular when I was a kid but they take it very seriously now.

The whole point of insurance is to be better safe than sorry so why then jeopardise the whole reason for having insurance? Get it right or gamble on the outcome.

[SueEllen]

My mom owns the car and I'm a named driver on the ins policy. I look after the upkeep inc MOt, service, ins payments.

If you have an accident be careful as an insurance company will presume it is fronting due to you paying for everything especially if you are under 25 or a newish driver.

Also some insurers will not allow named drivers to use the vehicle for anything apart from social use so if you don't have a business extension on your policy it's likely you are uninsured.

It's better to have the insurance policy in your name and the registered keeper as a named driver if you do most of the driving.

[knight007]

My mom owns the car and I'm a named driver on the ins policy. I look after the upkeep inc MOt, service, ins payments.

[Greg@CapitalCity]

Did you see the part that says "All that is necessary is that the taxpayer claiming the expense is paying the costs of running and maintaining the vehicle." - your mother will be happy you will be taking on these costs too

[knight007]

I think I answered my own question:
BIM47701 - Specific deductions: travel & subsistence: use of vehicle: mileage rates: introduction

It seems you dont have to be the owner of the vehicle to claim.

[knight007]

I am in a similar situation. My mother is the registered keeper of the vehicle but I will be using it to travel to my temporary workplace. Am I allowed to claim mileage expense even though its not technically my car?

[Greg@CapitalCity]

How would the tax office know he was getting a lift and not driving himself?

By asking him. If the HMRC want to query an expense, in my experience they will not only look at receipts etc, but also the underlying nature of the expense (to ensure its business related) and they know how to ask open questions. The OP just needs to be ready to explain if asked. By and large this is all very minor and probably wouldn't get picked up at all - the main point is, if the travel is 100% business related, then claim it - if its not, then don't.

[JamJarST]

Whats the primary purpose of the car travel? Is it to get you to the train station? Or is it to get your wife to work? If the former, then your mileage claim looks OK - if its the latter, then it doesn't.

If you make the mileage claim, then think about how you would justify this to the tax office (in the event that you needed to). Through their glasses, they would see this as you just getting a ride to the train station because your wife is driving past it. Is there enough of a detour required to make it a business journey? There might be - just give it some thought.

You cannot part-claim for this - either go for all of it, or nothing.

How would the tax office know he was getting a lift and not driving himself?

[Greg@CapitalCity]

Whats the primary purpose of the car travel? Is it to get you to the train station? Or is it to get your wife to work? If the former, then your mileage claim looks OK - if its the latter, then it doesn't.

If you make the mileage claim, then think about how you would justify this to the tax office (in the event that you needed to). Through their glasses, they would see this as you just getting a ride to the train station because your wife is driving past it. Is there enough of a detour required to make it a business journey? There might be - just give it some thought.

You cannot part-claim for this - either go for all of it, or nothing.

[SueEllen]

There is a "duality of purpose" here though.

As normally if you drive to the station on your own you would have to pay for parking unless there is free parking on roads nearby (which is rare.)

[northernladuk]

I don't see why you can't. You would have to drive to the train station yourself if your wife wasn't there so claim it.

It is your choice how you get to work so as long as you don't take the piss or put fraudulent claims in I can't see the problem.

[JoJoGabor]

Anyone?

[JoJoGabor]

It looks like I will be getting a contract where I can drive to work with the missus, and then get her to drop me at a train station to carry on my journey. Can I claim these miles against my company,or part of them, or nothing at all?

Car is in my name if that makes any difference at all.