Delivery Using Private Car?

[Foresty_Forest]

I might need to deliver using my own private car. What's reasonable to charge my customer? I'd charge per mile there and back.

Also, how would the IR view this if I return it as £0.45/mile? It's going to be more expensive than using a 'standard' courier, but it's a large and fragile oil painting and I trust myself more to deliver it in one piece. I do know a local courier who specialises in moving art, but would charge a lot for a one-off job.

Also, if I were to spend a night in a B&B due to distance, is that an allowable expense? If so, how far do I need to drive, for a return trip to be considered too far for one day's driving?

And, if I had an accident, could my insurer refuse to pay out as it would be a 'business' trip?

 

[Mr D]

You think 45p a mile is worth it?

Perhaps instead look at what it will cost you directly, add on for your wear and tear on the car, and for your time.
For round trip.

Your insurance may not cover you though odds are a one off will not be noticed. If done regularly then get insured.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

If you get stopped they are going to ask "what sort of shenanigans are you up to today"
What are you going to say ?
If you drive through the window of a chip shop with your art in the back
What are you going to say ?

We deliver a lot of art and I have a lot more confidence in the job if my drivers or I do it than you in your uninsured car

 

[Mark T Jones]

HMRC allow you to claim 45p per mile because they have calculated that is the cost of running a car (they aren't just being nice)

Presumably you want to make a profit, not just cover costs?

Yes you can claim B & B

 

[Interestedobserver]

There are companies who specialise in delivering Fragile and valuable items and they will be far cheaper than the costs you are envisaging from my experience

 

[Interestedobserver]

https://www.fragilistics.co.uk/what-we-do/distribution.htm/

Here is one

 

[Mark T Jones]

https://www.fragilistics.co.uk/what-we-do/distribution.htm/

Here is one

Another is @JEREMY HAWKE (mind you, he doesn't have a VAT number on his website, so not sure i'd trust him)

 

[MBE2017]

And, if I had an accident, could my insurer refuse to pay out as it would be a 'business' trip?

Correct, and rightly so. I used to own a courier company and know of it happening several times. Not only do you lose possibly the artwork, but your vehicle, face criminal charges and if someone else is involved in the accident, you might have to explain why they will only get a small payout through a compensation scheme because you were uninsured.

Even as a courier, I had to occasionally take out extra insurance for highly valuable or unusual loads. I wonder how you would have felt if you found out you would get no payout if the painting was not insured by myself?

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

The missus used to borrow my van occasionally. It had commercial insurance but her own car cover did not give her 3rd party insurance on a commercial vehicle. It took us 7 years before we realised Fortunately not the hard way.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Another is @JEREMY HAWKE (mind you, he doesn't have a VAT number on his website, so not sure i'd trust him)

No you can find me at my house ,in the yard . You can always find me We will always look after you but you can't trust me wiih out a vat number on our site

@Mark T Jones I forgotten that but you dont forget a thing

 

[ImranR]

Yes you can invalidate your insurance. It might be cheaper to hire a van and pay the fuel instead of reclaiming 45ppm. However, based on experience it's not a significant cost to get covered for business mileage.

 

[Mark T Jones]

No you can find me at my house ,in the yard . You can always find me We will always look after you but you can't trust me wiih out a vat number on our site

@Mark T Jones I forgotten that but you dont forget a thing

I only ever forget important stuff. Trivia stays with me for ever

 

[Mattymoomoo]

Having worked in insurance before, it is highly unlikely you will ever get caught for driving a business trip (unless you admit it after having an accident) and that wont attract criminal charges!! If you are doing this regularly, then definitely change your insurance, it is a lot cheaper than you think and could save you quite a bit of hassle. Claim your miles, your accommodation and subsistence.

 

[Mr D]

Having worked in insurance before, it is highly unlikely you will ever get caught for driving a business trip (unless you admit it after having an accident) and that wont attract criminal charges!! If you are doing this regularly, then definitely change your insurance, it is a lot cheaper than you think and could save you quite a bit of hassle. Claim your miles, your accommodation and subsistence.

And time. Always factor in time spent when deciding price.
Deliver 6 hours drive away add 240 pounds delivery.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Having worked in insurance before, it is highly unlikely you will ever get caught for driving a business trip (unless you admit it after having an accident) and that wont attract criminal charges!! If you are doing this regularly, then definitely change your insurance, it is a lot cheaper than you think and could save you quite a bit of hassle. Claim your miles, your accommodation and subsistence.

You can get caught
https://twitter.com/DC_RPT/status/1327256046558191621

 

[Mattymoomoo]

@JEREMY HAWKE
Yes, you can get caught, I dont think anyone thought you couldn't. Although this guy had multiple packages, courier signs, 9 points on his license already so flagged for police. He wont get criminal charges for wrong insurance.
In life and business you have to assess the risk/rewards. Personally with a clean license, an insured car with an MOT, a valuable fragile package that needs delivering as a one off and no other more value add tasks to do, I would deliver this personally rather than find a delivery company.

 

[Mark T Jones]

I'll admit to being more tham a little surprised that someone from the insurance industry is advising to deliver valuable goods whilst uninsured. I'd be far less worried about fines than potential damage to artwork

The way I see it is, if this person is a friend, then do it as a friend. Let them fill your car with fuel on departure and return. Let them cop the bill for overnight stay, let them treat you and the missus to dinner as a thank you. Make it clear that it's friends, that you aren't insured or experienced in this.

If it's a business transaction, then be businesslike. Price it properly, be insured, be professional.

I can assure you that they wil be distinctly unfriendly if the painting is damaged & you aren't covered!

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

The RAC and other insurers offer temporary business cover, primarily it seems aimed at those who occasionally use their own car to work at other areas outside of those covered by the usual Social, Domestic and Pleasure policy. I would imagine something exists that covers goods in transit?

Here's some of their website blurb..

'From 1 hour to 30 days - arranged in minutes'

However, if you only need to travel for business every now and again, you may not see the need to spend the extra money to insure your vehicle for business use for the entire year.............

This is where RAC Temporary Car Insurance can help you. If you’re looking to insure your car for a one-off business trip, or plan on travelling to another office for only a few days a month, short term car insurance could be the answer.