Travel Expenses

[fairycakes69]

Is there a minimum amount you can get for petrol for travelling to work? If I get sent to work in another shop I can claim petrol money. I get 20p per mile, but have since found out that the cluster manager gets 45p and if a volunteer is claiming they get 30p. I find it very strange that there a 3 different rates. Have voiced this to my area manager, who was not impressed I was asking, was told volunteers give up their time free of charge. And yes I agree, but I don't get paid for my travel time. Is this normal?

[Zacs-Master]

Are you sure the cluster managers expenses are just for petrol? 45p per mile is the generally recognised travel cost for all expenses incurred in running a car for work purposes, not just petrol.

[boxtops]

None of us get paid for the travel time in going to work. I went to another base today and had to leave home at 06.30am - bt I'm not paid for the extra travel hours.

It's not unusual for different sizes of car engine to attract different rates of fuel reimbursement, but all travel rates etc should be in your company travel policy, so it's clear for everyone. 20p does sound on the low side, but it should be laid down as to what your rate is. It doesn't sound out of order, what you describe.

[boxtops]

^ agree with zacs, the mileage rate covers more than just petrol costs.

[fairycakes69]

Ok thanks for the answers, never thought of the other factors, if the area manager had explained it like you both did, then I would have accepted it, does make more sense.

[ubasses]

Where I worked we used to get paid by the engine size of the car. However high mileage drivers used to get is reduced after certain number of miles, eventually going right down to 8p per mile. There is a maximum you can be paid before the tax man wants some of it.

[Maydup]

I'm guessing the cluster managers travel all the time and receive the higher rate toward the wear and tear on their cars. They will do high mileage and need more repairs than those who stay in one place. However, I don't really see why the rate should change depending on who you are, rather on how much mileage you do. That way you wouldn't feel so unappreciated.

[factor-fiction]

It seems unfair to have different rates within an organisation assuming they all relate to the same engine size band and is not due to different car statuses (company car v own car) and there is no other annual fixed allowance, but there is no minimum rate that employers must pay. Some pay nothing.
If the rate paid is less than 45p a mile you can offset the difference against tax- see the HMRC website

[tonywiltshire]

Your contract of employment probably gives your place of employment and the right of the employer to request you attend other locations. There may be conditions which you agreed to at the start of you employment, in the absence of such conditions I would expect you to be paid to travel to other locations, the distance to be from your normal place of employment not your home address.
HMRC accept £0.45p per mile as the total cost, including all aspects, of using your own vehicle for work for limited mileage, I doubt £0.20p per mile even covers the fuel cost for a larger vehicle

[1ndex]

HMRC allowance is a good basic to work by

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/travel.htm