Hire Car Question

[scottyzr]

Speaking hypothetically, but this has me thinking a little.

My company provide me with a hire car when I need to travel from site to site, it’s a large chemical company so rental company aren’t allowed on site, therefore park the car in the visitors car park and leave the keys at reception. Perhaps its worth mentioning I never sign for these cars.

The hire period is always 24 hours and usually runs from noon until noon, and it has now become apparent the cars sometimes come at say 12:10 something like that.

My name is always on the envelope that the keys come in, and its always sealed. But my question is, if the contract starts at 12 and the hire car company driver gets a ticket at say 12:05 while dropping the car off at my office. Am I personally liable to name the driver? Or is it for the hire car company to prove it was me at the wheel? Or will the liability lie with my employer?

I always keep detailed records of when I drive the car such as time I left, the route I took, the time arrived and where I parked the car, however would these records limit any liability to myself? I am guessing the fact that I have never once signed for these cars means that its my employer that’s liable not me.

However if they just put my name on the S172 as the car was order for my benefit that day, would I simply return the S172 with the name of my employer on it? (Assuming of course the offence was committed when my records show I wasn’t driving)

Sorry for the long question, but I intend on confronting my boss over this so I would like some background knowledge.

[dzug2]

Well I'd say you return the S172 with the name of the hire car company on it - neither you nor your employer are liable in these circumstances

Your records would be evidence of what happened (of course whether that evidence is accepted is another matter but thaere is no reason why it shouldn't be). And in support reception should record the time the keys are dropped. Do they?

[woofgang]

Driving offences are always personal. so far as the fine/points/ban goes. Nothing to do with your employer. IMO if the delivery driver is booked in at the car park at 12.05 and the offence is committed at 12.00 it would be up to him to prove that it wasn't him driving.
I don't think that the contract start time is relevant. If the delivery driver was delayed say for 2 hours and got a speeding ticket trying to make up the time, then that would be his speeding ticket not yours.
A mate of mine was involved in a speeding offence in similar circs. He couldn't prove that it wasn't him driving, but more to the point, the police couldn't prove that it was so the case got dropped.
I also don't think that signing for the car is relevant or not..whether or not you have signed for the car makes no difference to whether it could have been you driving. I would get the reception to note the time that the keys are dropped off and possibly aslo the time that you collect them, that might help.

[scottyzr]

The car never gets logged into the car park, nor does reception keep a note. We get so many different temps on reception its unreal so If I told the lady on reception today, chances are it is going to be a different person next week.

I have e-mailed the hire car company stating the exact dates that the cars have been late and kept copies of the e-mails so I am hoping that will abck me up further.

[scottyzr]

The reason I mentiond signing for the car is IMO anyone could state a random name on a S172, of course this is illegal but in reality they could easily write my name, or indeed any other name on a S172, so in that case is it that person to prove otherwise? It all seems a little unrealistic to me.

[woofgang]

I don't see why a multitude of receptionists should make it impossible, less easy, yes...doesn't the company have some kind of "this is how you run our reception" instructions card?