Monday 27 October 2014

Would You Take the Cash or Drive the Car?

A car these days is no longer a luxury… it’s an absolute necessity. It’s nothing new for businesses to offer employees cars as part of their compensation and benefits package. So if an employer offered you either a car allowance or car leasing in Melbourne, which one would be best for your needs?  Here’s a little insight on the pros and cons of both to help you decide.


The second vehicle
It would be a no-brainer for a car-less employee to select the company car, so let’s assume you already own one. Would an additional vehicle be an incentive to you?  The answer would be yes, more so if you have family members who could benefit from using your personal vehicle during the week.

Wear and tear
Car allowances will pay for your fuel and maintenance for business trips, but you assume all risks associated with owning the car (repairs, insurance, accidents, etc). You are also required to accurately log the mileage and provide business-related expense receipts to an accountant. Where there’s cash released, there’s always a liquidation report that follows.

Perks of the job
Inasmuch as a company car is like a badge of honour for employees, it can also serve as a come-on for potential hires.  Although some companies require that the vehicle be returned when the employee leaves the firm, others put the vehicle on a Novated lease in the employee’s name so they’d have the option to buy it for themselves.

So which road would YOU take?

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