Posted By Nick House
Hi all

I already carry out regular licence checks for all of our company car drivers. My question is, should this be extended to drivers who take a car allowance, using their own car for company business?

I'm aware that as a company we still owe them a similar duty of care whilst travelling on company business, but I'm unsure as to whether this should extend to regular licence checks.

Your advice and comments are most welcome.

Posted By Nick House
Hi Lillian

Thanks for the speedy response. I currently already check Insurance/ MOT for 'allowance' drivers, and check (and take a copy of) their licence when a driver forst starts with us. I've been thinking of adding a regular licence check to this.

Most of the drivers that fall into this group are senior managers or above, who take an allowance instead of a car, as that way they can have a car that would not necessarily be available to them in our car list, such as MPV's/ estate cars, as a business need for this style of vehicle has not been identified.

Posted By Brett Day

As for checks I've had the initial license check when I joined the company, then the most thourough company did insurance checks six monthly, they had to be notified of the MOT and tax due dates and they were checked, and each monthly expense sheet had a declaration that stated that my licence was still current and valid and that I had not knowingly commited any offences under the Road Traffic Act.

There has been a case where a company was prosecuted for allowing a driver to drive on company business whilst disqualified, the main thrust was that the company did not carry out licence checks, the court ruled that basic annual check of licences was a reasonable check to do.

Posted By Ian P
I get MOTs, certificates of insurance and drivers licenses from all own car drivers as well as getting them to sign a drivers declaration agreeing to stick to the occupational driving policy and the rules of the road. I get new copies of MOTS and insurance on renewal and licenses annually.

I was advised by the representative of a motoring organisation to get copies of licenses every 3 months but this is logistically impossible for us. I do know of people who vary the period between license checks by the number of penalty points on the license, the more points the more frequent the checks.

Companies are as responsible for accidents caused by own cars on business mileage as they are for company owned or leased one.

Posted By Nick House
Hi all


Thanks for all of your responses - seems I'm going to be carrying out licence checks for the 'allowance' drivers too.

Truth be told, this is what I have been leaning towards doing anyway, but just needed some input from others who had been in the same situation.

I know there are one or two 'senior' people who will try on the 'I've forgotten it' story. Not because they have enything to hide, but because they can't be bothered. A few witheld expense claims should sort that though.

I have to say that I already have and use a very comprehensive fleet policy, and already carry out licence checks for the co. car drivers, so adding this in does not really amount to that much of an issue as far as I'm concerned.

The majority of our drivers are in our sales force, so it's easy to catch hold of them for checks anyway - I simply turn up at the monthly sales meeting... they know that if they don't produce their licence, that I will inform Finance to withold their next expense claim until I have seen it.

Again, thanks for the comments/ posts. Much appreciated.