car for nanny

[Anonymous]

For those of you who live in places where driving is necessary, how do you handle the nanny transporting your kids? Do you buy extra car seats and pay her mileage, or do you have an extra car that you leave for her to drive, or something else? Also, do you ask for driving records?

[Anonymous]

When we had one child, we bought a car seat for the nanny's car, and paid mileage.

When we had two children, we bought a minivan, which became the "kid car." When the nanny is here, I drive an old sedan.

If you can afford it, I highly recommend buying a nanny car. You can either just have her drive it at work (that's what we do with our van), or give it to her as a perk (that's what my friends did). Here are the main reasons I like this situation so much better:

1. I install the carseats and they stay installed. Your nanny may need to use her backseat sometimes, and may take them in and out. This could happen even if she says it won't.
2. I bought a car with the safety standards I want, and I maintain it in the way I want. There's no guarantee your nanny will do that with her own car.
3. I know my insurance is sufficient. I bought as much insurance as I needed to cover liability and for the car.
4. If my kids break something or make a mess, it's up to me how to handle it. If my kid accidentally pokes a hole in the leather or throws up on the carpet, I can decide to fix it or not, or to replace at the dealer or at some cheapo place. If it's the nanny's car, even if I ask for estimates, I still have only one option: to write a check to cover the repair.
5. As in #4, if my nanny gets in a minor accident on the job, say someone dents the door, or she backs into a pole, I get to decide what to do about it in terms of fixing the damage or living with it. If it's her car, but not her fault (someone runs into her car door in the parking lot and drives off), it's on me to fix it.

[Anonymous]

We bought extra car seats and installed them in the nanny's car. We also pay for mileage. We can't afford to buy a separate car for the nanny, but if we had an older safe one available that's probably what I would have preferred. Luckily in the past 8 years of having a nanny we've never had the kids make any huge mess in her car and there's never been a ding or anything that's needed to be fixed. Our previous nanny had very sturdy seat protectors that she used under the car seats and on the backs of the front seats because she had a lease and wanted to keep it in great condition.

For our latest nanny we requested driving records, but we missed that on a previous nanny. I meant to and forgot about it until months into the job and by that time I was comfortable with her driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When we had one child, we bought a car seat for the nanny's car, and paid mileage.

When we had two children, we bought a minivan, which became the "kid car." When the nanny is here, I drive an old sedan.

If you can afford it, I highly recommend buying a nanny car. You can either just have her drive it at work (that's what we do with our van), or give it to her as a perk (that's what my friends did). Here are the main reasons I like this situation so much better:

1. I install the carseats and they stay installed. Your nanny may need to use her backseat sometimes, and may take them in and out. This could happen even if she says it won't.
2. I bought a car with the safety standards I want, and I maintain it in the way I want. There's no guarantee your nanny will do that with her own car.
3. I know my insurance is sufficient. I bought as much insurance as I needed to cover liability and for the car.
4. If my kids break something or make a mess, it's up to me how to handle it. If my kid accidentally pokes a hole in the leather or throws up on the carpet, I can decide to fix it or not, or to replace at the dealer or at some cheapo place. If it's the nanny's car, even if I ask for estimates, I still have only one option: to write a check to cover the repair.
5. As in #4, if my nanny gets in a minor accident on the job, say someone dents the door, or she backs into a pole, I get to decide what to do about it in terms of fixing the damage or living with it. If it's her car, but not her fault (someone runs into her car door in the parking lot and drives off), it's on me to fix it.

It's never on you to repair damage to nannies car she sustains from other people while on the job. If your kids cause it it is one thing, if she get hit and run at the zoo it's not on you, thats why she has her own insurance.

[Anonymous]

We provide carseats and mileage reimbursement. We also have bought seat protectors and annual detailing for the nanny's car.

We required proof of valid driver's license, clean and current insurance coverage, and we made talking about driving skills and safety a major part of our reference checks w/ prior employers.

[Anonymous]

We have a minivan that's the kid car. I have a cheap car the I use to commute back and forth to work. It works well for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When we had one child, we bought a car seat for the nanny's car, and paid mileage.

When we had two children, we bought a minivan, which became the "kid car." When the nanny is here, I drive an old sedan.

If you can afford it, I highly recommend buying a nanny car. You can either just have her drive it at work (that's what we do with our van), or give it to her as a perk (that's what my friends did). Here are the main reasons I like this situation so much better:

1. I install the carseats and they stay installed. Your nanny may need to use her backseat sometimes, and may take them in and out. This could happen even if she says it won't.
2. I bought a car with the safety standards I want, and I maintain it in the way I want. There's no guarantee your nanny will do that with her own car.
3. I know my insurance is sufficient. I bought as much insurance as I needed to cover liability and for the car.
4. If my kids break something or make a mess, it's up to me how to handle it. If my kid accidentally pokes a hole in the leather or throws up on the carpet, I can decide to fix it or not, or to replace at the dealer or at some cheapo place. If it's the nanny's car, even if I ask for estimates, I still have only one option: to write a check to cover the repair.
5. As in #4, if my nanny gets in a minor accident on the job, say someone dents the door, or she backs into a pole, I get to decide what to do about it in terms of fixing the damage or living with it. If it's her car, but not her fault (someone runs into her car door in the parking lot and drives off), it's on me to fix it.

It's never on you to repair damage to nannies car she sustains from other people while on the job. If your kids cause it it is one thing, if she get hit and run at the zoo it's not on you, thats why she has her own insurance.

I think it's a grey area. She would be within her rights to ask for reimbursement for the deductible since she was only there to do a job for you, and what if she doesn't have coverage on the car itself because she doesn't want to spend the money? This is what I mean about why it's easier to have her use your car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When we had one child, we bought a car seat for the nanny's car, and paid mileage.

When we had two children, we bought a minivan, which became the "kid car." When the nanny is here, I drive an old sedan.

If you can afford it, I highly recommend buying a nanny car. You can either just have her drive it at work (that's what we do with our van), or give it to her as a perk (that's what my friends did). Here are the main reasons I like this situation so much better:

1. I install the carseats and they stay installed. Your nanny may need to use her backseat sometimes, and may take them in and out. This could happen even if she says it won't.
2. I bought a car with the safety standards I want, and I maintain it in the way I want. There's no guarantee your nanny will do that with her own car.
3. I know my insurance is sufficient. I bought as much insurance as I needed to cover liability and for the car.
4. If my kids break something or make a mess, it's up to me how to handle it. If my kid accidentally pokes a hole in the leather or throws up on the carpet, I can decide to fix it or not, or to replace at the dealer or at some cheapo place. If it's the nanny's car, even if I ask for estimates, I still have only one option: to write a check to cover the repair.
5. As in #4, if my nanny gets in a minor accident on the job, say someone dents the door, or she backs into a pole, I get to decide what to do about it in terms of fixing the damage or living with it. If it's her car, but not her fault (someone runs into her car door in the parking lot and drives off), it's on me to fix it.

It's never on you to repair damage to nannies car she sustains from other people while on the job. If your kids cause it it is one thing, if she get hit and run at the zoo it's not on you, thats why she has her own insurance.

I think it's a grey area. She would be within her rights to ask for reimbursement for the deductible since she was only there to do a job for you, and what if she doesn't have coverage on the car itself because she doesn't want to spend the money? This is what I mean about why it's easier to have her use your car.

Yea and if you work an office job 9-5 and get in an accident on the way in to work one morning are you going to ask your boss to fix it since "I was only driving on the highway to come in to work for you, otherwise I would have stayed home."????

No. She knows the deal going in, she uses her car. If the kids damage the car that should be something you cover, if something else happens insurance covers it. If a huge branch falls on her car and totals it are you going to buy nanny a new car?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When we had one child, we bought a car seat for the nanny's car, and paid mileage.

When we had two children, we bought a minivan, which became the "kid car." When the nanny is here, I drive an old sedan.

If you can afford it, I highly recommend buying a nanny car. You can either just have her drive it at work (that's what we do with our van), or give it to her as a perk (that's what my friends did). Here are the main reasons I like this situation so much better:

1. I install the carseats and they stay installed. Your nanny may need to use her backseat sometimes, and may take them in and out. This could happen even if she says it won't.
2. I bought a car with the safety standards I want, and I maintain it in the way I want. There's no guarantee your nanny will do that with her own car.
3. I know my insurance is sufficient. I bought as much insurance as I needed to cover liability and for the car.
4. If my kids break something or make a mess, it's up to me how to handle it. If my kid accidentally pokes a hole in the leather or throws up on the carpet, I can decide to fix it or not, or to replace at the dealer or at some cheapo place. If it's the nanny's car, even if I ask for estimates, I still have only one option: to write a check to cover the repair.
5. As in #4, if my nanny gets in a minor accident on the job, say someone dents the door, or she backs into a pole, I get to decide what to do about it in terms of fixing the damage or living with it. If it's her car, but not her fault (someone runs into her car door in the parking lot and drives off), it's on me to fix it.

It's never on you to repair damage to nannies car she sustains from other people while on the job. If your kids cause it it is one thing, if she get hit and run at the zoo it's not on you, thats why she has her own insurance.

I think it's a grey area. She would be within her rights to ask for reimbursement for the deductible since she was only there to do a job for you, and what if she doesn't have coverage on the car itself because she doesn't want to spend the money? This is what I mean about why it's easier to have her use your car.

Yea and if you work an office job 9-5 and get in an accident on the way in to work one morning are you going to ask your boss to fix it since "I was only driving on the highway to come in to work for you, otherwise I would have stayed home."????

No. She knows the deal going in, she uses her car. If the kids damage the car that should be something you cover, if something else happens insurance covers it. If a huge branch falls on her car and totals it are you going to buy nanny a new car?

The commute doesn't count at all, ever. But the rules change when you're driving for work (not to work). Your insurance may not even cover it.

If a huge branch falls on the nanny's car and totals it, and she either doesn't have enough insurance or can't afford a new car, I guess you no longer have a nanny. How is she going to drive your kids around? These are more reasons why I prefer to provide a car. My nanny's ability to pay for car repairs, which is ultimately based on how much I pay her + her ability to manage her money + the quality of car she has + the situations her car is in every day as she drives it around is just not something I want to be concerned about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who live in places where driving is necessary, how do you handle the nanny transporting your kids? Do you buy extra car seats and pay her mileage, or do you have an extra car that you leave for her to drive, or something else? Also, do you ask for driving records?

My pays the gasoline,miles and repair when my car needs.

[Anonymous]

Yes either or.

Either she uses her own car & you purchase car seats for her and install them yourself.
Then pay her mileage at the IRS current rate as well as any add'l car insurance premiums that she may incur on the job.

Or you can provide her w/a work vehicle and pay all mileage and fuel costs on the job.

And most definitely (!), get a recent copy of her DMV report.
No DUI's or speeding tickets should be on her record at all.

Hope this all helps!

[Anonymous]

When I was a live out Nanny I started off using my own car, bu them sometimes they would want to put a 3rd kid in the back with their 2 kids, like an after school playdate or something. I only had a lap belt in the middle and refused to put a kid in there. I also wouldnt put a kid in the front either. So I was limited to only driving my charges.
They bought a minivan ( 3rd car) for me to use for the kids.
I still sometimes used my car though. If i drove them to school I would just take my car so I didnt have to drive back to their house before going back to my house for a couple of hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When we had one child, we bought a car seat for the nanny's car, and paid mileage.

When we had two children, we bought a minivan, which became the "kid car." When the nanny is here, I drive an old sedan.

If you can afford it, I highly recommend buying a nanny car. You can either just have her drive it at work (that's what we do with our van), or give it to her as a perk (that's what my friends did). Here are the main reasons I like this situation so much better:

1. I install the carseats and they stay installed. Your nanny may need to use her backseat sometimes, and may take them in and out. This could happen even if she says it won't.
2. I bought a car with the safety standards I want, and I maintain it in the way I want. There's no guarantee your nanny will do that with her own car.
3. I know my insurance is sufficient. I bought as much insurance as I needed to cover liability and for the car.
4. If my kids break something or make a mess, it's up to me how to handle it. If my kid accidentally pokes a hole in the leather or throws up on the carpet, I can decide to fix it or not, or to replace at the dealer or at some cheapo place. If it's the nanny's car, even if I ask for estimates, I still have only one option: to write a check to cover the repair.
5. As in #4, if my nanny gets in a minor accident on the job, say someone dents the door, or she backs into a pole, I get to decide what to do about it in terms of fixing the damage or living with it. If it's her car, but not her fault (someone runs into her car door in the parking lot and drives off), it's on me to fix it.

I am a nanny who uses my own vehicle to transport the kids. I got a chip in my windshield a couple days ago on my way to pick up the kids from camp. So at the moment I wish this was the arrangement we have.