To the entitled mb's here...compare premium gas reimbursement and the purchasing of a 3rd vehicle, gas and insurance of said vehicle...
If the Nanny puts premium gas in her vehicle she has very right to expect repayment at premium gas prices

yes, I'd like my $2.75 for driving 5 miles on a quarter tank of gas please.
Oh wait, how about $10 for driving 5 miles?
Plus, I no longer walk 5 minutes to the park, I drive, $1 a pop!

The weird cheap thing here is that YOU, the employer, didn't offer to reimburse UPFRONT gas money ... That shows that you are a terrible employer.

We pay at IRS rate on the first paycheck of each month.

We used to calculate each trip, but it got absurd to keep track of every time she drove a few blocks. So we now have a weekly figure based on the estimated mileage each week in the neighborhood. Trips outside of the neighborhood (to zoo, medical appointments, etc) are calculated separately.

We pay nanny at IRS rate (it's .56 per mile currently). it covers gas, general wear and tear and insurance. She takes the kids to music class and drops my older one off at preschool. I just mapquest the mileage and then when the amount is at least $5, I give it to her in cash at the end of the week w/ her pay check.

Use IRS compensation rates and pay her based on mileage (which she must track).

That rate is designed to cover fuel, wear and tear, insurance, etc...

Easiest and most straightforward way to go.

5-10 miles a week takes half a gallon of gasoline max.
Start there.

haha, my nanny just asked for more driving money "because she is using her heat!"

Sometimes they're just clueless and it's a silly misunderstanding of something! (like car mechanics or mpg).

She also took her Toyoto lease company seriously and was putting Premium gas in her Camry. That's for sports cars!

After those two silly conversations, we were both better off... Although I do wonder about her...

Anonymous wrote:Our child is now 15 months old and the nanny is driving him a couple miles to Gymboree or a library or park a couple times a week. The trips are close to the house. She doesn't like to drive far or into DC or on the beltway. The nanny leases a new Toyota - safe, she drives a lot on weekends with her friends who don't have cars, and good gas mileage.

She asked for gas money and claimed she is now filling up her tank all the time. I asked her how many miles or gallons more gas is she now using and she didn't reply. She just asked for a cash figure per week.

What are some good ways of handling driving costs, esp when such short distances? What should the cash figure be (not taxed)?
We have metro cards for those trips but I don't foresee her driving over 10 miles a week unless there is a field trip or something. Even then it wouldn't be $10 of gas....

I call BS on your nanny. I commute an hour plus to work, and drive my charge to similar outings and pre-school. I fill up my tank on average once a week. She should not be filling it up all the time.

I would tell her you will happily reimburse at the IRS rate so you need miles from her.

Then I would also figure out the miles on my own.

Maybe it's just me but "filling up all the time" and only driving 5-10 miles a week sends off a red flag that she might be trying to scam you into covering commute costs or personal activities.

Nanny here
When I use my car for work Gymboree and all that my employers have always reimbursed me, so it's not out of norm that she is asking for this.

I have done this two ways

1. I track miles and give the total to my MB. At the end of the month I receive a check. I have also had it done where I get the extra cash weekly. The rate is the IRS rate.

2. A cash weekly stipend.

Of these choices number 1 is my preference. It is legal and fair to all involved.
The only other option is


3. Use a car the family provides and they provide a gas card.

I should note that MB knows and approves of all the trips we take, and I dot just drive all over town to get more cash. It is typically the same each cycle, the only exception is when we do a trip outside the norm say to the aquarium or something.

Also on rare occasions I have had to a personal errand while the n the clock .Personal errand trips are not factored in.

Why won't she tell you the miles? If she won't, then Google Map it, and tell her you're going with that number and use the IRS rate.

Frankly, one of the best investments we made was a third car so that we don't have to worry about this at all. Nanny just drives our car, with our insurance.

Of course, with one kid, it's easier for the nanny to do anyway (we have three).

Have her track the miles, or do the math yourself, and reimburse at the IRS rate. What she does with her car in her off time has no bearing on the situation. You should be reimbursing her for gas and wear and tear, but don't just pull a number out of the air.

Sounds like she is used to receiving cash from a previous employer, which may or may not had a similar driving load.
I'd just pay her the govt rate per mile. Maybe haircut it if paying cash or a round number.
I agree, with gas at $3 a gallon, she will be making a profit on 5-10 miles a week!
Just factor that all in to her future package (raises, bonuses, other perks).

Our child is now 15 months old and the nanny is driving him a couple miles to Gymboree or a library or park a couple times a week. The trips are close to the house. She doesn't like to drive far or into DC or on the beltway. The nanny leases a new Toyota - safe, she drives a lot on weekends with her friends who don't have cars, and good gas mileage.

She asked for gas money and claimed she is now filling up her tank all the time. I asked her how many miles or gallons more gas is she now using and she didn't reply. She just asked for a cash figure per week.

What are some good ways of handling driving costs, esp when such short distances? What should the cash figure be (not taxed)?
We have metro cards for those trips but I don't foresee her driving over 10 miles a week unless there is a field trip or something. Even then it wouldn't be $10 of gas....