Anonymous
Post 03/16/2015 14:36     Subject: Related question from the driving thread
Anonymous wrote:As a nanny I've gone both ways: driving my own vehicle & having a nanny vehicle provided.

When I drove my own car my NF bought carseats that stayed in my car M-F, but would come out on the weekends if grandparents or other family were visiting. I was reimbursed at the IRS mileage rate and they paid to have my car detailed quarterly.

When I drove a nanny car they provided car seats, did all maintenance, and I had a gas-only credit card so it could be filled up as needed (usually once a month or so).


Thanks. Do you have a preference? Would this kind of thing impact the way you evaluate a job opportunity?
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2015 14:11     Subject: Related question from the driving thread
As a nanny I've gone both ways: driving my own vehicle & having a nanny vehicle provided.

When I drove my own car my NF bought carseats that stayed in my car M-F, but would come out on the weekends if grandparents or other family were visiting. I was reimbursed at the IRS mileage rate and they paid to have my car detailed quarterly.

When I drove a nanny car they provided car seats, did all maintenance, and I had a gas-only credit card so it could be filled up as needed (usually once a month or so).
Anonymous
Post 03/10/2015 10:37     Subject: Related question from the driving thread
OP here. Thanks very much for all the helpful feedback.

Sounds like we could go either way without being out of sync w/ the market, but advice here seems to run roughly 2/1 in favor of buying a third car.

Anonymous
Post 03/10/2015 10:12     Subject: Re:Related question from the driving thread
This is a very common requirement for a nanny in Los Angeles.
Anonymous
Post 03/10/2015 10:11     Subject: Related question from the driving thread
I agree entirely with the last two posters.

Also, consider a scenario like your kid rips a hole in the nanny's seat, completely by accident. If it's your car, you could decide to patch or live with the hole. Nanny's car, you're on the hook for the repair she wants.
Anonymous
Post 03/10/2015 09:55     Subject: Related question from the driving thread
I'd rather provide the car. Then I'd be able to make sure it was well-maintained, etc. The car seats wouldn't have to come in and out, and I would always be able to check that they were properly installed. I would be responsible for the insurance and would know that it was correct and paid up. I wouldn't have to deal with a mileage log, reimbursement, etc.

That said, having the nanny use her own car is not unusual.
Anonymous
Post 03/10/2015 03:03     Subject: Related question from the driving thread
We provide a nanny car and insure it up to the same limits as our other cars. Will your nanny do the same or could a serious accident result in the other parties involved (including the nanny or her family) coming after your assets as her employer since she was on the job at the time of the accident? Also, by providing the car, you ensure that it is well-maintained and up-to-date on any recall repairs.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2015 22:17     Subject: Related question from the driving thread
I am a nanny + this is just my opinion.

I would personally prefer to have a nanny vehicle provided. It would just be less complicated for me and make things much easier on me and I also think on the parents as well.

I wouldn't always have to log in all my miles, I wouldn't have to keep the car seats installed in my car (or keep re-installing them in), plus it would mean less wear + tear overall on my vehicle.

Anonymous
Post 03/09/2015 22:13     Subject: Related question from the driving thread
Anonymous wrote:Make sure to have the nanny add a rider onto her insurance it usually doesn't cost that much but covers her while working. Will you provide seats for your children or require the nanny to have her own? Either way make sure she knows how to use them properly and that you are on the same page if you rear face your kids which some people rear face until 4, that she has them harnessed until 6 and in a booster after that. You said preschool so they are either rear facing or in a harness. If she has her own seats make sure they aren't expired, that your children still fit them, were never in an accident, even a fender bender, and ask how she cleaned them. If she washed the cover or plastic shell with anything other than mild soap or submerged the harness, put the harness in the wash machine, used anything more than a baby wipe or a damp rag with blue dawn, or if she sprays febreeze or similar products in her car and it was sprayed on or close to the seats I would request new seats or provide her new seats.


Better off going the 3rd car route. You buy an inexpensive one for your daily commute and leave the family car for the nanny to use.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2015 21:17     Subject: Related question from the driving thread
It also depends on how many kids Nanny will be driving. It's rare for nannies to own larger suvs or minivans that safely and comfortably hold 3+ kids.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2015 19:20     Subject: Related question from the driving thread
Make sure to have the nanny add a rider onto her insurance it usually doesn't cost that much but covers her while working. Will you provide seats for your children or require the nanny to have her own? Either way make sure she knows how to use them properly and that you are on the same page if you rear face your kids which some people rear face until 4, that she has them harnessed until 6 and in a booster after that. You said preschool so they are either rear facing or in a harness. If she has her own seats make sure they aren't expired, that your children still fit them, were never in an accident, even a fender bender, and ask how she cleaned them. If she washed the cover or plastic shell with anything other than mild soap or submerged the harness, put the harness in the wash machine, used anything more than a baby wipe or a damp rag with blue dawn, or if she sprays febreeze or similar products in her car and it was sprayed on or close to the seats I would request new seats or provide her new seats.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2015 18:47     Subject: Re:Related question from the driving thread
It is not an unusual requirement for a nanny to use her own car. I know on care.com it seems fairly common. Make sure to mention that you need her to have a safe, registered vehicle.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2015 17:59     Subject: Related question from the driving thread
I've been a nanny for 13 years and I've always used my own car. As long as you put the requirement of having a car in your ad, you'll be fine.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2015 17:21     Subject: Re:Related question from the driving thread
I don't know what's common, but I paid about $1500 for an old corolla that I drive to and from work. I leave the minivan with the nanny during the day.

It didn't cost us anything to put her on our insurance as a secondary driver.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2015 16:46     Subject: Related question from the driving thread
We will be hiring a new nanny soon and are facing the decision to either purchase a third vehicle, or make a requirement of the job (and therefore hiring) that the nanny provide and use her own transportation to bring our kids to/from preschool.

This is the first time we'll be hiring with this need (kids were exclusively at home before this, which is also part of why we need to change nannies) so I'm not sure what is considered standard in the marketplace.

Is it a fairly conventional requirement for nannies to use their own vehicle in transporting their charges?

Is it more common/preferred that an employer provide a vehicle?

Obviously if the nanny uses his/her own vehicle we will reimburse all mileage at IRS rates, so that isn't an issue. I'm just not sure if we're complicating our search significantly by requiring the vehicle part. (Hope that's clear.)

Thx for any advice/feedback.