If the nanny's car isn't safe, and you are not willing/able to provide her with one of your (presumably safer) cars to use while she is working, you have very few choices:

1) Tell her you will pay to have her car inspected and have any and all issues it currently has repaired. Then either continue to pay maintenance costs (likely cheaper than buying a car), or make sure she gets federal mileage reimbursement that she can use for repairs as needed.

2) Let her go, and attempt to hire a nanny whose vehicle you deem safe.

I use my own vehicle for driving but I also have a 2013 make so I am pretty safe. I would help her with getting basic maintenance fixed on her car instead of leasing or buying her a car - that's far more expensive. Many families offer me use of their car, but I feel comfortable using mine. If either you or husband can car pool to work, that's an option ?

I'm a nanny who prefers to drive my own car and only worked for one family that was able to leave one of their vehicles home on certain days. I like my own car because I'm used to it, know how it handles in weather, I also purchase my own car seats I get ones I like, that have long rear facing and forward facing limits, I know how to install them in my vehicle, know they fit, and know how to properly use and care for them. I can also use my car my rules and all my families have been ok with that rule so I rear face until a minimum of age 2 but the seats I have will rear face most kids as close to 4 which is the recommendation, I have a no food or drink policy which also has never been a problem.

Can you sit down with the nanny and ask her if it's possible for her to get her vehicle inspected by a mechanic and get any safety concerns fixed? I had a vehicle that the check engine light was always on but there was nothing wrong the light was just malfunctioning due to the cars computer system. I would require wipers fixed as those are a safety issue. What kind of car does she drive? Some sports cars handle just fine in snow also if the roads are that bad then it's probavly better for her to stay home regardless of the vehicle. You will also need to find car seats that fit in her car. I'm a CPST, and would be able to help you find appropriate seats. Rear facing seats will be a little more difficult to choose from since they can't touch the vehicle seat in front of them but there are options. I would also suggest to your nanny to add a rider on to her insurance policy so she's covered when driving for work this is required in some states and optional in others but its best to have it. It's usually $10-20 extra a month if that

Okay, I don't recommend this one, but I did know of one family who managed a creative solution. The MB traded cars with the nanny when the nanny arrived (still reimbursing for mileage) and drove that to work. The nanny then used MB's car throughout the day.

But we bought a minivan, too, for the nanny to use. Later we also bought our nanny her own new car, but that's a different story.

Our nanny 3 years ago was driving kiddos in her car ... Until I borrowed her car for something quick and couldn't forgive myself that I allowed my kids to be driven in such a poorly maintained car. We bought ourselves a third car, and the old van is now "kids car" -- and we maintain it (it is old but low mileage and good shape overall). It is actually not that expensive.

Also, for a while a commuted to work with a coworker, and that's how we left the van back home, so I guess this is a more creative solution.

The benefit: no problem with transportation when kid #3 was added to nannies charges

Anonymous wrote:We're not new to being a nanny family but due to a recent move we are new to needing our nanny to drive our car. We used to live in a very walkable area of DC but recently moved out of state to an area that's somewhat walkable (little cafes and a park) but there's not enough to fully entertain everyone during the week. I'd like our nanny to drive our DD's (3 and 1) but I'm not sure how to handle the car situation. Both DH and I have to drive to work because there's no public transportation so we don't have a car to leave at home. We stagger our hours and work different schedules so we can't carpool. Our nanny has her own car and she is willing to drive but I don't feel safe with the kids in her car because it's a very tiny sports car, we live in an area with lots of snow, and everyone else here drives giant SUV's so I'm afraid if something did happen they wouldn't stand a chance. The other day I drove with her by myself and I also noticed that there are some basic maintenance issues going on with the car (warning lights on, wipers not working so we couldn't see well). Please don't flame me for being a car snob, I'm not at all, we have an old Toyota ourselves, but I don't know what to do because I want our nanny and the kids to be able to get out but I don't feel safe with them doing it in her car. Does anyone have any creative solutions? TIA!

Before you get to thinking about letting your nanny drive a car in your name consider reading some of the driving related posts on here. Most nannies seem to be horrible drivers, especially in rain, snow, or wind. I would suggest you go with your first thought and let nanny drive her own car, but maybe just start looking for a new nanny with a better car. You said you just moved so I'm sure this nanny hasn't been with you long.

Op again - i'm sorry if I was asking a stupid question. Like I said, we're new to this scenario and I wondered if there was some solution I wasn't thinking of. Even though we've been a nanny family for the past five years, I sometimes see ideas on here that are new and creative, so I thought I would check in this case. We will definitely rethink our options, and thanks to those who provided advice. Our nanny is not living paycheck to paycheck, I think she just chooses to invest her money places other than her car. That's none of my business and of course I wasn't ever thinking of asking her to buy a different car. That's totally ridiculous. This is our problem to solve, not hers so we will come up with a solution.

I am curious, OP, what did you think everyone would say? That you should force your nanny to buy a better car so she could drive your children around?

Anonymous wrote:Who hires a nanny that is living paycheck to paycheck anyways? Someone with such a crappy old car obviously doesn't have basic money sense. You are just asking for the nanny to steal from you behind your back.

Total nonsense post. Over half of all Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.

Who hires a nanny that is living paycheck to paycheck anyways? Someone with such a crappy old car obviously doesn't have basic money sense. You are just asking for the nanny to steal from you behind your back.

Anonymous wrote:Wow OP here - I had no idea so many people had three cars. I don't agree with the statement that if you can afford a nanny you can afford an extra car, since my salary basically just covers the nanny's salary (working pt to try and keep
a foot in the door). I'm also surprised so many people are so anti-nannies driving their own cars since I thought that was a fairly common thing. Our nanny did that for the last family she worked for. Of course we would reimburse for mileage and wear and tear etc. It's not like we would have been asking her to do something for free. Thanks for the feedback though.

You need daycare. You cant afford a nanny. Pitiful that your children are hauled around in an unsafe car.

This is a toughie OP.

Either you will have to just settle + have your nanny simply walk the children around your neighborhood during the day or use her car, I see no other option if you cannot carpool w/your husband.

I am not sure of your financial situation, but would leasing a car for you or your husband, then allowing your nanny to drive one of your old Toyotas during her shift work out?

This is the only creative solution I can come up with, sorry.

Anonymous wrote:Wow OP here - I had no idea so many people had three cars. I don't agree with the statement that if you can afford a nanny you can afford an extra car, since my salary basically just covers the nanny's salary (working pt to try and keep
a foot in the door). I'm also surprised so many people are so anti-nannies driving their own cars since I thought that was a fairly common thing. Our nanny did that for the last family she worked for. Of course we would reimburse for mileage and wear and tear etc. It's not like we would have been asking her to do something for free. Thanks for the feedback though.

Your entire first post was about how you didn't want the nanny driving the kids in her car because you thought it was unsafe.
Public transport is not an option according to your first post.
Also according to your first post you and DH cannot share a car.
According to your first post you would like the kids to get out with the nanny.
You asked for a solution to the situation.

I'm genuinely curious what you thought the suggestions would be?

Did you think you'd be told to tell the nanny to buy a new car?

Anonymous wrote:Wow OP here - I had no idea so many people had three cars. I don't agree with the statement that if you can afford a nanny you can afford an extra car, since my salary basically just covers the nanny's salary (working pt to try and keep
a foot in the door). I'm also surprised so many people are so anti-nannies driving their own cars since I thought that was a fairly common thing. Our nanny did that for the last family she worked for. Of course we would reimburse for mileage and wear and tear etc. It's not like we would have been asking her to do something for free. Thanks for the feedback though.

You should have stipulated that you needed a nanny with a car when you first hired her. And you spent a paragraph telling us that the nanny's car wasn't safe! What do you want, OP?

Anonymous wrote:Wow OP here - I had no idea so many people had three cars. I don't agree with the statement that if you can afford a nanny you can afford an extra car, since my salary basically just covers the nanny's salary (working pt to try and keep
a foot in the door). I'm also surprised so many people are so anti-nannies driving their own cars since I thought that was a fairly common thing. Our nanny did that for the last family she worked for. Of course we would reimburse for mileage and wear and tear etc. It's not like we would have been asking her to do something for free. Thanks for the feedback though.

Wasn't the entire purpose of your post that you thought the nanny's car was unsafe? I thought that wasn't an option. Why did you post?