Another common question, but I'm pretty worried about my car and would like someone to clarify as I've heard lots of conflicting accounts.
Firstly I work in film and tv and can be expected or sent to any part of the uk at short notice in any weather and to any remote location , which due to the nature of what I need to carry and the terrain, means a 4x4 is essential to me.
I own outright a 2004 mitsubishi pick up with 166000 miles on the clock, probably worth about £5000 if I'm very lucky but invaluable to me. Over new year I was working in Oban and had It not been for the 4x4 I would never have got to location or home due to the snow. Last year I was in pembrokeshire which required me to tow a large generator off road and onto a beach, again invaluable in allowing me to earn.
Can anybody clarify what stance the OR will take with this situation ? will they see it as an essential tool and allow me to keep it? I'm worried a cheap alternative for £2500 will be more expense than use with constant repairs and being unreliable limiting me to working locally.
£2k is normally the limit for the amount the OR will allow for a car. It is also up to the OR as to whether you keep the car or not. If they don't believe you need it for work then they will take it.
I think Melanie from Jones Giles (http://www.jonesgiles.co.uk) mentioned that she had a client who was able to keep a car valued at £7k so if you make a good case for needing an expensive car (high mileage, 4x4 for towing, etc.) then you may be able to keep it.
I would agree with the above, normally £2000 is the limit for vehicles but the OR will look at each case and maybe allow you to keep the vehicle if you can proved that it is required for your job.
I was able to keep my vehicle but it was under £2k, I provided adverts from autotrader etc showing similar vehicles to prove the value
I suspect that an 04 pick up with 166k miles is worth a lot less than £5k. Check on Parkers Guide but I would be suprised if it was worth more than 3k.
Depending upon which OR you have you may be allowed up to £2500 or alternatively you may be able to purchase the "difference" back from the OR.
Another common question, but I'm pretty worried
Posted - 02 February 2010 : 12:58:51
