The Truth About Getting a Company Car
The olde axiom of 'never look a gift horse in the mouth' is never as true as when your company offers to provide you with some unexpected goody. A few years ago, I was able, after frankly much struggle, to get an internal company transfer. New duties, new title, and even a new work site-overall, a fresh start, for which I was desperate.
To get prepped for 'The Day,' I called the guy whose slot I was taking (he was also being voluntarily transferred), and invited him to lunch. I thought that, especially since he was also going where he wanted, he'd be happy to provide some insights into the job, the players, and all the myriad of stuff we all want to know when opening new career doors. Very nice restaurant, real oak and subdued lighting, with great ambiance for confidential chats. Good food and large drinks. Everything seemed fine, except that this guy wasn't giving up a goddamned thing. I mean he was almost mute the entire time. No matter what tactic I tried, it all failed...so I began to wonder why he was so covert about the whole thing.
Once I took his place, I soon learned the reasons for his (well justified) secretiveness...but that's for another time. Anyway, and after several awkward silences that made the meal seem a lot longer than the hour or so that it took, it gratefully ends. As we step outside and shake hands, equally glad to be rid of each other, he hands me a set of keys, and tells me that my car is parked around the corner. "Car, what car?" I asked. I didn't know, nor did my new bosses-who had, btw, extensively interviewed me, ever mentioned that a company car came with my new job!
On foot, I made a quick turn-and there it was, a brand new car, parked at the curb, in all its' freshly polished (though brown) glory. A friend to whom I excitedly told this story later that day very aptly said "damn, Victor-you just got a $10,000 raise, and didn't even have to ask for it!" He was right, especially with all the extras that came with the car. True, I was now on 24-hour call. There were also several other strings attached to this deal, but it was all nevertheless well worth it.
I don't know whether you'll ever have the chance to get a company car, but even if they don't offer one, you may want to use the possibility of getting a car assigned to you as a bargaining chip when negotiating for a raise or have ever had to use high rate financing like payday loans to make a car payment you would know the positives of a company car.
Like anything else, there are definite plusses and (yes, there really are) minuses in having a company car. As inviting as such an offer will sound, it pays to think about whether you want to accept this perq. For example;
>Plusses
The car usually comes with company paying for all of the costs associated with driving to and from work. When you start to itemize these expenses, and actually affix a dollar amount to each, it's easy to see why more and more people are opting out of the American two-car-per-household dream. Think about what you regularly spend for gas, maintenance, insurance, repairs, tolls, parking fees, car washing, etc. Then think about the natural corellary, of how much you can save annually by not having to shell out your shekels for a car. Or, by the way, and if you currently take public transit to work, the fare money you'll save, and the convenience you'll enjoy.
The other benefit, albeit somewhat intangible, is the added prestige you get among your peers and subs by having a company car asigned to you. The statement it makes clearly marks you as either a comer or one who has already arrived. The very fact that the company would trust you with such an asset symbolizes your perceived worth, and the high level of trust that they have in you. All to the good, at least so far...
>Minuses
One of the primary reasons you get a company car is to obligate you, to guarantee that you'll be whereever - whenever - they think that they need you to be. Hence the twenty four hour call mandate. Some positions require that you respond to any, and often all, emergencies, irrespective of your plans, or the time of day or night, Saturdays and Sundays included. And no, this isn't just for security types...it goes for editors, PR folks, operational honchos and many other execs. normally considered non-emergency personnel.
Also, there's a series of rules and limits that you can expect the company to impose when giving you this 'gift.' For example, you are reasonably expected to only use their car on 'official business.' Weekend outings are of course out of the question, but even a trip to the dry cleaners, may well be verboten. The reason that they'll usually know about such misuse is that you'll more than likely be required to complete a trip log each time that you use the vehicle, as well as having to submit bills for all expenses. If, however, you do decide to play on the company's dime, it won't take long for discrepancies to pile up, and audits (of mileage, E-Z Pass trips, etc. are more the norm than the exception.
If you're already starting to see this as more a liability than a gift, you might also consider the fact that the car will likely be marked with some type of corporate logo - or worse yet, some tacky advertising. Then you're a target for every motorist that sees you on the road. That's the random stranger who had a bad experience with your company eons ago. It's also the jealous neighbor or spiteful pedestrian who will send anonymous e-mails to your company accusing you of reckless driving, or worse. Go explain that.
Life is a game of trade-offs, and in this case, I'll take the company care everytime. If you get the chance to get one, run - no drive - to it!
Victor Kipling
Reader Comments (11)
<a href="http://www.ezbusinessloans.com/blog/">
Business Loans</a>? I don't know what to say except that it caught my interest and you've provided informative points. I will visit this blog often. Thank you.
http://www.ezbusinessloans.com
<a href=http://www.anlasmalimatbaa.com title="matbaa-fatura basımı" target="_blank">Fatura Basımı</a>
<a href=http://www.anlasmalimatbaa.com title="matbaa-fatura basımı" target="_blank">Anlaşmalı Matbaa</a>
<a href= http://www.faturabasimi.com title="matbaa-fatura basımı" target="_blank">Matbaa</a>
<a href=http://www.faturabasimi.com title="fatura basımı" target="_blank">Fatura Basımı</a>
<a href=http://www.faturabasimi.com title="fatura basımı" target="_blank">Anlaşmalı Matbaa</a>
-Devon Claiborne