Using a car instead of a van

[FixitElectrical]

Hi,

This is my first post on here, so hello everyone! I've been reading thread on here for weeks now and thought I'd best join!

I'm starting out in the domestic electrician world shortly and wondered who else uses a normal saloon car to run their business. I have all the tools I need and can just fit them into boot, I have s Saab 9-3 which has a good sized boot. I'm just wondering who else doesn't use a van

Any thoughts?

 

[Octopus]

What about your ladders?

 

[FixitElectrical]

I have a 5 step fibreglass ladder which fits in, plus I have an Xtend & Climb 3.8 meter telescopic ladder for any outside work. That goes high enough for anything I will ever do.

 

[jon small]

welcome to the forum and happy new year, i'm using a saab 95 estate - huge boot, loads of room inside and roof bars if i need to carry ladders plus all the comforts. i especially like the heated leather seats

 

[Geordie Spark]

Hi,

This is my first post on here, so hello everyone! I've been reading thread on here for weeks now and thought I'd best join!

I'm starting out in the domestic electrician world shortly and wondered who else uses a normal saloon car to run their business. I have all the tools I need and can just fit them into boot, I have s Saab 9-3 which has a good sized boot. I'm just wondering who else doesn't use a van

Any thoughts?

Hello and welcome

I'm with you on this one. I always used cars and over the years I have used 4 Mazda 626 hatchbacks As I was involved with plumbing, heating & gas work I had a lot of gear to carry about & the car coped with it all - all the toolboxes etc hidden away in the enormous boot and ladders & pipe etc on the roof rack and all of that without folding the rear seats down.

With the rear seats folded down and without the toolboxes, I could carry a full bathroom suite in the car - that's a full sized bath, basin & pedestal and toilet with cistern.

In 20 years, I never had any trouble with people trying to break into the car to nick my gear because it looked just like an ordinary car with little of value in it, and on a weekend, it was used for family days out & shopping trips.

 

[gigawatt]

I've got a Honda Tourer. Love it. All the space you need for a domestic plus it's fully loaded. Could always use a roof rack too for ladders but I don't at the moment.

 

[bluepmf]

Happy new year!! I have a Toyota hilux it's fantastic large carrying capacity and still has 5 seats this is my 2nd one now I wouldn't use any other vehicle. I have it sign written so that when I turn up at a job it looks a bit more professional than a car but that's only my opinion.

 

[i=p/u]

yeah depends on where your customers come from, mines is from word of mouth, so don't need to sign up bmw 320d touring , but the jeep would be nice, not this year tho

 

[puddy]

You need something that’s a car but a van look at Mitsubishi Outlander when it’s made in Japan it’s a car but when it gets here Mitsubishi UK take the back seats out weld a flat piece of metal turning it in to a flat load bed. Put black film on the 2 rear doors and tailgate. So you now have a van and you don't have to pay vat if your vat registered. M My mrs said you should always rent a van she should know she’s a tax inspector

I had one but mine was a car best car ever had

 

[puddy]

Forget to say don't forget to inform your insurance company your using your car business purpose now otherwise you won’t be covered if the worst should happen

 

[i=p/u]

Like they would know, could be driving to my own house to do work or could be traveling to and from work

 

[Fin170]

Using my Subaru forester for it and it's pretty fantastic at the job (minus having to carry a spare tyre around in the boot because gas conversion)

Have to use a car because the insurers don't like the young folk, £1500 for a Y reg transit against £750 for a Subaru barge. Parked on the street because Admiral will charge you another £150 for parking it in a garage :angry_smile:

 

[FixitElectrical]

Sounds like I won't be the only one the. I think from what I can tell the people who have vans, a lot of it is taken up with junk that doesn't need to be there. I guess if you do commercial work then it might be a good idea to have a van as you probably need a few more bits of kit and spares.

Yeah I would love a brand new shiny van, but I don't feel I need one, nor can afford one! I could have bought a berlingo for less than my MFT.

 

[FixitElectrical]

The insurance thing, I guess it would be a good idea to tell them but then again, it's not a sign written van so....

 

[Jimsparky]

It's the fact your using it to make money that's why they will want to know. You won't actually be insured.

 

[MDJ]

I use a van, 2 reasons, 1 you get the VAT back through the business and 2 IMO a sign written van turning up at a customers premises combined with a uniform and ID makes you look far more professional even if you are not than a guy in a car, that said I have worked with a lot of really good sparks who drive cars to site, but I am allowed a view too arn't I haha, no offence to anyone at all here :love:

 

[richy3333]

I'd never get all my stuff in a car, has to be a van. I don't understand the earlier comment about not paying VAT on a car because you surely reclaim any VAT paid on a van anyway - as MDJ says?

And as for not disclosing to an insurer that you use it for work just sounds nuts. Give them any excuse not to pay a claim and they certainly will.

 

[kingeri]

It often doesn't cost any more to add business use to your insurance, or at the least it costs very little. A mate of mine is a DJ, got pulled on his way home from pub, cos no business insurance they did him, £400 fine, 6 points, storage and recovery fees. For what it costs, don't risk not having it.

 

[Jimsparky]

I agree with mdj but its everyone personal opinion isn't it. I don't know what my customers would say if I sent my lads out in a car ? But we do commercial and industrial so would never for the stuff in a car

 

[kingeri]

I do 90% domestic, with the odd shop or office, I use my car, it's a Volvo V60 estate. I couldn't afford to run a van and a car, it's that simple, and wouldn't fancy taking the wife and kid everywhere in a van.