Things to consider before lending out your company car

Many people may not think twice about lending their car to someone, especially if they’re a friend or colleague. But in both instances, major problems could arise if something goes wrong. So, it’s important to think twice before lending out a company vehicle and to know as much as you can about what risks you’re opening yourself up to.

Before lending out a company car to an employee, it’s important to establish clear expectations regarding its purpose and usage. This includes outlining any rules or restrictions tied to the vehicle. For example, if the car is provided solely for attending business meetings, it should be designated for business use only. Alternatively, if the vehicle is intended to enhance employee comfort, personal use may also be permitted.

You should also define the process for returning the car when it’s no longer needed or when employment ends. Having a clear agreement in place helps avoid confusion or disputes about the vehicle’s return.

What could happen if I lend out my company car?

Once you lend your car or truck out, you can’t control what happens to it, but you could be negatively impacted by someone else’s actions. For instance, if the person borrowing the vehicle is in an at-fault accident, your insurance premium may increase. Another thing to keep in mind is that third-party coverage may also be affected if the driver does something that violates your insurance policy and gets involved in an accident. You could be implicated in the third-party insurer’s recovery attempt, as they could sue both the driver and vehicle owner. Your insurance coverage may not respond to the loss because of the violation, so you and the driver would have to pay for your own legal counsel.

Let’s start with some questions

Because of the potential negative ramifications associated with lending out your company vehicle, it’s important to ask some questions before doing so. And yes, this applies even when lending a car to your own employees.

Some possible questions to ask include:

• Do you have a proper driver’s license for the type of vehicle you’re using? You may wish to obtain a copy for your records, but also keep in mind applicable privacy law requirements when it comes to collecting personal information.
• What will the car be used for?
• How long will you need it for?
• Where will you be travelling (out of province, out of the country)?
• Who will be driving?
• How many passengers will you have?
• Will alcohol be consumed socially?

Some other things to keep in mind

You can never be too careful in a situation like this. There are a number of best practices you should follow to make sure you’re doing everything you can to avoid an unwanted situation.

Some important things to know include:

• There should only be as many people in the vehicle as there are seat belts.
• See if there are any restrictions on the license of the person you’re lending the vehicle to. Younger drivers especially may still be in some stage of their Graduated Driver License, which places restrictions on their driving status.
• Giving someone keys to your company vehicle gives them consent to drive it – even if there was no written or verbal agreement.
• Vehicles with company logos can be great advertising but may also be detrimental to your business’ image if the vehicle is used irresponsibly or gets in an accident.

Protect yourself with insurance

You can’t control what someone does when they’re using your company vehicle, but you can be careful about who you lend it to and determine the measures you have in place in case of an accident. To learn more, visit our commercial auto insurance page and find out how we can help you today!

This blog is provided for information only and is not a substitute for professional advice. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information and will not be responsible for any loss arising out of reliance on the information.