Car mileage reimbursement question

I'm a contractor and I get reimbursed 62c per km - and I don't think it's enough, and it's a fair bit more than what you're getting!

Is there an alternative, like a work car that you can use when you need to? Is the reimbursement negotiable? Can you discuss it with your employer?

I'm not sure I'd be keen to use my own car for such a low rate as every km you add to the clock reduces it's overall resale value too.

I normally use a work car but when I did have to use my own the other day I got 74c. Did you sign a contract for the lower amount? If not I'd be asking for more, and pointing out that the cost of petrol is back over $2/ltr again!

Yes i did sign a contract for that rate. TBH did not really think about it, just had no idea what was reasonable. It's just been recently i've been thinking that it really isn't covering the work associated costs at all and then looked it up on the internet.

If i wasn't working i would not be getting all that wear and tear on my car as i hardly use it, prefer to walk.

I drive all day for my job, hundreds of kms per week.

They do provide cars and petrol cards but only for the full time employees.

It is really good to get that feedback as to what other people are getting as i can use that to help me negotiate either a higher mileage rate or a significant payrise to cover those costs.

And I checked with state insurance about my use and I'm covered as I have special needs adult clients and by driving them around its no different to having other normal passengers

In the earlier days like 5 years ago i was getting 64 cents a km and fuel etc has gone up so much since then

Thanks for all the replies, i appreciate knowing. I just had no idea what was fair, and hate confrontation so hate the idea of bringing it up. Not sure if i should wait till after my 90 days is up or bring it up next time i see them.

There are other things that they are tight with too. I work mostly from home but they don't contribute for things like printer cartridges, paper etc. They say well you could use the office and it is your choice to work from home. Which it is but i only do it the days when it is closer meaning that i can fit more work in. More work = more money for them.

I just grabbed a thing of paper the other day cos i only use it for work tbh.

it does sound really low - however if you have agreed to it then you can't do anything about it till you renegotiate your contract

do they have other part-time staff? also about the work from home if I was you I would keep a time study of the extra hours you can get in working from home - ie writing down what you are doing every 15 mins - some employers feel that if you are working from home that you end up doing less because you have the distractions of at home things whereas this is not always true

also check with your car insurer - as they may consider driving for work to be commercial use then you would need to have commercial insurance particularly if you have company product or anything in your vehicle - would hate for you to have an accident (even if it's not your fault) and your insurer not pay out if they find out you were driving for work

Our work just up'd theirs from 62c to 74c as per the IRD rate.