There are lots of reasons why you might find yourself behind the wheel of a company vehicle. It could be a company car that the business gives you for your daily commute. It could also be a work truck or delivery van that you use for your job. Either way, there are a few things you should and should not do when you are responsible for a company’s vehicle.

Drive Responsibly

If you have been given the responsibility of driving a company vehicle, you should drive responsibly. Doing so proves to your employees that you are a responsible employee who values other people’s property. Driving responsibly shows you can be trusted with company property outside and, if so, you might be rewarded in the office for doing so.

Driving responsibly makes you less of a liability for the company. If you are frequently getting into accidents, getting traffic tickets, and generally not obeying traffic rules, you paint the business in a bad light and so you are deemed a liability. Getting into accidents can also lead to an increase in insurance premiums for the business and this will not go down well with your employer.

Do Not Let the Car Get Messy

Leaving trash in the car and keeping it in a messy state is never a good thing. It is deemed lazy, disrespectful, and sloppy. Just like you would not leave a huge mess on your desk at the office, do not leave a mess in the company car.

Do Ensure it is Properly Insured

Although commercial vehicle insurance is meant to protect the business and its property (the vehicle), it is also essential for you as the vehicle’s driver. Commercial vehicle insurance not only covers the vehicle and the property damaged during an accident but can also help pay for medical bills and expenses for emergency care. Even in cases where you have personal vehicle insurance, you still need to ask your employer to get commercial vehicle insurance so you know you are protected any time you use a company vehicle for official business.

Do Not Use a Company Car for Personal Errands

A common mistake that employees make is treating a company car like it belongs to them. They run errands in the car, ferry their family and friends in, and generally use it for purposes that are not authorized by the business. On top of it being a bad look, using a company car for personal business means you are responsible for the car when it is not being used as it should be. If you get into an accident, any payments or personal injury lawsuits will fall on you like they would if you were driving a personal car.

Also, do not take advantage of mileage and fuel reimbursements for personal trips and uses outside the scope of your work. Your employer will know where the vehicle has been and if you ask to be reimbursed for things like this, you might be fired for it depending on company policy.

If you would like to use the car for anything else other than work or commuting, ask your manager first. Many companies have a set of rules you need to follow and lots of managers will be happy to give you some leeway if you ask nicely.

Do Clean and Take Care of the Vehicle

In addition to not treating a company vehicle like a trash can, it is important to get it cleaned regularly. All employees who drive a company vehicle should take pride in its condition. Also, cleaning the car shows you are responsible, and it can be an indicator that you can be trusted with bigger things.

As a guideline, keep the vehicle in the condition it was given to you in. Get it washed regularly, change the oil, ensure the vehicle is inspected regularly and take care of any maintenance required. Many companies will happily reimburse you for the maintenance costs if they see you are putting an effort into taking care of their property.

A company vehicle is not a personal vehicle and should never be treated as one. If a company trusts you enough to give you a company vehicle, treat it well and demonstrate you are a responsible person who cares about other people’s property.