Does your nanny drive your children? It can be nerve-wracking for families to hand over the driving to their nanny and it takes time to develop that trust. But 97% of nannies drive as a part of their job. If you do your homework up front, you’ll be able to relax knowing that you’ve done your due diligence and your child(ren) are in safe hands.
Some families have a Nanny Car for the sole use of the nanny. This is the best solution, because it will be a safe, updated, well-maintained vehicle and safety features to keep your little ones safe. If she’s using your car, have you added her to your policy? If there’s an accident, they won’t cover it is she isn’t on the policy. If she’s under 25, your premium may go up, depending on her driving record.
If there’s a fender bender in your car and it’s below your deductible rate, it will come out of your pocket, so decide in advance how this will be paid for and what, if any percent she should pay for, if it’s her fault.
If a Nanny Car is impractical for your situation, here are some key things to consider before letting your nanny drive.
Do you require evidence of regular preventative maintenance? Have a trusted mechanic inspect her car.
Monitor the tires monthly and be sure they’re inflated properly.
Does she have additional insurance required for using her car for business?
Typically, there will be a small increase in the premium.
If so, who covers the cost of this additional insurance?
If it’s not a recent model, how difficult are the car seats to install?
Do you have car seats you can give her so that they can just stay in her car?
If they’re coming in and out, make sure she knows how to click them into place and remove them.
Watch her get the children locked in. Did she do it correctly? One common error is failure to pull the clip high enough on the child’s chest.
How does she keep track of her mileage?
Are you paying her the IRS standard mileage reimbursement rate of 56 cents per mile for business miles driven? This covers wear and tear and gas when she drives for business.
Talk about rules for driving and review them frequently. Talk about speed limits and talking or texting on the phone while she’s in the car.
Consider trying Canary, a $9.99 app for iPhone and Android phones that can monitor texting and calling habits, speeding and car location. There’s a seven day free trial.
With a new nanny, have her do a test run to pick up the children while you’re in the car with her.
When nannies come to interview with us, we get a copy of their Driver’s License, a three year MVD Report, and current Auto Insurance. When your hire a permanent nanny through ACN, we send you a copy of her Driver’s License and three year driving record and current insurance. You may want to check her Insurance during your semi-annual Performance Reviews.
When we check references, we ask specifically about how comfortable past families felt with her driving.
It is hard letting your children drive with someone else, but if you do your homework up front, you’ll have a better partnership with your nanny, and your children will reap the rewards of your diligence.
Beth Weise
