The summer season is here! And with it, the desire for a change of scenery. A desire that often means many hours in the car. To reduce the impact of these journeys, an electric car is a solution. But what if it is your company car? Can you go on holiday with it?
First of all, it is important to remember that there is a difference between a company car and a pool vehicle. The first can be used for both business and private journeys, while the second is reserved exclusively for business trips. The question of holidays therefore only arises for company cars.
Check the company policy
By definition, a company car can be used for both business and personal journeys. Holiday trips therefore seem to be included.
But this private use is a benefit in kind for the employee. And it is limited by the employer, who declares it to URSSAF (the French social security contributions agency). There may be a mileage cap or a limit on charging costs, for example.
Nothing is set in stone, and reimbursement can be on a flat-rate basis or on presentation of receipts, depending on the company's internal rules. Note that some employers apply a reimbursement cap or a mileage threshold not to be exceeded, for example for journeys made outside a strictly professional context. These conditions can change from year to year, in line with the tax rules in force.
ℹ️ Good to know: the applicable reimbursement caps may be revised every year. To find out the limits in force in 2025, you can consult the URSSAF website (in French) or the latest BOFiP publications.
But using your company car during your holidays is not the only question. If the employer agrees, other points need to be checked.
Company car: who pays for the electricity to charge it?
While the employer covers the cost of electricity for charging the vehicle for business trips, this is not always the case for personal journeys.
Most of the time, the employee pays the charging costs when the car is used privately. But some companies may reimburse all or part of these expenses. This can, for example, replace holiday vouchers.
The employer can also arrange for a charging station to be installed at the employee's home, to make reimbursement easier.
Company car: who pays for insurance during the holidays?
Insurance for a company car must be taken out by the owner of the vehicle, whether it is the company or a leasing company.
This means that, during the employee's holidays, the insurance for the electric company car continues to be paid by the owner. However, if no insurance has been taken out, the employee becomes responsible for using an uninsured vehicle, and the employer may take this into account.
Likewise, pay attention to the conditions of use of the vehicle specified in the insurance contract. They may exclude certain uses, such as trips abroad. If you are planning a holiday in another European country with your electric company car, it is best to check the insurance cover in advance (countries covered, assistance, excess, etc.). Some insurance policies require prior notification of any cross-border trip, or apply specific limitations outside France.
In the event of an accident caused by the employee, the owner is again the one held responsible. And the owner cannot ask the employee to pay the excess, except in the case of gross misconduct. For traffic fines, things are different. A French law of 12 October 2016 requires companies to name the person who committed the offence. A penalty applies in case of refusal. The fine is then paid by the employee, who is criminally liable.
Check the conditions for sharing the driving
To avoid accidents caused by fatigue, it is always recommended to share the driving on long journeys such as holiday trips. This is not always allowed with a company car.
Insurance contracts are generally designed for a single driver. For someone else to drive, you need written authorisation from the employer confirming that a second driver has been declared to the insurer. In addition, paid car sharing is strictly prohibited. Making a profit from a private activity with a company car, which the employee does not own, is not allowed. It is even valid grounds for dismissal for the employer, as confirmed by the decision of the Commercial Chamber of the French Court of Cassation of 12 March 2013. More recent decisions may, however, qualify this framework depending on the specific uses and contractual clauses.
Charging an electric company car on holiday
When it comes to charging the electric company car, if the employer reimburses the expenses, you need to be able to justify them with invoices or by using a charging card for professional fleets such as the Business Chargemap Pass. This card lets you track charging sessions and makes reimbursement easy.
In any case, to easily find a charging station, on the way to your holiday destination or once you arrive, there is the Chargemap mobile app. It lets you find a charging station quickly, but also plan your route based on the charging points along the way. By setting your search preferences, you can even avoid queues at charging stations. In short, going on holiday with an electric company car is possible, if the company allows it and the insurance contract covers it. However, you need to pay attention to a few details, in particular checking that the vehicle is properly insured and that sharing the driving with someone else is allowed.
