Do You Drive for Work?

Do You Use Your Own Car for Work?

Some parents don't allow their nanny to drive their kids. But, the vast majority of nannies who have a current driver's license, are willing to drive, and have a clean driving record  have an advantage in landing nanny positions over caregivers who cannot drive. Employees who drive can help parents tremendously by taking children to school, activities, and doctor visits and they can run errands to the dry cleaners, post office, or grocery store.

A driver's license is also the most important form of identification used in the United States. In countries with no national identification card (like the United States), driver's licenses have often become the identification card for many purposes. All nanny employers and nanny agencies run a Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) report on their nanny candidates.

Obtaining a driver's license will be slightly different in each state. For most beginner drivers, they will have to go to a local DMV office with a birth certificate and two forms of identification and take a simple written test containing around 30 questions. Once they have a learner's permit they can practice driving in a friend or relatives car or sign up with a driving school before taking the road test evaluation. It will take a few weeks to get a license but well worth the benefits.

If you use your car for work purposes (driving kids or errands for your employers) you should be reimbursed the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) gas mileage allowance.  Currently, that amount is 55.5 cents per mile. The gas mileage covers all costs of using your own car including: cost of gas, car insurance, and maintenance.

If you want to land a great nanny job, learning to drive and getting your driver's license might improve the pool of jobs you can choose from. Be sure to ask your employers to pay the current IRS gas mileage rate if you use your car for your job.