Mobility allowance: a closer look at the cash-for-car scheme
Although the car still offers many advantages (especially if you hold a MAES fuel card and therefore refuel cheaply), this classic means of transport is gradually losing popularity. And that is not surprising. The traffic congestion is increasing and alternatives such as sharing bicycles and electric steps or even Ubers are becoming increasingly attractive. The government is responding to this with initiatives such as the mobility budget and the mobility allowance. Here we explain the differences and highlight the mobility allowance, which is also referred to as the “cash for car” scheme.
Mobility budget or mobility allowance?
Although the two systems are sometimes confused and indeed have many similarities, you cannot just equalize the mobility budget and the mobility allowance. The mobility budget allows employees to trade in their company car for a more sustainable copy, while employees who hand in their company car and opt for a mobility allowance permanently give up a company car. They receive cash compensation in exchange.
If you switch from a mobility allowance to a mobility budget, you naturally lose your right to a mobility allowance – and vice versa.
The size of your mobility allowance
How much cash you get in exchange for your company car depends on a number of parameters. The mobility allowance is calculated using a formula that takes into account, among other things, the catalog value of the company car you return, the extra options, the employee’s own employee contribution, and whether or not you have a fuel card. Namely:
- 20% of 6/7 of the catalog value (minus any personal contribution to the car costs) if you did not have a fuel card.
- 24% of 6/7 of the catalog value (minus any personal contribution to the car costs) if you did have a fuel card.
The amount resulting from this is still taxed, but as an employee you do not pay social security contributions. The mobility allowance can also rise or fall with a promotion or a job change (for which you as an employee would be entitled to a company car from a higher or a lower category).
Who is eligible for “cash for car”?
Just like the mobility budget, the mobility allowance is based on a double freedom of choice: the employer is free to choose whether or not to introduce the system (and whether he does this for the entire company, or for certain departments or individual employees), and the employee is free to choose whether or not to accept it. If both parties turn green, then a number of conditions must still be checked:
- As an employer you have been offering company cars to your employees for at least three years.
- As an employee you must have had a company car for at least one year in the last three years (and this for an uninterrupted period of three months prior to the application for the mobility allowance). However, the cash for car arrangement can also be requested by an employee who did not actually have a company car, but who was entitled to it in the company (during the same period).
Enter the mobility allowance
Anyone who wants to introduce the cash-for-car scheme in their organization must do so through the car policy, individual agreements and the collective labor agreement. It goes without saying that you inform the staff about this. Employees wishing to go along with it must then submit a written request. The employer finally accepts that request (also in writing) and the agreement is included in the employment contract
FAQ
Hoe kan ik een extra kaart aanvragen?
You can easily do this via the online management module of the MAES Mobility Card.
Help, my MAES Mobility Card has been lost or stolen.
Have you lost your MAES Mobility Card or has it been stolen? Report this loss directly to the police and the MAES customer service. The MAES Mobility Card is then immediately blocked. It is also possible to report the loss of your card online. Log in on ‘My MAES’ and click on ‘lost’ with your data and your card is immediately blocked. The “Lost and stolen” department is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call MAES:
+ (32) (0) 3 889 89 89
After this, a new MAES Mobility Card will be created immediately, which will be sent to you as soon as possible. The PIN code of your new MAES Mobility Card will not change.
What does a MAES Mobility Card cost?
We would like to refer you to the rates of the MAES Mobility Card.
What is the difference between a MAES fuel card and a MAES Mobility Card?
With a mobility card you can, among other things, refuel in Europe, charge electric, buy tickets for public transport, pay parking fees (underground and above ground) and more …. – Click here for more information about our rates
What are the benefits of a MMC?
With an MMC you do full cost control regarding mobility. Everything is centralized on one invoice and therefore you no longer need to keep receipts (except for restaurant receipts). Belgian VAT can easily be recovered in this way. In a second phase, a mobility card can be used to allocate budgets to employees in the context of the cafeteria plan / mobility budget and flex plan.
Can the MAES Mobility Card replace my existing MAES fuel card?
Depending on individual needs, this certainly is a possibility. Are you only looking for a fuel card with which you can refuel budget-friendly? Then the MAES fuel card is the best option. Do you need more mobility options? Then remember that you enjoy the same conditions with the MMC as with our MAES fuel card
Where can I refuel with MMC in the BENELUX and the rest of EUROPA?
In Belgium you can refuel at all our own stations with the MAES Mobility Card. You can find them here. Outside of Belgium you can refuel at stations where they accept a VISA card in the following countries: Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Czech Republic, Turkey, United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland.
Can I replace my OBU with the MMC?
No that is not possible. You can pay toll with the MMC in Europe but for the kilometer toll in Belgium an OBU remains necessary.