Does the new smoking ban apply to loan/hire cars etc?

[South Shore Lad]

I've lifted this (below) from the Smokefree England website. Not sure about the final sentence. Does this mean that dealer loan cars for test drives, warranty/service work etc will have to bee smoke free? eg free of the smell of smoke when handed back for the next user.


Smokefree vehicles
The new law will also require vehicles to be smokefree at all times if they are used:

• to transport members of the public
• in the course of paid or voluntary work by more than one person - regardless of whether they are in the vehicle at the same time.

Vehicles that are used primarily for private purposes will not be required to be smokefree.

[funkychicken]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think it probably does. My dad is a driving instructor and his car has to be because there is going to be members of the public using it and paying to use it, so I think it basically applies to any car thats not just for private use.

[Martin F]

I think the smoking ban would apply to a test drive if accompanyied by a salesman as it would be a workplace but not if you are alone or with family/partner.

It would only apply in a loan car if it was being used for work and you had another work colleague with you. The test seems to be the use not the ownership.

[Shaun]

Smoking will be permitted in vehicles that are for the sole use of the driver and are not used as a workplace by anyone else, either as a driver or passenger.

Reckon rental cars will be down to the Rental Companys policy unless it is rented for work and more than one driver / passneger.

Quick edit think it is at the discretion of the rental company but....
Car Hire | News - National Car Rental

[South Shore Lad]

although England only goes 'live' on Sunday, presumably my query will have been tested in the rest of the UK.

But thanks for the responses guys - I think that clears it up.

Cheers

SSL

[South Shore Lad]

Overlapped with Shaun's comments there.

That could be the thing "own policy" as opposed to "law of the land"

Btw - refs to guys should be guys & gals of course!!

[Nath316]

A rental car is a public enclosed space and as most rental companies actaully have a no smoking policy I would imagine that yes it does apply to them

Company cars are a slightly diff matter but in the end if a non smonker is likely to be sat in your car at some point then yes it does apply.

Although my view is that if a window is open the space is not enclosed and therefore smoking is permitted hehe

[Shaun]

The rules over what is and isnt an enclosed space are very strict.
Get a convertable roof down this is legally ok so as long as its not raining your good.

[Nath316]

Quote: Originally Posted by Shaun (original)

The rules over what is and isnt an enclosed space are very strict.
Get a convertable roof down this is legally ok so as long as its not raining your good.

good thinking batman

[Shaun]

Even better get a Submarine they are exempt from the ban.

This is getting silly now isnt now.

[LYD]

even better idea- quit smoking and you wont have to worry about the ban at all

[Shaun]

I dont smoke as do hardly any of our company drivers but we still must be compliant with the law

[LYD]

you have nothing to worry about then do you, its the person who's smoking that gets the fine

[Joogle]

A lot of companies are playing it safe and interpreting the ruling as saying any company owned vehicle should be smoke free - they dont want to get caught out if a smokers car gets passed onto a non-smoker...........

[mderijke]

Most hiring companies here will charge you about 75 Euros for cleaning costs if you smoke in the rental car.
I think rental cars are not included in the term "public transport" to which the smoking ban applies in NL.