The mobility budget promises flexible mobility in the vehicle fleet. According to the Arval Mobility Observatory 2023, 21 percent of German companies already use a mobility budget. In times of remote or hybrid working and the need for more climate protection, it can be particularly worthwhile for companies to make their corporate mobility as flexible and sustainable as possible with the help of such a concept. Can the mobility budget become the key to more flexibility in the fleet? In this article you will find out what an employee mobility budget is and what benefits it offers.
What is a mobility budget?
The mobility budget for employees is an alternative to the company car. The employer provides a predetermined budget that can be used flexibly for the use of various means of transportation. The mobility budget can then be divided up as desired over the month for business and private trips between different means of transport such as public transport, Deutsche Bahn, car sharing, rental bikes, e-scooters, e-scooters, cabs, etc. This concept offers more flexibility in choosing the most suitable means of transportation and can be integrated into an existing fleet .
If the amount for business and private travel is not fully utilized in the current month, the surplus can usually be used for other purposes or benefits. For example, for a new bicycle or as a subsidy for old-age provision. Particularly economical employees who use public transport or rail, for example, are then additionally rewarded. In addition, a mobility budget creates an incentive for employees to leave the company car behind more often. Especially in crowded urban areas, if you want to avoid traffic jams and the hassle of finding a parking space.
Advantages of a mobility budget
The idea behind the mobility budget is to give employees maximum flexibility in their choice of transportation. In the best case, they opt for environmentally friendly alternatives such as public transport or rail. The personal company car will lose its appeal sooner or later. For fleet management, a mobility budget means more efficient and cost-effective management of the vehicle fleet.
But a mobility budget has even more advantages:
For employees:
- Incentive for sustainable mobility behavior
- No need to search for parking spaces and less congestion, especially in urban areas
- More flexibility in mobility
- Increase in satisfaction
For employers:
- More inclusion in the company
- Better cost control through fixed budgets
- Improvement of the image and differentiation from the competition
- Promotion of sustainable mobility
Mobility budget instead of company car?
According to a study by SAP Concur, 57% of employees who live in the city would like to have a mobility budget. Among employees in rural areas, the figure is 40%.
Even if companies are increasingly willing to organize employee mobility flexibly, it is important that companies first carefully assess the individual needs and preferences of their employees as well as the operational requirements.
Mobility budgets are particularly popular in urban areas, as there is a large selection of e-bikes and car-sharing providers and the local and long-distance transport network is very well developed. The situation is often different in rural areas. The majority of employees here still rely on a company car for business and private journeys. Employees in the field who regularly have to attend customer and business appointments also want to be mobile without much effort. Some sectors, such as trades or care services, also rely on their own vehicles to transport tools, machinery and equipment.
In some cases, a mobility budget for employees is therefore not a replacement for the company car model, but rather a supplement to the mobility mix. For many employees, having the choice between the two options already contributes to greater satisfaction.
Taxation of the mobility budget: legal aspects to consider
Anyone considering the mobility budget for employees as an alternative or supplement to the classic company car should consider the tax and labor law aspects in advance. The tax requirements for calculating the non-cash benefit for private journeys with company vehicles are clearly regulated by law.
Depending on the type of mobility, different rules may apply to the mobility budget and costs may be incurred for tax and social security contributions .The type and amount of the budget also plays a role in the mobility budget and can have a more favorable tax impact on the costs.
It is important to know that budget consumption must be recorded, accounted for and allocated to individual employees on a “source-related” basis. This can be done simply by using software via an app from providers who specialize in this. When implementing a mobility budget for employees, fleet management should always seek legal and tax advice.
Mobility budget for employees: you should consider these steps
Implementing a mobility budget in a company requires not only careful planning, but also the commitment of everyone involved – from the management to the HR and finance departments to the employees themselves.
- Objective:The company should set clear targets for the mobility budget, for example better control of costs, greater flexibility or a reduction in thecarbon footprint.
- Definition of the budget: The fleet management must define a budget that is available to employees to finance their new mobility. The previous costs for company cars should be taken into account.
- Inform and train employees: It is important to inform employees about the change and explain to them how the new mobility budget works. Training or information events can be helpful here.
- Offer a wide range of mobility solutions: The company should provide employees with a wide range of mobility solutions that fit within the budget, such as public transportation, car sharing, bicycles or e-bikes.
- Monitoring and adjustment: The company should regularly monitor and, if necessary, adjust the mobility budget to ensure that it meets the needs of the employees and that the goals are achieved. It can be helpful to first test the concept with a smaller pilot group and make adjustments.
- Rewards for sustainable mobility: The company can also incentivize sustainable mobility, for example by providing additional funding for employees who use public transport or environmentally friendly modes of transport such as bicycles.
