Jun 30, 2022 | Financial |
Administration. Hardly anyone is really fond of it right now. Privately, no, chores involving paperwork we almost all put off as long as possible. This is of course true of administration at work. Generally, we find it a lot of work and we don't see the point of it. You can have a good discussion about the latter.
The amount of time it takes, there's no need to argue about that: yes, it often involves a lot of hours. But did you know that in many cases you can reduce these enormously?
Less work on the fleet
In many companies, the vehicle fleet is something that involves a lot of administration. Whether it be vehicles owned by the company, which are only used during the course of a business, or vehicles that are used for the purpose of business, the
working time is driven, or to lease cars, which go home with employees at the end of the day, extra work in the form of trip recording is (almost) always there.
Much of that work stems from the requirements of the tax authorities. tripregistration. The tax authorities would like to know exactly which journeys are made with a business
car are driven and under what heading these trips fall. Not because they are necessarily so curious, but because they want to know whether the vehicle is also used privately. If that is the case, an additional taxable benefit is calculated on an employee's gross income. If you don't want an additional taxable benefit, you can still drive 500km privately before this takes effect. This is actually a wash, most people do drive 500km privately per month. So then you are bound by the additional taxable benefit.
How does addition work (in brief)
The addition for your lease car is calculated as follows: percentage addition x catalogue value - own contribution (if you have one).
an example:
Your lease car has a purchase value of €30,000, and an additional taxable value of 25%, and you have an own contribution of €1,500 per year.
The taxable addition is then: 25% of €30,000 - €1,500 = €6,000 addition per year.
For the net addition, this amount is multiplied by the applicable income tax rate. For example, if the income tax rate is 37%, then in the above example, the net addition is 37% of €6,000, i.e. €2,220 per year
To know for sure whether a vehicle is being used privately or not, every kilometre driven in it will have to be recorded. Unless it is immediately decided that the
additional taxable income is going to be paid anyway, which can be the case, for example, with lease cars that employees are allowed to use at their own discretion. Trip registration can be quite time-consuming and
But you don't have to! Nowadays, you can also automate it almost completely. A built-in system based on GPS will then take over the mileage registration
and delivers an overview that meets all the requirements of the tax authorities. This will cost both the director and the administration department a lot less time and effort!
What else can be automatic?
No longer having to keep such records manually saves a lot of time and frees up employees to do other things. It inspires
Perhaps we should look further. Are there more things we can do (semi) automatically in the area of administration? Often, yes. What exactly, that is often
Depending on the sector in which a company is active. But the fact is that increasing automation can certainly reduce some of our administration, and we are reaping the rewards.
all the fruits of it.
Jun 22, 2022 | Timing belt |
Does your Honda have a timing belt or chain and what is the interval for replacing the timing belt? On this page an overview of the different Honda models. As you can see, especially the older models are still equipped with timing belts, like the Civic, Accord and CRV. The new Honda models are almost all equipped with a chain.
A belt needs to be replaced at regular intervals, while a chain is generally good for the life of the engine and requires no maintenance.
Interval replacement timing belt Honda
Click on one of the following pages for an overview of when the timing belt needs to be replaced per Honda model:
Honda timing belt or timing chain?
| 2008 to 2014 Accord V6 3.5 |
Belt |
| 2008 to 2014 Odyssey pilot and Ridgeline V6 3.5 |
Belt |
| 2006 to 2007 Accord V6 3.0 |
Belt |
| 2006 to 2016 Civic |
Chain |
| 2005 Accord 3.0 |
Belt |
| 2003 to 2011 Element |
Chain |
| 2003 to 2016 CR-V |
Chain |
| 2003 to 2004 Accord 3.0 |
Belt |
| 2003 to 2016 Accord - 2.4 |
Chain |
| 2003 to 2004 Odyssey and Pilot V6 3.5 |
Belt |
| 2002 Civic 1.7 |
Belt |
| 2002 Accord 2.3 |
Belt |
| 2002 Accord 3.0 |
Belt |
| 2002 Passport 3.2 |
Belt |
| 2002 Odyssey 3.5 |
Belt |
| 2001 Civic 1.7 |
Belt |
| 2001 CRV 2.0 |
Belt |
| 2001 Prelude 2.2 |
Belt |
| 2001 2.3 Accord |
Belt |
| 2001 Passport 3.2 |
Belt |
| 2001 Odyssey 3.5 |
Belt |
| 1999 to 2000 Civic 1.6 |
Belt |
| 1999 to 2000 CRV 2.0 |
Belt |
| 1999 to 2000 Prelude 2.2 |
Belt |
| 1999 to 2000 Accord 2.3 |
Belt |
| 1999 to 2000 Passport 3.2 |
Belt |
| 1999 to 2000 Odyssey 3.5 |
Belt |
| 1998 Civic 1.6 |
Belt |
| 1998 CRV 2.0 |
Belt |
| 1998 Prelude 2.2 |
Belt |
| 1998 Odyssey and accord 2.3 |
Belt |
| 1998 Accord 3.0 |
Belt |
| 1998 Passport 3.2 |
Belt |
| 1997 Civic 1.6 |
Belt |
| 1997 Del sol 1.6 |
Belt |
| 1997 CRV 2.0 |
Belt |
| 1997 Accord 2.2 |
Belt |
| 1997 Odyssey 2.2 |
Belt |
| 1997 Prelude 2.2 |
Belt |
| 1997 Accord 2.7 |
Belt |
| 1997 passport 3.2 |
Belt |
| 1996 Civic 1.6 |
Belt |
| 1996 Del sol 1.6 |
Belt |
| 1996 Accord 2.2 |
Belt |
| 1996 Odyssey 2.2 |
Belt |
| 1996 Prelude 2.2 |
Belt |
| 1996 Prelude 2.3 |
Belt |
| 1996 passport 2.6 |
Belt |
| 1996 Accord 2.7 |
Belt |
| 1996 Passport 3.2 |
Belt |
Jun 19, 2022 | EV |
In the first phase, which was characterised by a relatively low percentage of electric cars, charging mainly took place at home or in other private places such as office buildings. Charging services were mainly paid per minute or per hour and a large number of charging stations could be used free of charge, as low charging volumes meant relatively low costs for the operator of the charging station. Generally, the infrastructure of the charging station was "simple", i.e. not connected to any cloud-based service.
In the second phase, the supply was increased (since)
During the second phase, electric car sales began to increase rapidly. Mode 3 enabled the use of smart charging infrastructure and the focus shifted to public charging stations. Currently, most regions in Europe and the US are in this phase. Smart charging allows digital services to be equipped with more complex payment options and features for balancing charging volumes and flexible access management. Charging station operators have emerged to offer these features and have great control over the ecosystem. Consider Shell.
The 3rd development phase of the charging station market
In the third, long-term phase, electric vehicles play a key role in the power system. To protect the power system from the new demand for electricity due to the high penetration rate of electric cars, operators must respond to the needs of transmission system operators and distribution system operators. And thus provide ancillary and balancing services. This new demand would create great opportunities for operators who can now start acquiring the necessary electric vehicles and charging stations to offer these valuable V2G services.
Taking the above phases into account, Charge Passes are becoming increasingly relevant
As described above, it is probably only a matter of time before the majority of cars are electric. And if your company fleet already has a considerable number of electric cars, it is of course important to be able to keep track of expenses and declarations. The company Travelcard makes this possible. With the Travelcard charge card you can charge at a network of more than 250,000 charging points. A charging card makes driving an electric car easy and economical. For example, you can choose to use the charging card to pay for tolls and vignettes.
Jun 14, 2022 | Timing belt |
Do you own a Kia and wonder if it has a timing belt or timing chain? Most Kia cars have a chain and therefore no timing belt. Only the following models have a belt:
- Timing belt Kia Picanto 1 litre petrol (2009-2011)
- Timing belt Kia Carnival 2.9 diesel (2001-2009)
The distribution chain is largely maintenance-free, while a replacement interval applies to the distribution belt. If you want to be sure, we always recommend consulting the instruction booklet to find out whether your car has a distribution belt or a distribution chain.
When to replace a Kia timing belt
Do you have one of the aforementioned Kia models with a timing belt? Make sure that the belt is replaced on time. If the belt wears out and snaps, you'll be worse off than before. Check the service booklet to see if you can find information about the last replacement date. If it is not there, see if there is a sticker under the bonnet with the last date or mileage when the belt was last replaced. If you do not know when the belt was last replaced and cannot find a sticker, it is wise to have the timing belt replaced immediately.
- KIA PICANTO (SA) 1.0 (45 kW, 999 ccm, 04/2004 - 04/2011)
- At every 135,000 km or every 9 years
-
KIA PICANTO (SA) 1.1 (48 kW, 1086 ccm, 04/2004 - 04/2011)
- At every 135,000 km or every 9 years
-
KIA PICANTO (SA) 1.0 (46 kW, 999 ccm, 04/2004 - 04/2011)
- At every 135,000 km or every 9 years
When to replace a Kia timing chain
That a distribution chain lasts a lot longer than a belt should be clear, but a chain can also cause problems. In general people say that a chain can last up to 300,000 km but in practice it can happen that the chain stretches which can cause a rattling noise. So it is important to have the car checked regularly and to inspect the chain properly during the maintenance to prevent possible problems and damage.
Jun 4, 2022 | Various, On the move |
What do you need to consider when driving with a trailer? Whether it's a cart, caravan, folding caravan or trailer; before you start driving there are a few things you need to bear in mind. On this page you will find a list of useful tips before going on holiday with a trailer behind your car.
Checklist for the trailer
- Is the load properly distributed and secured?
- Do you have an extra number plate for the trailer?
- Is the trailer tyre pressure correct?
- Is the trailer properly hitched and coupled?
- Is the breakaway cable securely fastened?
- Does the electrical connection between vehicle and trailer work?
- Are the trailer lights working?
- Have you released the handbrake and turned the nose wheel up?
- Have you adjusted your car's rear-view mirrors properly?
- Aren't the car's headlights set too high when fully loaded?
Drive with the right towbar
If you are travelling with a caravan for the first time and need a new towbar, you can easily buy one online or through a garage and have it installed. Many vehicles are fitted with a towbar as standard, but this is not the case with all cars. A detachable model is also an option and has the advantage that you only attach it as soon as you want to use it. Want more info on a hitch mounting? Then read on this page.
Driving with a trailer: change in driving behaviour
When driving with a trailer for the first time, you will notice a change in driving behaviour. The car is, of course, overall longer, which means that parking has to be done differently. When turning, the car will swerve and also when reversing, you have to practise driving correctly. When it is windy, tall caravans and trailers can catch wind more easily and start to sway. At such times, the motto is to drive carefully and more slowly. The ANWB offers further tips for driving in windy and stormy weather.
Secure the load
It is important to distribute the load on the trailer evenly and secure the load properly with lashing straps and nets to avoid danger to fellow road users (and yourself, of course!). There is no legal obligation to cover all loose cargo. However, you should prevent loose cargo from causing danger or hindrance by the cargo falling off or blowing off. On the government website in article 5.18.6 section 2 of the Vehicles Regulation state the requirements on how to cover cargo:
"Loose load which by its nature cannot be secured to or on the vehicle shall be properly covered if danger or nuisance arises or is likely to arise due to falling or blowing load."
How fast can you drive with a trailer?
And one of the most popular questions: how fast can you go with a trailer? The maximum speed with a trailer depends on the weight of the trailer. Under 3500 kilos, you are allowed to drive 90 kilometres per hour on motorways. When the weight exceeds 3500 kilos, the maximum speed is 80 kilometres per hour.
If you want to drive abroad with a trailer, always enquire in the country concerned about the maximum permitted speed. So if you are going on holiday with a trailer or caravan, it is important to be aware of this and to look it up and check it in advance for each country. Below is a list per country.
| Country |
Maximum permitted mass |
Permitted speed |
| Belgium |
<3500 kg |
120 km/h |
|
>3500 kg |
90 km/h |
| Germany |
- |
80 km/h |
|
TUV approved + pace 100 |
100 km/h |
| France |
<3500 kg |
130 km/h |
|
<3500 kg and rain |
110 km/h |
|
>3500 kg |
90 km/h |
| Luxembourg |
- |
90 km/h |
| Netherlands |
<3500 kg |
90 km/h |
|
>3500 kg |
80 km/h |
| Austria |
<750 kg |
100 km/h |
|
>750kg and total weight >3500kg |
60 km/h |
|
trailer is heavier than car |
70 km/h |
| Portugal |
- |
100 km/h |
| Spain |
<750 kg |
90 km/h |
|
>750 kg |
80 km/h |
| Switzerland |
- |
80 km/h |
Oh yes, what driving licence do you need?
To pull a trailer, you need driving licence B, BE or B+. Which driving licence you need for your trailer, caravan or semi-trailer depends on the permitted maximum mass. This is the empty weight plus the maximum load. For example, a trailer may have a maximum permitted mass of 750 kilos. If the trailer itself weighs 150 kilos (empty weight), you may still add 600 kilos of cargo (load capacity). It is therefore not about the actual weight. Check the website of the central government for the official guidelines.
If you follow these tips, you will drive safely on holiday with the trailer behind the car. Enjoy your trip!
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