Giving some input here from experience, I’ve had a company cars and now have allowance. I love the allowance and would argue in favor of it any day of the week. Pro tips...
Buy well. Get a good car, used (a few years old) but that has a reputation of going to 200k no problem.
Get a car with good gas mileage.
Do the math here with me:
My current company gives us 650 (taxable) I net about 525.00 per month.
We get .19 per mile reimbursed to cover gas. Based on current gas prices, most of my miles are highway - I net about .08 per mile I drive on average - 3000 miles a month, thats another 240.00 I make driving my own car (which I bought outright) so no car payment.
So after taxes, that’s almost 800.00 a month. I get it, I’ve got to maintain it, tires, insurance, I know. But you still come out ahead if you buy smart and don’t go getting a lease for something expensive.
HERE IS THE BIG PART MOST PEOPLE MISS. That .19 per gallon is a non-taxable business reimbursement. The IRS allows a deduction of 54.5 cents per business mile (which is every mile you drive for work when you are field based - even leaving your house to first call.) Subtract the 19 cents you get reimbursed from the 54.5 and that is a 35.5 per mile UNREIMBURSED business expense that is fully deductible. So as I said earlier, I average 3000 miles per month, 36000 miles per year x .355 = a deduction on your tax return of $12,780.00 that I claimed last year.
I hope that helps. The math works for me and I am happy to be driving what I want (I got a convertible) it’s something I can sell off I wanted if I got laid off or found a job with company car.
Good luck all.