Driving instructor on mat leave

[getpooh]

My wife is an ADI driving instructor. She is 8 months pregnant and has just stopped work. For the next 9 months she will be on state maternaty allowance (but this is not a lot of money) as she is self employed (she got her work from an instructor school). Her car is hired from a seperate dual control hire company. She will not be working for the next 9 months. During this time off can she claim the hire charges back against her tax? Also is she better off bying a dual control car or continuing to hire it? The hire company maintain the car as part of the agreement and provide a replacement if there is a problem.

[ABerrant]

Why would your wife continue to hire a car she has no intention of using? What are the T&Cs of the hire agreement in relation to ending the contract?

[Panic Button]

ABerrant, who says she has no intention of using it?

Just because she won't be teaching doesn't stop it being a usable car.

[getpooh]

In reply to the first Qs. The car is the only car we have and we use this car for S&D purposes as well as work. This within insurance and contract. We will need a car when she is off. The contract expires during December and we can simply give the car back, renew with same company, take out a contract with another company or buy a car. We are loking into the financial pro/cons of all options as per my question. As to the Q from Zacsmaster the 1 year contract was taken out before pregnancy started in Feb and we have been hiring for several years as per most ADI's; however in fairness we believed that this situation may arise at some point, hence the question. Any ideas what is best?

[ABerrant]

Panic Button - I meant not use it in a professional capacity. If it is for personal use why should there be any tax breaks?

[cazzz1975]

she must have been planning a pregnancy, it was only 8-10 weeks after the contract before she became pregnant

[redcrx]

if you will be struggling financially perhaps she could go back to work earlier? she doesnt have to take 9 months off, in fact the minimum that she has to take is 2 weeks.

[getpooh]

All these are excellent comments. However anyone got an answer to my original Q's.