Generally, an employer does not have an obligation to pay for the time you commute to and from work, whether you walk, drive or take public transportation. However, the employer has to pay for the time you commute after your work shift started and during your work time, such as commuting between work sites or between customers, although you may be paid at a different rate for that time.
For instance, if you are a copy machine service technician, your employer doesn’t have to pay you for the time you commute to the office to pick up tools and company car to start your day servicing customers, but they do have to pay for all the time you spend traveling from one customer to another (excluding the last trip home at the end of the day).
One exception to the above rule is a situation where you are obligated by your employer to use company vehicle even for your commute to or from home. For instance, if your employers wants you to keep the car because they don’t have appropriate parking or because it works better for the business. In this case, the employer has to pay for your time commuting to and from work. It’s important to note that if your employer simply gives you the option of using their vehicle for commuting to and from work, without making it mandatory, and you choose to use their vehicle, you are not entitled to be paid.