Definition of business use.
Discussion
If I'm driving to a job interview for a permanent job then although it could be regarded as a business trip I tend to assume I'd be OK without business insurance.
If I'm driving to an interview for a contract which should I get it will go through a LTD co I've already set up, then I'd regard that as requiring business use insurance.
But where do you draw the line? I use an umbrella company and so far I've never been working through the umbrella when I've interviewed for another contract, but could a sufficiently zealous copper still decide I'm on a business trip? And what if I'm not working through an umbrella or my own LTD when driving to see a potential contract client.
When working through my umbrella I have both commuting (theoretically unnecessary) and business use insurance just to be sure. But my renewal comes up when I'm between contracts I might not bother with business use insurance straight away.
If I'm driving to an interview for a contract which should I get it will go through a LTD co I've already set up, then I'd regard that as requiring business use insurance.
But where do you draw the line? I use an umbrella company and so far I've never been working through the umbrella when I've interviewed for another contract, but could a sufficiently zealous copper still decide I'm on a business trip? And what if I'm not working through an umbrella or my own LTD when driving to see a potential contract client.
When working through my umbrella I have both commuting (theoretically unnecessary) and business use insurance just to be sure. But my renewal comes up when I'm between contracts I might not bother with business use insurance straight away.
My insurers say something along the lines of "driving to more than one place of employment" (so commuting to two or more office-based jobs in my case) needs me to be insured for "business use", and also mentions driving to do tasks for the business while at work (so, for example, driving to the post office to post a letter or to get stamps) ditto. Carrying equipment (say from one place of work to the other during the working day or via my home overnight) also needs business cover, they say.
When I was a trainee teacher, my insurers said I needed business cover if I was taking pupils' work home to mark, or transporting kids or equipment about.
It's a useful thing to have, and it's generally free for me
. Better safe than sorry - if stopped by the police, it's not unknown for drivers to 'blab' and the police to pick up that the vehicle is being used for business (eg "I'm just going from my office at A to see a colleague at B") but only insured for SD&P use plus commuting...
When I was a trainee teacher, my insurers said I needed business cover if I was taking pupils' work home to mark, or transporting kids or equipment about.
It's a useful thing to have, and it's generally free for me
. Better safe than sorry - if stopped by the police, it's not unknown for drivers to 'blab' and the police to pick up that the vehicle is being used for business (eg "I'm just going from my office at A to see a colleague at B") but only insured for SD&P use plus commuting...Ki3r said:
My insurance company says commuting is to a single place of work.
That said, business use was less than £20 extra a year.
Mine says something similar, but I'm claiming travelling expenses on the basis that it's a client site and I'm not anticipating being there 2 years. So not having business insurance sounds risky, I have commuting cover as well in case I get confused in the heat of the moment and say I'm going to work.That said, business use was less than £20 extra a year.
Dr Jekyll said:
But my renewal comes up when I'm between contracts I might not bother with business use insurance straight away.
In such circumstances, what would you declare your occupation as?More generally, as others have pointed out, Class 1 business use is often no extra cost - indeed there's a couple of companies where it's included as standard.
Sheepshanks said:
Dr Jekyll said:
But my renewal comes up when I'm between contracts I might not bother with business use insurance straight away.
In such circumstances, what would you declare your occupation as?More generally, as others have pointed out, Class 1 business use is often no extra cost - indeed there's a couple of companies where it's included as standard.
If in doubt, put business use on. Check the policy wording as there are different classes, class 1, class 2 etc. The one we're talking about is class 1 business use, the cheapest one. The exact definition will vary from insurer to insurer.
Anything work related other than simple commuting to a single, regular place of work is business use. Going to see a prospective client, which you might get work from via your business is most definitely business use.
Going for a regular job interview is probably private use though, but not if you are contracting, self employed or a LTD co.
It's not really much to do with what a copper thinks you're doing either, it's what the insurers can wriggle out of when you need to claim, and they will.
Coppers wouldn't get the policy minor details or restrictions anyway, just confirmation are you covered yes/ no. There's loads of reasons your policy might be void, such as lying about history etc, but the police would never know that at roadside.
Anything work related other than simple commuting to a single, regular place of work is business use. Going to see a prospective client, which you might get work from via your business is most definitely business use.
Going for a regular job interview is probably private use though, but not if you are contracting, self employed or a LTD co.
It's not really much to do with what a copper thinks you're doing either, it's what the insurers can wriggle out of when you need to claim, and they will.
Coppers wouldn't get the policy minor details or restrictions anyway, just confirmation are you covered yes/ no. There's loads of reasons your policy might be void, such as lying about history etc, but the police would never know that at roadside.
Edited by mikeN54 on Sunday 21st December 20:23
mikeN54 said:
If in doubt, put business use on. Check the policy wording as there are different classes, class 1, class 2 etc. The one we're talking about is class 1 business use, the cheapest one. The exact definition will vary from insurer to insurer.
Anything work related other than simple commuting to a single, regular place of work is business use. Going to see a prospective client, which you might get work from via your business is most definitely business use.
Going for a regular job interview is probably private use though, but not if you are contracting, self employed or a LTD co.
It's not really much to do with what a copper thinks you're doing either, it's what the insurers can wriggle out of when you need to claim, and they will.
Coppers wouldn't get the policy minor details or restrictions anyway, just confirmation are you covered yes/ no. There's loads of reasons your policy might be void, such as lying about history etc, but the police would never know that at roadside.
It would be unusual for a Policy Wording to define business use, it's contained on the Certificate where the relevant wording of the business use is shownAnything work related other than simple commuting to a single, regular place of work is business use. Going to see a prospective client, which you might get work from via your business is most definitely business use.
Going for a regular job interview is probably private use though, but not if you are contracting, self employed or a LTD co.
It's not really much to do with what a copper thinks you're doing either, it's what the insurers can wriggle out of when you need to claim, and they will.
Coppers wouldn't get the policy minor details or restrictions anyway, just confirmation are you covered yes/ no. There's loads of reasons your policy might be void, such as lying about history etc, but the police would never know that at roadside.
Edited by mikeN54 on Sunday 21st December 20:23
mikeN54 said:
It's not really much to do with what a copper thinks you're doing either, it's what the insurers can wriggle out of when you need to claim, and they will.
May have been true a few years ago, today you are more likely than not to be asked what the purpose of your journey is. Very easy to check during business hours.Edited by mikeN54 on Sunday 21st December 20:23
plenty of cases on Pepipoo about IN10 prosecutions for business use resulting from a routine stop.
martinbiz said:
May have been true a few years ago, today you are more likely than not to be asked what the purpose of your journey is. Very easy to check during business hours.
plenty of cases on Pepipoo about IN10 prosecutions for business use resulting from a routine stop.
Yep - friend of ours got done where he clearly had insurance, but the cop did a lot of delving into the nature of the use. Cop was unsure about coverage, to the extent that he didn't seize the car, but issued a fixed penalty and said if the insurance was OK, then it could be challenged.plenty of cases on Pepipoo about IN10 prosecutions for business use resulting from a routine stop.
It cost me about a tenner to add business use for my SEAT Ibiza, and only a fiver for the Chimaera. This seemed a bit arse about face, until I realised that in the SEAT I might be carrying three or even four senior, powerfully built goateed company directors as passengers, whereas in the TVR I can only kill or maim one at a time.
Somebody also pointed out to me that the TVR is unlikely to make it to the business meeting in the first place, which is a GPWM.
Somebody also pointed out to me that the TVR is unlikely to make it to the business meeting in the first place, which is a GPWM.
Adding business use for me and the mrs on the S5 reduced our premium by about £70! No brainer, even if neither of us actually use it for business. My wife has a couple of times so far but I've not needed to as yet. It's a requirement for me to be able to prove it at work if I ever want to claim mileage allowance if I do decide to drive rather than train it
Admiral weren't bothered about split of mileage either
Admiral weren't bothered about split of mileage either
Our company take was: If you claim mileage or fuel allowance for the trip then you need business cover. In fact, when you claimed the mileage, you had to sign at the bottom to confirm that you had the required cover. The company reserved the right to inspect your certificate of insurance (and your license for that matter!).
And if you had a company car, let the wife borrow it, so you use her car for the trip, then you couldn't claim at all. Though you could claim if you used the "pool" car (where you only got your fuel refunded).
And if you had a company car, let the wife borrow it, so you use her car for the trip, then you couldn't claim at all. Though you could claim if you used the "pool" car (where you only got your fuel refunded).
grumpyscot said:
Our company take was: If you claim mileage or fuel allowance for the trip then you need business cover. In fact, when you claimed the mileage, you had to sign at the bottom to confirm that you had the required cover. The company reserved the right to inspect your certificate of insurance (and your license for that matter!).
And if you had a company car, let the wife borrow it, so you use her car for the trip, then you couldn't claim at all. Though you could claim if you used the "pool" car (where you only got your fuel refunded).
Your company would take physical copies of the certificates and driving licences of their staff driving company cars or their own cars for company business use if they realised the potential very severe consequences of once of their employees causing a death and being uninsured or banned / licence revokedAnd if you had a company car, let the wife borrow it, so you use her car for the trip, then you couldn't claim at all. Though you could claim if you used the "pool" car (where you only got your fuel refunded).
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