Do I need 'Business' too?

[Tag12]

Quick question, hoping someone on here who's been in a similar situation can kindly shed some light on the right course of action...

Starting a new job soon (consulting), which will involve working on different sites. I currently have Social, Domestic, Pleasure and Commuting (SDPC). I'm aware that 'Commuting' in insurance terms tends to describe driving to a permanent place of work (presumably the main office), but given I'll likely be commuting to one site at a time, for maybe a few months at a time. I will be training into work (central London) on the days I'm required there, so not sure how to play this. I'm guessing I need business cover as well as SDPC.

Any thoughts would be very welcome. Also how do insurers check this (only out of curiosity, I don't intend to risk invalidating my insurance!!)

Thanks.

[Matt UK]

I think you'll need business. Direct Line did it for me and the premium didn't move.

With so many people opting out of company car schemes and into private deals, the insurance companies are up to speed. Give yours a call, might not even cost you anything.

[vtecyo]

You need business if you go out to meetings in your own car in work hours, or use your own car at all to travel within working hours. My understanding is that if there are a few offices around, that still counts as commuting, so as long as your car stays parked up from the time you arrive, to the time you leave, SDP&C should cover you.

ETA: I'm not a lawyer or an insurance expert so the above may be total pooshart.

[RTaylor2208]

Basically yes, you will need business insurance. But its generally not a lot, all depends on you and your mileage. But last time I had it it cost me an extra £1 on my premium for the year for 2K miles.

[8Ace]

My understanding: Driving to your designated place of work (as per contract) = commuting.

Driving to anywhere else, even another office that's patrt of the same business = business travel.

Adding business travel to my insurance cost me £6 IIRC.

[Troubleatmill]

As above. Commuting means to one permanent place of business.
Adding business to your insurance is cheap.

How do insurance companies check?
Well... if you live in Reading and work in Windsor, but you have a crash at rush hour somewhere around Swindon. Being suited and booted also - just might have them asking a few questions.

The insurance is cheap. Just buy it.

Honestly, I really don't understand the mindset that thinks... "hmm.... it's unlikely that they will check..... I'll just risk it."

Edited by Troubleatmill on Tuesday 18th March 11:08

[Tomo1971]

Police officer "Excuse me sir, where are you going"
You "To the office in Hull"
Police "Where have you been"
You "From out office in Reading"
Police "You only have SDP insurance Sir, have these 6 points"

Most policies are just a few pounds. Best have it.

[markcoznottz]

What do HMRC treat you as? Self employed or PAYE?.

[Ash From Flux]

Definitely, business use required. As aforementioned, commuting is the equivalent of too and from one fixed office/location. If you require the vehicle to visit any other sites of work, business use will be necessary.

Thanks,

Ash

[Pickled Piper]

You need Class 1 Business use cover.

Many insurance policies have this as standard.

pp

[Philb1]

I would say you need business too. A couple of years ago I was an agency HGV driver and told my insurance company that I regularly worked for just two, sometimes three companies. They said I needed business cover as normal policy conditions didn't cover my situation.

[Tag12]

Thanks for your answers all, really helpful. Business cover it is.

[ant leigh]

For younger drivers insuring for business can drop the price by a significant amount.
Junior engineer working for me was stressing about the 'cost' of business insurance. I told him he might be surprised how little difference it makes. He managed a £200.00 cost reduction for adding business use. I guess the stats show drivers using a vehicle for business are less likely to drive like a complete tool.

[Jawaman]

Yet another here with class 1 business cover and no lift in insurance premium - admiral

Off topic but admiral have been pretty good in general, silly wee things like no admin fee for changing cars on policy etc

[405dogvan]

Unless it's changed since I last did this (about 4-5 years ago) you need was called 'class 1' (or in one case class 2 and I don't know the diff.) cover (commuting to multiple places of work) - it's not normally much more expensive than regular SDPC

That assumes you DO NOT carry commercial goods - e.g. you're not a salesman or a fitter/repairman or delivery man. All you can carry is you and your personal tools(e.g. a laptop or whatever) and you're limited in carrying other staff (you can give someone a lift to work but not from one workplace to another - check the smallprint CAREFULLY)

After that you get 'commercial' insurance which is for people who carry tools or deliver goods or ferry staff around or whatever.

After that is the insurance people need to deliver pizzas (commercial with timely goods - e.g. hot food) - no-one actually takes that because it's ball-shrivellingly expensive - which is why most dodgy pizza deliverymen quit when PoPo feels their collar and discovers they're uninsured...

"Business" insurance is for businesses - not individuals - at least that's how my last few insurers worded it - just call and tell them what you do and they'll make-up-a-number ;0

Edited by 405dogvan on Tuesday 18th March 23:32

[littleredrooster]

markcoznottz said:

What do HMRC treat you as? Self employed or PAYE?.

Irrelevant question. It matters not whether you are employed or self-employed (or any variation thereof); if you travel to different locations you must have business use insurance.

[16v_paddy]

405dogvan said:

After that is the insurance people need to deliver pizzas (commercial with timely goods - e.g. hot food) - no-one actually takes that because it's ball-shrivellingly expensive - which is why most dodgy pizza deliverymen quit when PoPo feels their collar and discovers they're uninsured...

Depends on the company/business selling the food, friend of mine is a delivery driver for 1 of the bigger pizza companies and basically they foot the bill for the insurance, probably helps to knock a fair chunk off their tax bill as well