Insurance and business use

[100SRV]

I'd appreciate some guidance from the PH massive on the subject of car insurance and business use. At present my insurance policy for both cars states "including travel to and from a fixed place of work/business but excluding use for any profession, trade, business, employment, despatch, courier, messenger or food delivery services".

For my new job I work from home and visit the office (in Hampshire) once a week returning home after a couple of days, sometimes I may need to visit a supplier or another site (in the Scottish Borders).

Would a trip from my primary site to a supplier and thence home constitute a "business" trip? I can't think of any increase in risk as a result of such a trip so why should my premium increase by 30% if I add the clause "business use" to my policy?

[Chrisw666]

30%? Mine adds less than £40 to any policy I have ever had and I just do it automatically now as I use my car for going to meetings and various other work related bits and always have.

[KaraK]

100SRV said:

I'd appreciate some guidance from the PH massive on the subject of car insurance and business use. At present my insurance policy for both cars states "including travel to and from a fixed place of work/business but excluding use for any profession, trade, business, employment, despatch, courier, messenger or food delivery services".

For my new job I work from home and visit the office (in Hampshire) once a week returning home after a couple of days, sometimes I may need to visit a supplier or another site (in the Scottish Borders).

Would a trip from my primary site to a supplier and thence home constitute a "business" trip? I can't think of any increase in risk as a result of such a trip so why should my premium increase by 30% if I add the clause "business use" to my policy?

A trip to the supplier would count as "business use" as far as I'm aware so yes you'd need cover. 30% increase doesn't sound right though - most insurers have given me business cover for free and I think it was only about £20 on this one.

[Minemapper]

Would the company not cover the extra expense? Surely it's cheaper than them providing you with a company/hire car?

[100SRV]

Thank you for the suggestions, all good! I will discuss the additional cost of business use with my insurer and if excessive suggest they find another "mug" ahem I mean customer.

ETA:

I won't be adding mega miles - if anything my annual mileage will still be lower than when I commuted and did 400 miles / week.

[sinizter]

Been with Elephant, it added a little, but not much to the insurance - even 20k out of 25k marked as business miles.

[jgtv]

Minemapper said:

Would the company not cover the extra expense? Surely it's cheaper than them providing you with a company/hire car?

Thats why they pay you the .45P a mile to cover the cost of petrol, Insurance and all the usuall jazz so you should already have it covered.

Business miles for my car added about a £5

[Minemapper]

If they agree to pay you for business use, yes. Normal commuting isn't paid for though, is it?

[KaraK]

Minemapper said:

If they agree to pay you for business use, yes. Normal commuting isn't paid for though, is it?

But normal commuting doesn't require business cover? Am I asking for a parrot?

[Minemapper]

Correct. Parrot optional.

[off_again]

With Direct Line - business class 1 is included as standard (not including professional selling and delivery / dispatch driving) and hence not a penny. Some insurers seem to think that its a license to print money though, so worth shopping around.