Business Insurance/Personal Car

[Jazzy Jefferson]

Hi

My employer has decided I am now required to travel the country visiting clients.
The reason I have been selected is because myself and one other are the only two who drive. Everyone else gets public transport.

OK, I'll take on the responsibilities like any good employee, but I am concerned. They want me to use my own car (Impreza turbo) and when I asked them about insurance, they said that if there's a problem, say you are on a "day off" rather than working. Naturally, my own policy does not cover business use.

If I crash, my employer has nothing to do with it. Which strikes me as a bit st really.

They will cover my expenses at 45p per mile. I haven't worked out if this makes sense when driving an (at best) 25mpg Impreza.

At first glance, this doesn't seem like a good deal for me.

Any thoughts?

[JM]

Business insurance should only increase your policy by max £20 per annum.
I don't think my policy is any more expensive with it, also for an Impreza Turbo.


Edit to add, I just occasionally use mine for work. But when I do the economy is usually better than when I don't.

But, I have a good app in my phone, Fuel Log, which works out all sorts of calculations for you (depending on what info you input) and my total accumulated costs per mile are currently 52 pence.
But that does include £550, repairs to rusty rear arches plus insurance, road tax and all other servicing costs.

Edited by JM on Wednesday 23 October 12:09

[Heartworm]

Will cover your fuel, but not the extra wear ~& tear on the car, its unlikely to be a number you can negotiate on either, as its a government figure teh 45p.

[Engineer1]

Dodgy advice re-insurance but business use shouldn't cost too much, and the mileage rate is the tax man approved amount.

[Mr E]

Absolutely you need business cover.

The company will state that the 45p a mile is to cover running a car, including depreciation, fuel, maintenance and insurance (and only up to a certain mileage before tax gets fun?)

I'd be asking for a company car and fuel card to be honest.

[Jazzy Jefferson]

Thanks for the advice.

I think I shall request use of the company van.

[shtu]

Perhaps time for a white lie there,

"My insurers won't cover me for business use, and I can't risk driving uninsured as it's me that would be in court if caught."

[Rushjob]

Also might help your case to mention that if caught winging it by going forward as suggested by the company, they could be liable under use / cause / permit no insurance with the accompanying hassle and poor PR

[Rushjob]

Also might help your case to mention that if caught winging it by going forward as suggested by the company, they could be liable under use / cause / permit no insurance with the accompanying hassle and poor PR

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Jazzy Jefferson said:

Hi

when I asked them about insurance, they said that if there's a problem, say you are on a "day off" rather than working.

Do you really want to be working for a firm like this, who are instructing you to lie to the police?
Absolutely scandalous.

[Jazzy Jefferson]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Do you really want to be working for a firm like this, who are instructing you to lie to the police?
Absolutely scandalous.

Nope, I hate it here.
But it's an easy job and I'm finished by 5pm everyday. Can't complain I suppose.

[Viperzs]

My company wouldn't provide me with a car and questioned me taking a taxi to the station and I said I don't have business cover on my insurance so I would not do it.

The Director's response was "Ok I understand. Please speak to your insurance company and let me know what the extra is".

It was around £50 odd and they let me claim it straight away. If they had not done that I would have flat out refused to use my car.

[R1 Indy]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Do you really want to be working for a firm like this, who are instructing you to lie to the police?
Absolutely scandalous.

To be fair, I work for one of the biggest uk companies, and that's what most managers have told me when bringing up the subject.

I think most people are completely oblivious to how insurance works, so don't really have a clue.

I do have business insurance though, only cost obout an extra £30.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

R1 Indy said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Do you really want to be working for a firm like this, who are instructing you to lie to the police?
Absolutely scandalous.

To be fair, I work for one of the biggest uk companies, and that's what most managers have told me when bringing up the subject.

I think most people are completely oblivious to how insurance works, so don't really have a clue.

I do have business insurance though, only cost obout an extra £30.

Do employers realise that employees using their own cars for business (grey fleet is the industry term) still have the same duty of care as they would have with a fully funded company car. If you run someone over in your own car whilst on business, and you have bald tyres/no insurance/faulty brakes etc, the owner of the business could end up in jail as well as the driver.

[Art0ir]

Also running an Impreza turbo on business insurance

Cost is negligible and I just about break even with 45p per mile I think. I'd rather be driving my Impreza through swooping country roads than some diesel eurobox anyway so don't mind the extra cost.

[Rude-boy]

Jazzy Jefferson said:

Any thoughts?

First thought.

Buy a diesel Golf, bill 45ppm and watch your income rise.

[Rude-boy]

Right have had time to read the rest now.

1. Business insurance is peanuts, if you ever visit clients you should have this anyway.

2. I doubt that the 968 is much better on fuel than your car. Fuel costs are about 25-30ppm.

3. Think of the time out of the office.

[Jayyylo]

You should refuse to drive without the correct insurance. Get a quote to upgrade and take it to your boss as he probably doesn't realise that it costs so little.