Vehicle Use

[Bazile]

I am the employee of a company
I travel to a single place of work

My car insurance policy states that it covers -

-''Use for social , domestic and pleasure purposes ''

- ''Use by the policy holder in connection with the business of the policy holder''

Is there a problem being covered for -

''Use by the policy holder in connection with the business of the policy holder ''

i.e. Am I covered for travel to a single place of work ?

[woofgang]

It doesn't matter one iota what any of us say. If you want to know the answer ask your insurance company.

[THECORBYLOON]

My insurance covers Social, Domestic, Pleasure and Commuting. It's the "Commuting" that covers my journeys only to and from my normal place of work.

[Prudie]

Yes by the second phrase, although as said the word commuting is often included on many policies. It's a given that many drive themselves to work. It's when you travel to other work sites you need 'business use' added.

[woofgang]

Prudie not always.....I used to work in the NHS across multiple sites and I was covered to travel to and from any of them at the beginning and end of my working day. When I started working accross multiple sites on the same day and carrying patients in may car for home assessments, then I had to upgrade my insurance to what was then called "full class A" Later on when I became a clinical manager, and was responsible for checking staff insurance and making sure they had appropriate cover, I found that there wasn't a common point at which the staff member needed to get different cover. That's why I said it doesn't matter what we say, the OP has to check with his own insurers.

[Buenchico]

Hmmm.

I was going to write that your policy doesn't cover travel to and from a regular place of employment because I'd expect to see the word 'commuting' (or something similar) specifically mentioned there.

However, after reading this, I'm not so sure now:
https://www.confused.com/car-insurance/guides/car-insurance-classes-of-use

If in doubt, ask your insurer!

[Arrods]

In my days in insurance, the convention was that SD&P would include commuting to and from a single place of work unless it stated otherwise. If a motor insurance certificate states SD&P use these days, there will often be clarification in the definitions as to whether commuting is covered. So it's a question of checking the policy or, if in doubt, ask the insurer.

[Buenchico]

It's worth getting things checked out anyway.

If you don't use your car for 'business', other than for travelling to a regular place of work, the inclusion of ''Use by the policy holder in connection with the business of the policy holder'' suggests that you might be paying for a level of cover which you don't actually need.

[woofgang]

Arrods, mine is S,D and P and it definitely doesn't include travelling to and from work.....in fact when I was working, S,D and P didn't cover travel to and from work...and I used to change my insurer quite regularly then to get the best deal as I was younger and insurance cost more. I had to change from S,D and P to S, D and P and travel to and from work when my husband got a job that meant we stayed in one place and I could go back to work....then as I said when I used to travel for work within my work hours and carry patients sometimes, I had to change it to what was known as full class A which was everything on public roads except plying for hire.

[THECORBYLOON]

For us to claim travel expenses when going to another office, we have to show we are insured for business travel.

I can't mind on my insurer at the time but I 'phoned them to ask if I was covered for business travel and they said I was even though it was specified on my policy. No wonder folk are confused.

[Prudie]

I'm the same Corby which is why I put what I did. A lot of staff get uptight about having to get business use added but in reality it's usually free (ie doesn't increase premium).

[woofgang]

Corby, I would have asked for written proof of that if it wasn't CLEARLY specified in the policy.

[Bazile]

Thanks - i'll check

[Arrods]

That's interesting Woofgang. Are you saying that it was clearly stated commuting wasn't covered under your SD&P policy? I only say that because the CII text books - even the current ones - indicate one may assume it's covered if not specifically excluded. The textbooks do acknowledge that it may be different if the proposal form highlights an issue that might require a different approach.

[Peter Pedant]

having an NHS manager checking on employees car insurance was a bit sporting innit

I always drove my car to and fro work and on call on a standard insurance - remember there is a weighting for occupation - and also used the car to drive between sites.

Carting patients around, as in woofs post, I can see would be iffy
also carrying other workers to and fro work
AND carrying them to and fro and accepting petrol money

[bhg481]

I think it's only in the last few years have they started asking if you want commuting included; I don't remember them asking in the days when it mattered to me.
If they don't specifically exclude it, you could argue that you really like your job, such that going to work is a pleasure, then S&P would include commuting.

[woofgang]

here's what go compare says about it right now. http://i65.tinypic.com/2yzle87.jpg

[woofgang]

bhg, I was asked 30 years ago....there were 3 options....SDP, SDP plus travel to and from work and what used to be called "full class A" which meant you could use it within working hours and also to carry staff and patients as A PART of your job...so you could take patients home for assessments, carry a member of staff to a meeting that you were also attending but NOT act as a transport service to carry staff or patients from place to place simply because they needed to be transported. You also couldn't be paid (profit from) use of the car but could be paid expenses.

[woofgang]

Arrods, yes it was clearly excluded. As you can see from my tinypic uplad from Go Compare, it still is.

[Arrods]

That's fair enough Woofgang - it's pretty clear you can choose either one in that particular case. As I say, the textbooks suggest commuting is included unless specifically excluded.

[woofgang]

PP, yes checking that staff carried the correct insurance was part of our (clincal managers') responsibility. part of the mileage allowance was intended to cover any added insurance costs so we had to make sure that the member of staff did actually carry the insurance.