Do carers have business use car insurance?

olly300

Lucy_Lastic wrote: »

I'm not asking about the driver's responsibilities. I am a driver, I know what my responsibilites are.

I use a care agency (if you need to know why I am asking the question).

My query is only about business use on a carers insurance policy.

I only want to know if anyone who is in this profession (which I take it you are not) has been asked to add it to their policy.

Just one or two agencies, not every agency in the UK, not probably this or that, just an answer from someone who knows - from experience.

Am I forgetful? What's that got to do with anything?

There is no need to be rude to other posters they are trying to warn you of the perils of not having the right kind of insurance and being caught if something goes wrong.

You have been told by many that you need to have business use if you have to take clients out and about in your car. The insurance company will tell you exactly what class of business use you need.

A mid-term adjustment will cost you anything up to £30 but if you renew your policy with business use on it should cost nothing.

If you do have to take clients out as part of your job, you need to keep a note of your mileage i.e. have a diary which states date, time where the journey was to and from and the number of miles. You can then claim an allowance back from HMRC via your tax at the end of the tax year if your employer or agency doesn't pay you for it. (I can't remember what form you complete.)

lisyloo

I use a care agency (if you need to know why I am asking the question).

Yes, it does help to know why you are asking the question.
Not because we are being nosey but so that we can give the right answers.

I believe it's down to the individual agencies.
There will be some HSE guidelines about risk assesements but it's not uncommon for different companies to interpret legisaltion and guidelines in slightly different ways.
So I'm afriad the only way to know is to ask.

I only want to know if anyone who is in this profession (which I take it you are not) has been asked to add it to their policy.

I am not in the profession but I do drive on business.
My employer states in my employee handbook that I am responsible for obtaining business insurance.
Many comapnies will do something like putting it in the employee handbook rather than telling all their employees individually.

Just one or two agencies

It's going to vary so if you want to know about a particular one why not ask them. If you are a client then it's a perfectly valid question.

Am I forgetful? What's that got to do with anything?

Apologies if I got the context wrong (that's why it helps to know why you are asking the question). I assumed you would be the employee and perhaps wanted reminders?

mazza111

As a former carer and sheltered housing officer. Yes, I had to have business insurance. First one was for Travelling to places of work. The next one was for transporting clients. I can't remember what rate it was though. Your insurance would be able to advise you. The company I worked needed to see a valid insurance certificate with business use added before they would pay any mileage.

Lucy_Lastic

mazza111,

Thank you! That was exactly the information that I was looking for.

Got there eventually. :T

Money_maker

Ditto here. Need to have business use but never paid any extra for it. Believe my company need a copy particularly for clients which are social service referred. Also need to know car reg no. so they can whip up quick priority user documents in the case of petrol shortages again.