Business car insurance for freelance runners

purpledonkey

Sorry bit of a vent really. I'm insured under someone elses car insurance and recently I've been getting a lot of calls for one day tv/film running jobs and then instantly turned down because I don't have business cover under my policy. Just wondering if there are any other runners out there who have had this problem? I can't afford to add an extra £1000 or so to add the cover (plus the car is small and quite old, definitely not up to the task of holding lots of equipment) and the car owner doesn't want me to use it for work purposes (fair enough). It's so frustrating!

agrinnall

Are you sure it would cost so much to add business insurance, mine was free? However, I don't know what the job entails but it sounds like you don't have a suitable vehicle for it anyway, so the vent seems a bit academic.

Wywth

purpledonkey wrote: »

Sorry bit of a vent really. I'm insured under someone elses car insurance and recently I've been getting a lot of calls for one day tv/film running jobs and then instantly turned down because I don't have business cover under my policy. Just wondering if there are any other runners out there who have had this problem? I can't afford to add an extra £1000 or so to add the cover (plus the car is small and quite old, definitely not up to the task of holding lots of equipment) and the car owner doesn't want me to use it for work purposes (fair enough). It's so frustrating!

Have you considered renting a suitable vehicle for the odd days needed?

Don't forget to ensure it will be adequately insured for such use

InsideInsurance

agrinnall wrote: »

Are you sure it would cost so much to add business insurance, mine was free?

Business Class 1 is often free but that wouldnt be suitable for the OP as they are carrying goods

paddyrg

InsideInsurance wrote: »

...wouldnt be suitable for the OP as they are carrying goods

Does it make a difference that those goods will be insured in themselves, via equipment rental insurance?

InsideInsurance

paddyrg wrote: »

Does it make a difference that those goods will be insured in themselves, via equipment rental insurance?

You may get away with Class 3 use but you'd need to check with the insurer/ broker in question.

The fact that the items are otherwise insured is unlikely to make a difference as there will still be a liability to that insurer if the driver is at fault for an accident plus having your car parked up with £10,000 of cameras/ lighting rigs etc in it is going to change the risk profile of the car being stolen

purpledonkey

I checked with my insurer, as I'm a second driver and under someone elses non commuting policy yes it will cost me at least an extra grand as I would be transporting people as well as equipment. To hire a car would cost me more than I would get paid for a day!

Funky_Bold_Ribena

purpledonkey wrote: »

I checked with my insurer, as I'm a second driver and under someone elses non commuting policy yes it will cost me at least an extra grand as I would be transporting people as well as equipment. To hire a car would cost me more than I would get paid for a day!

Would having the insurance earn you more than £1000 in one year? If so then get it and if not then don't.

System

I'm surprised an insurer would even consider adding business use to a named driver.

dacouch

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Business Class 1 is often free but that wouldnt be suitable for the OP as they are carrying goods

Think the main problem is they're a named driver on some else's policy, adding business use for a named driver and possibly class 2 or 3 would be expensive.

I would assume being a runner the OP is youngish which will not help.

If a runner takes passengers it could also be an issue with hire and reward depending on the set up. That's even without the Insurer panicking when they hear the passengers will be film crew and possibly actors

paddedjohn

How often are you using the car? is it more than owner?