Commuting or Business Use??

regency_man

Hi,

I have SDP&Commuting cover on my car. My employer have asked me to attend a week of meetings in a different city, I have the option of getting a hotel there or I can drive each day and claim the mileage. I'd rather drive.

For the purposes of my insurance, does this count as 'Commuting' or is this 'Business' use?

Thanks.

Quentin

Business .

regency_man

So driving to any location other than your regular place of work is 'Business'? Even if the meetings are in my company's own offices in a different city?

System

regency_man wrote: »

So driving to any location other than your regular place of work is 'Business'? Even if the meetings are in my company's own offices in a different city?

Correct....

You will find that quite a few policies actually make that fairly clear by saying
'Social, Domestic & Pleasure (including travel to and from your normal place of work)'

My bolding

Quentin

regency_man wrote: »

So driving to any location other than your regular place of work is 'Business'? Even if the meetings are in my company's own offices in a different city?

Yes.

Adding business use won't be expensive, though there may well be an admin charge for a mid term adjustment. Presumably the mileage they pay will compensate.

If your employer is acting properly, they should not be paying you any mileage or asking you to make these journeys without making it a requirement that you have business cover.

regency_man

Quentin wrote: »

If your employer is acting properly, they should not be paying you any mileage or asking you to make these journeys without making it a requirement that you have business cover.

They didn't mention it, but is it possible that my company has insurance that covers me for this already? Or would that be unusual? They are pretty big... 330,000 employees.

regency_man

Hold on... this is a moot point isn't it. Because even if I stay in the hotel, I would have to drive there on the first day and back on the last day, which would need business cover anyway.

Sod it, I'll get a rental car and claim it back off them, seems safer all round.

Quentin

regency_man wrote: »

is it possible that my company has insurance that covers me for this already? Or would that be unusual? .

It would be unusual and unlikely!

But as posted, the cost should be minimal - (and often there is no charge), except the admin charge if applicable.

Your insurance will be invalid if you need to claim when making these journeys with no business cover (and worse if you have a claim against you, you will have to pay your insurer any outlay to third parties - think bankruptcy shoulod you injure someone!)

regency_man

Yeah, the increase in premium was negligible, £4 for the rest of my policy year, but they also wanted a £26 policy change fee, which I doubt my company would reimburse.

Hire car was the third option, so I will go with that.

Thanks for the advice.

regency_man

Out of interest, if I were to get business cover, then have an accident while driving for the purposes of my employer's business - would I still have to pay excess, no claims loss etc, or would by employer be liable?

wiogs

Out of interest how do you get to the hotel if they don't pay the mileage?