Commuting, Social or Business use?

sghughes42

A discussion at work today has prompted a thought that I can't find a clear answer to.

My car insurance has cover for SDP+C, however occasionally I will go direct from work to collect my wife from her place of work then we have a meal, do some shopping etc then go home.

Do I have the correct cover for this? Does the journey to her place of work count as commuting or social use? If the former then I would guess I need business cover as I'm only covered to one place of work.

I think my normal usage is OK - I drop her off and collect her from a bus stop which is on my normal route to work so I'm not diverging from my commute, only pausing it briefly.

I've read that diverting from your normal route to take someone to work does need business cover, however I'm only collecting her so we can do something social so I'm not sure how this is counted?

Carrot007

No idea but why not get basic business cover it does not add anything to the cost in most cases. Even reduced mine when I added it.

sghughes42

Carrot007 wrote: »

No idea but why not get basic business cover it does not add anything to the cost in most cases. Even reduced mine when I added it.

I'll certainly look in to that when I renew, however as I'm half way through a policy I'd rather not pay the policy modification charge unless I have to.

ConMan

When I worked in that sort of department, the b/use was for the single person. I.e. going to more than one place of work for yourself. Picking your wife up wouldn't be classed as b/use.

PasturesNew

It's social, pure and simple. If it's a mate, your wife, your bit on the side or the lady who lives in the corner house you're doing it for sociable reasons. You're not going to/from work, you're going on a journey of your own choosing for your own enjoyment.

sghughes42

PasturesNew wrote: »

It's social, pure and simple. If it's a mate, your wife, your bit on the side or the lady who lives in the corner house you're doing it for sociable reasons. You're not going to/from work, you're going on a journey of your own choosing for your own enjoyment.

That's pretty much what I thought to be honest, it was only when I found a few sources saying that dropping someone else at a different place of work on your way to work needs business use not just commuting that I started questioning it.

(One of those sources was the Sun so is as likely to be reliable as everything else they print...)

Supernova

Carrot007 wrote: »

No idea but why not get basic business cover it does not add anything to the cost in most cases. Even reduced mine when I added it.

Just out of interest, what does basic business cover...cover? And is it usually free?

Thanks!
S

trailingspouse

Class 1 Business use covers travel as part of your business, for example travel to more than one place of work - we have it on our cars because we run our own business. It's free from most insurers I believe. It doesn't cover carrying passengers for business purposes, or carrying stock.

Your standard SDP+C cover absolutely covers you for dropping/picking up your wife. You would only need Class 1 if you were travelling to more than one place where you worked.

Supernova

trailingspouse wrote: »

Class 1 Business use covers travel as part of your business

OK, thanks. I just looked up the different classes and Class 1 seems to be multiple destinations but only short distances. Would it cover occasional long distances or does that then become Class 3?

Cheers!
S

trailingspouse

https://www.admiral.com/magazine/car-insurance/which-class-of-use

Supernova

trailingspouse wrote: »

https://www.admiral.com/magazine/car-insurance/which-class-of-use

Thank you!