Can you have two insurance policies on one vehicle?

Supersonos

My ltd company owns a van.  My spouse wants to use the van from time-to-time for her company business.

If my spouse is named on my insurance, she can use the van for pleasure or business use for my business, not hers.  So is it ok for me to have a policy for my business, and her to have one for hers?

We can't really work out how to do this correctly/legally.

AdrianC

There can only be one primary insurer for the vehicle, the MID insurer of record. Having a second policy will lead to arguments in the event of a claim as to who's responsible.

There are top-up policies that simply cover a specific driver - they're more common for learners, though.

Is there a reason you don't just add her as a named driver on your policy? That's almost certain to be the cheapest and easiest solution.

Herzlos

You might need to check with brokers about whether you can insure a van for business use for 2 different businesses. It's rare but I don't see why it shouldn't be possible, lots of people have 2 jobs which require a van.

They might prefer if it was a personal van used for business rather than owned by one of the businesses.

(Can her company outsource the van use to your company and thus be insured under your business?)

Supersonos

AdrianC said:

Is there a reason you don't just add her as a named driver on your policy? That's almost certain to be the cheapest and easiest solution.

Because the insurance says she would be insured for activities relating to my business - but she would be using the van in connection with her own company, not mine.  Sounds to me that she technically wouldn't be insured.

Supersonos

Herzlos said:

(Can her company outsource the van use to your company and thus be insured under your business?)

This was the other thing we were thinking.  Would she essentially have to rent the van off me on the days she wants it?  Frustratingly she'll probably only use it a few times a month.

Car_54

Supersonos said:

Herzlos said:

(Can her company outsource the van use to your company and thus be insured under your business?)

This was the other thing we were thinking.  Would she essentially have to rent the van off me on the days she wants it?  Frustratingly she'll probably only use it a few times a month.

For that to work, you would need self-drive hire insurance. Not a practicable idea.

Sea_Shell

You need to have her and her businesses use added to the existing policy.  Should be doable.  If not you need to find another insurer who will.

Surely it can't be uncommon.  Spouses who share a van, each with their own need of business use.

Herzlos

Supersonos said:

Herzlos said:

(Can her company outsource the van use to your company and thus be insured under your business?)

This was the other thing we were thinking.  Would she essentially have to rent the van off me on the days she wants it?  Frustratingly she'll probably only use it a few times a month.

No I mean if she's using the van to collect supplies, her company hires your company to collect the stuff, and she uses the van as your business in order to fulfil the role requested by her business.

It's probably a lot easier in terms of paperwork to find an insurer who'll cover you both, or have her just rent a van as/when she needs it.

Car_54

Herzlos said:

Supersonos said:

Herzlos said:

(Can her company outsource the van use to your company and thus be insured under your business?)

This was the other thing we were thinking.  Would she essentially have to rent the van off me on the days she wants it?  Frustratingly she'll probably only use it a few times a month.

No I mean if she's using the van to collect supplies, her company hires your company to collect the stuff, and she uses the van as your business in order to fulfil the role requested by her business.

It's probably a lot easier in terms of paperwork to find an insurer who'll cover you both, or have her just rent a van as/when she needs it.

I think your second paragraph is the right answer.

In the first scenario, wouldn't the OP need goods-in-transit cover, if he doesn't currently have it?

Ectophile

Herzlos said:

Supersonos said:

Herzlos said:

(Can her company outsource the van use to your company and thus be insured under your business?)

This was the other thing we were thinking.  Would she essentially have to rent the van off me on the days she wants it?  Frustratingly she'll probably only use it a few times a month.

No I mean if she's using the van to collect supplies, her company hires your company to collect the stuff, and she uses the van as your business in order to fulfil the role requested by her business.

It's probably a lot easier in terms of paperwork to find an insurer who'll cover you both, or have her just rent a van as/when she needs it.

You may have to be careful that it doesn't end up as a completely different class of business insurance.  It's one thing to carry your own business' goods, but carrying things for someone else turns you into a courier.