Car insurance claim refused - no 'commute to work' cover

TELLIT01

A side question on this really.  I'm retired but sometimes take my wife into her work.  I'm not commuting as I'm retired but do I need to have commuting cover.

dunstonh

TELLIT01 said:

A side question on this really.  I'm retired but sometimes take my wife into her work.  I'm not commuting as I'm retired but do I need to have commuting cover.

A question that could see some insurers say yes and some say no.   However, another way to think of it is "is the car being used for commuting".   

naedanger

TELLIT01 said:

A side question on this really.  I'm retired but sometimes take my wife into her work.  I'm not commuting as I'm retired but do I need to have commuting cover.

I think you are going to need to check how exactly the policy defines commuting. For example using Admiral's definitions, what you have described seems to me to require commuting cover. (Note the definition covers "commuting to work" not "commuting to your work".) 
https://www.admiral.com/magazine/guides/car-insurance/which-class-of-use

ic

uk1 said:

My sympathies are with the OP's daughter.  Only because of this thread I realise I have no idea what "social, domestic and pleasure" actually means.  Drving to work is such a pleasure. It does rather feel (to me) more like a cunning way for insurers to avoid cover to the genuinely innocent than anything else and it would be helpful if the relavent authorities issued "guidance" that the default position on policies is that it should cover travel to normal places of work or at least if a questionaire fails to specifically ask then the default is that  it is covered but that youy can have a lower premium if you specifically tick a box stating you won't require it.

But arguing that is like saying you should walk into a supermarket and be handed with a fully trolley - and then you have to go through it putting everything you don't want back on the shelf?!  

Hasbeen

Well surprised at some car owners who appear to have no knowledge as to what their policy covers?

Still remember the Third Party Fire & Theft use. Not sure if you can get it these days. LOL.

But usually the main ones are here? All available from the tick boxes on comparison sites.
We are SDPC. Business use. Comprehensive here.

Social, domestic, pleasure and commuting (SDPC)
This use will cover the regular driver and any named drivers to use the vehicle for social, domestic and pleasure use, plus to travel to and from a single permanent place of employment. Students using their vehicle to drive to and from a place of education would require this cover.

Social, domestic and pleasure only (SDP)
This use will cover the regular driver and any named drivers to use the vehicle solely for social, domestic and pleasure use. This excludes any travel to and from work or business use.

SDPC and business use (proposer / spouse only)
This use will cover the regular driver and any named drivers to use the vehicle for social, domestic and pleasure use.

Also covers the regular driver and spouse for personal business use and to travel to various places of work in connection with their employment.

SDPC and business use (any named driver)
This use will cover the regular driver and any named drivers to use the vehicle for social, domestic and pleasure use.

Also covers the regular driver, spouse and authorised drivers to use the vehicle in connection with the businesses of the regular driver and/or the regular driver’s spouse only.

DayDreamerandGeneralWaster

I think it's pretty clear. I always use comparison sites and l always check l'm covered for commuting. It's a shame but the main thing here is she didn't end up injured or worse. 

Thrugelmir

Every year when I renew my policy my broker asks for what purposes I'll be using the car for. Very clear no ambiguity. 

[Deleted User]

Sorry to hear this but thanks for posting because so many people miss this, I saw a Facebook post from the local plod that confiscated a car from a driver they pulled. The driver had insurance but said he was travelling to work but the insurance didn't cover commuting. I hope a lot of people read this and double check their insurance, maybe one for Martin Lewis to mention publicly as he gives so much advice about how to save money on insurance.

The reality is that the quote often isn't that much different with commuting added and could be cheaper! 

My quotes:
SDP: £422
SDP & Commute: £409
Business class 1: £384 (!!!)

Figure that one out - actually cheaper for Business Class 1 so I always get that insurance on renewal even though I work from home right now due to covid - over insured is better!

uk1

[Deleted User] said:

Sorry to hear this but thanks for posting because so many people miss this, I saw a Facebook post from the local plod that confiscated a car from a driver they pulled. The driver had insurance but said he was travelling to work but the insurance didn't cover commuting. I hope a lot of people read this and double check their insurance, maybe one for Martin Lewis to mention publicly as he gives so much advice about how to save money on insurance.

The reality is that the quote often isn't that much different with commuting added and could be cheaper! 

My quotes:
SDP: £422
SDP & Commute: £409
Business class 1: £384 (!!!)

Figure that one out - actually cheaper for Business Class 1 so I always get that insurance on renewal even though I work from home right now due to covid - over insured is better!

I wonder how long it will be before a pensioner making a claim who has commute included has the claim scaled back because they don’t commute but had a lower premium ......

[Deleted User]

uk1 said:

Deleted_User said:

Sorry to hear this but thanks for posting because so many people miss this, I saw a Facebook post from the local plod that confiscated a car from a driver they pulled. The driver had insurance but said he was travelling to work but the insurance didn't cover commuting. I hope a lot of people read this and double check their insurance, maybe one for Martin Lewis to mention publicly as he gives so much advice about how to save money on insurance.

The reality is that the quote often isn't that much different with commuting added and could be cheaper! 

My quotes:
SDP: £422
SDP & Commute: £409
Business class 1: £384 (!!!)

Figure that one out - actually cheaper for Business Class 1 so I always get that insurance on renewal even though I work from home right now due to covid - over insured is better!

I wonder how long it will be before a pensioner making a claim who has commute included has the claim scaled back because they don’t commute but had a lower premium ......

Agreed, in fairness I spoke directly with my insurer on live chat upon renewal in Sept this year and told them I'm no longer working from different sites and at home for now but said I don't know how long it will last, also told them my mileage is significantly lower but they recommended I use exactly the same parameters as the previous year and I have a record of the chat log in case of any problems.

BTW I did do comparison sites and got my existing insurer to beat the comparison sites.