Car Insurance and occasional commuting

Sus59

My car insurance is up for renewal.

I have worked from home for over a year now but anticipate that in the coming year I may go into the office a couple of times a month.

I assume that I need to take out car insurance that covers commuting?

If so, how do I answer the question that asked where the car is parked during the day?  (Most day it will be at home but a couple of times it could be the work car park).

Just want to make sure I'm covered for all eventualities.

Thanks for any advice.

bazzyb

Check the wording but the question generally relates to where it is usually kept, so if it is usually kept at home that is the answer. Similarly if somebody says that their car is usually kept in an office car park during the day that doesn’t mean they’re never allowed to take a day off work or use their car to go on holiday. 

Aretnap

If you're driving to work, even occasionally, then yes you do need commuting cover. If you get a policy that covers social, domestic and pleasure use only, it means that any journeys you do which don't fall into one of those categories will not be covered by the policy, ie you'll be driving without insurance.

Most people tend to find that the extra cost of adding commuting cover is pennies if not zero, so if there's any chance that you might need it, it makes sense to add it when you buy the policy. 

As above, if you will only be going into the office occasionally you should answer "at home" to the question "where is the car usually kept during the day". 

maxsteam

The standard insurance policy is "social, domestic, pleasure and commuting" use (SDP+C if you want to use the acronyms). You should check but a standard policy will probably cover you for commuting to a "single place of work".

NSG666

Use topcashback and get a quote from Aviva as their policy even covers you for business use as standard and the details they ask for to quote are straightforward. If they are not competitive it's only taken you a couple of minutes to find out.

Thesaltmustflow

I've had SDP+C for years but added 'business use' for one of my cars around 10 years ago, can't say I've noticed any massive increase in my premiums.

Sandtree

Thesaltmustflow said:

I've had SDP+C for years but added 'business use' for one of my cars around 10 years ago, can't say I've noticed any massive increase in my premiums.

For Class 1 business... policyholder only where driving isnt a key feature of the role... is normally pennies or free unless you are already a high risk driver

Herzlos

If you're working from home temporarily due to covid, then the car would "normally" be parked at work.

user1977

Herzlos said:

If you're working from home temporarily due to covid, then the car would "normally" be parked at work.

Not sure that argument's going to fly after 19+ months of working from home.

Grumpy_chap

Sus59 said:

My car insurance is up for renewal.

I have worked from home for over a year now but anticipate that in the coming year I may go into the office a couple of times a month.

I assume that I need to take out car insurance that covers commuting?

If so, how do I answer the question that asked where the car is parked during the day?  (Most day it will be at home but a couple of times it could be the work car park).

Just want to make sure I'm covered for all eventualities.

Thanks for any advice.

All you can do is to take out cover for the situation as at the time of renewal. 

From what you have said, you will need SDP+C as there are some visits to the office but the answer to the question about where the car is parked during the day has to be "at home".  On occasions, the car may be in the work car park, but that is not currently the majority.

If the situation changes during the period of cover, then you will need to process an amendment at that time.

Sus59

Thanks everyone for you replies. I think I shall go with the 'where is the car USUALLY parked during the day' interpretation and say At Home :-).
And yes, I shall go through a cashback and comparison site to make sure I get the best deal with commuting cover :-)