Car insurance - business use if WFH?

Derek23Derekek23Derek23

Hi everyone, have searched here and generally on the net but not found an answer to this.

I'm working remotely, and my employment contract states that place of work is my home. This means the company pays expenses if I'm asked to go to the office (about once or twice a month).

However the employer says this means car insurance policies for social, domestic and commuting will not cover going to the office as it's not "commuting".

I will ask my insurer, but I'm sure they'll take the opportunity to get more money out of me.

Has anyone else encountered this, and what was the outcome?

Thanks in advance

FlorayG

I work remotely but my 'base place of work' is stated as an office ( 200 miles away! I've been there once in three years and went on the train). I think if your 'place of work' is stated as your home then you're not covered for commuting - however, adding 'business use' to your policy costs only a few pounds and I've even once found it cheaper than just commuting cover. You might find it more expensive to add to your current policy, but when you renew it's hardly a noticeable difference

XRS200

As a rule of thumb, if your employer is paying expenses then it is likely to be business use.

Shouldn't cost much more, if at all, to add.

Mildly_Miffed

Commuting is to and from your normal place of work.

If that's office A, then going to office B every now and then is not commuting.
If that's home, then going to the office every now and then is not commuting.

DullGreyGuy

Derek23Derekek23Derek23 said:

Hi everyone, have searched here and generally on the net but not found an answer to this.

I'm working remotely, and my employment contract states that place of work is my home. This means the company pays expenses if I'm asked to go to the office (about once or twice a month).

However the employer says this means car insurance policies for social, domestic and commuting will not cover going to the office as it's not "commuting".

I will ask my insurer, but I'm sure they'll take the opportunity to get more money out of me.

Has anyone else encountered this, and what was the outcome?

Thanks in advance

They are correct, commuting is the process of going from home to your normal place of work either as the whole journey or part of the journey (eg driving to the train station then taking the train to the office). 

If your normal place of work is your home then any work related trips are not commuting just in the same way if you normally drive to the Bristol office but today you've got to go to Bath for a meeting the travel to Bath wouldn't be commuting. 

On the plus side, with many insurers the cost of business class 1, which is all you'll need assuming you are the policyholder, is almost/no different to the cost of commuting. That said, doing a mid term change may attract a fee for the change itself. I rarely use a car for work, never going to commute into the City by my own car, but still buy Business just in case and when I did used to work elsewhere it didnt make any difference. 

Derek23Derekek23Derek23

Appreciate the thought, thanks everyone

Ectophile

You may find that upgrading to business travel insurance costs remarkably little.  I had to add it at renewal when my employer told me I would be needed at another site (in the same town).  Adding business cover increased the premium by £1.50.

If it's that cheap for you, just add it.