Car insurance policy charge for doing volunteer driving

outwood1

I'm trying to volunteer for a local group to drive people to and from hospital, medical appointments etc. It is completely unpaid bar petrol.
I asked my insurance company to confirm this was OK and they want £25 admin fee as well as a slightly increased premium as I will now have a part time job as a volunteer ( as its very ad hoc I can't see how it can be classes as a job).
Has anyone experienced similar? And any advise on whether I could argue against the admin fee?
Thanks

Flugelhorn

There is a list somewhere of the policies of a large number of insurance companies - it seems you have got one of the less friendly ones, most if it is voluntary do not charge and some don't want to know 

https://www.abi.org.uk/globalassets/files/subject/public/motor/2025/abi-guide-to-volunteer-driving---the-motor-insurance-commitment-2025.pdf

Brie

the issue is that you are using your car for something other than personal use.  and being a volunteer is being employed, albeit for no salary.  Any changes to a policy always seem to get an added admin fee, even if you do everything yourself online.  Of course you can ask that this be waived (due to the charitable status of your "job") but they may say no.

outwood1

It looks like I'm unfortunate in choosing a high street chain's insurance as a large number of providers appear not to charge, it certainly affects my views of the overall company now.
The list Flugelhorn provided is very useful and one I'll access when my renewal comes up next year. 

DullGreyGuy

outwood1 said:

It looks like I'm unfortunate in choosing a high street chain's insurance as a large number of providers appear not to charge, it certainly affects my views of the overall company now.
The list Flugelhorn provided is very useful and one I'll access when my renewal comes up next year. 

just check there isnt a new version when you do, its the sort of thing where companies can change their position on it. 

ButterCheese

Doesn't sound too bad.  You're at higher risk now you are driving to and from hosptials more with potentially unwell people in your car.  The Insurers are there to make money, we all know that.  They don't really care that you are volunteering for a good cause.  They only see risk

DullGreyGuy

ButterCheese said:

Doesn't sound too bad.  You're at higher risk now you are driving to and from hosptials more with potentially unwell people in your car.  The Insurers are there to make money, we all know that.  They don't really care that you are volunteering for a good cause.  They only see risk

Most insurers are for profit, absolutely, however their views on risk can vary (DLG used to sell SD&P, SDP&C and Business at the same price whereas others notably differentiate at least SD&P and SDP&C).

Insurers these days are having to report on things like ESG and if they feel the risk is small, that they turn a blind eye to customers who do it without telling them etc it can be something easy to stick into the S part of your ESG report that you support people doing social volunteering without charging them additional premiums etc. 

TELLIT01

I was with Direct Line for years and fortunately noticed that commuting had been removed on my wife's car, having been on the previous year.  I phoned to query it and was told there was no additional charge for commuting.  I therefore asked (a) why it had been removed on renewal and (b) if there is no extra charge, why not have it as the default?  The person I spoke to was honest at least, saying they had no idea, as that would seem to be logical.