Every driver in the UK is familiar with motor insurance, a legal necessity for all cars on the roads. But many people are unwittingly invalidating their car insurance policies by using their vehicles for work-related activities beyond their daily commute. Doctors, cleaners and makeup artists might be aware that driving between clients constitutes business use, but there are still thousands of people overlooking daily errands that insurers consider as business usage. Even popping to the bank from your place of work or driving to a one-off training day can require specialist cover.
Need and Increased Risk
Anybody using their car for business-purposes requires business car insurance, a particular type of motor insurance that can cover you for both work and play. To ensure you’re legally compliant, business car insurance is an important policy to consider for anyone who finds themselves behind the wheel during the working day.
If you use your car for anything other than the commute, whether that’s as infrequently as running a business errand or attending a meeting, or whether driving occupies a significant part of your working day, you will typically need a business car insurance policy. If your employer has provided you with a company car, you are unlikely to need to arrange business car insurance yourself.
Coverage Options
When choosing a level of coverage, consider your car’s exposure to the risks covered above. You must also take into account whether you could afford to shell out for the cost of repair work to your own vehicle if you opt for the lowest level of coverage. Comprehensive cover can offer peace of mind that you can fix your car if an accident happens.
The first, third party only cover, constitutes the minimum legal requirement. The top two levels of cover offer optional, added protection. The levels are:
- Third-party Only Cover – The lowest level of cover available only covers the cost of claims of third-party injury or damage made against you. It exists to protect other road users, ensuring they can receive a payout to cover their damages and compensation costs.
- Third-party Fire and Theft – The second level of cover also covers the costs of all claims of damage or injury to third parties, including legal fees and compensation payouts, as well as the cost of any damage to your vehicle in the cases of fire and theft, including attempted theft, lightning, self-ignition and explosion.
- Comprehensive Cover – The most extensive level of coverage available is comprehensive cover, which can pay out for all costs related to incidents in which your vehicle has involvement. It can protect your car as well as those of other people, paying out for repair work following a bump or scrape as well as accidental damage.
Getting a Quote (Preparation)
Usually, you can generate a quote online or over the phone in just a matter of minutes if you have the right information to hand. To speed the process along, gather the following information:
- personal details, including your claims history
- details of any additional drivers you want to insure on the policy
- your driving license number
- years of no-claims-bonus
- details of your car, including registration plate, make and model
- details of any additional modifications made to your vehicles, such as spoilers or exhausts
- your estimated annual business and social mileage.
