Insurance - Using private car for business purposes

Padkir

Hey there, just looking for some advice!

So I have my own private car, and in my line of work I sometimes need to travel, usually at the beginning and end of the week while staying in a hotel during the week. When claiming mileage expenses the form says by claiming them I confirm my insurance covers business use.

Does anyone know if a private policy covers any business use at all, or will I need to upgrade to a business policy? And if so, does anyone know roughly how much more expensive it would be in general (fully comp on a 1.9 TDI for €1200 at the minute)?

Bear in mind that I will still be mainly using the car for private use!

Thanks for any help!!

MugMugs

Padkir wrote: »

Hey there, just looking for some advice!

So I have my own private car, and in my line of work I sometimes need to travel, usually at the beginning and end of the week while staying in a hotel during the week. When claiming mileage expenses the form says by claiming them I confirm my insurance covers business use.

Does anyone know if a private policy covers any business use at all, or will I need to upgrade to a business policy? And if so, does anyone know roughly how much more expensive it would be in general (fully comp on a 1.9 TDI for €1200 at the minute)?

Bear in mind that I will still be mainly using the car for private use!

Thanks for any help!!

Only an Insurer can tell you how much extra it will be

You require Class 2 Insurance. it is generally easily obtained.

At present with Social Domestic and Pleasure if you have an accident then you're going to be in a spot of bother.

I think it all relates back to Sinnot -vs- Quinnsworth

Padkir

MugMugs wrote: »

Only an Insurer can tell you how much extra it will be

You require Class 2 Insurance. it is generally easily obtained.

At present with Social Domestic and Pleasure if you have an accident then you're going to be in a spot of bother.

I think it all relates back to Sinnot -vs- Quinnsworth

And there's definitely no leeway for a minor percentage of business use? I thought there was! Thanks for the help anyway, I'll have to have words with the insurer! I hope it's not too much more expensive, or I'll have to start going with the public transport to get where I'm going!

Wexfordian

There is, I used to have it. It was known as something like class 1B (or something similar). Basically it allows you to use you car for business purposes provided you are not carrying merchandise or samples. Very small loading over normal, if I recall it was something like 10%

MugMugs

Padkir wrote: »

And there's definitely no leeway for a minor percentage of business use? I thought there was! Thanks for the help anyway, I'll have to have words with the insurer! I hope it's not too much more expensive, or I'll have to start going with the public transport to get where I'm going!

Any "leeway" that used to exist is well and truly gone. More and more I am seeing "Social, Domestic and Pleasure including commuting to and/or from your place of work and not in line with any other business use"

I got it for my father recently and his Insurance went up about 50 quid. He was pi$$ed and I was relatively pleased.

Then again, he's driving 45 years, no crashes and still pays an average of 300 so I kind of see his point.

MugMugs

Wexfordian wrote: »

There is, I used to have it. It was known as something like class 1B (or something similar). Basically it allows you to use you car for business purposes provided you are not carrying merchandise or samples. Very small loading over normal, if I recall it was something like 10%

be very careful how you read this.

There is NO leeway.

If you Have Class 1 Insurance then you're not covered for work

1b covers you for less than 5 days on the road

Class 2 Covers for 5 days on the road and the carriage of work equipment and goods (this can include laptops etc)

Padkir

MugMugs wrote: »

Any "leeway" that used to exist is well and truly gone. More and more I am seeing "Social, Domestic and Pleasure including commuting to and/or from your place of work and not in line with any other business use"

I got it for my father recently and his Insurance went up about 50 quid. He was pi$$ed and I was relatively pleased.

Then again, he's driving 45 years, no crashes and still pays an average of 300 so I kind of see his point.

I'll have a few words with the insurer anyway, see what they can do!

Technically, anytime I'm using it is for commuting... for example I could be working in Limerick for the week, travel down Sunday evening, back Friday evening, and claim expenses on that. Would that be classed as commuting (I'm not very good when it comes to legal jargon and the likes)?:o

I work for a large company and I think they have a legal adviser somewhere so I might ask them!

MugMugs

Padkir wrote: »

I'll have a few words with the insurer anyway, see what they can do!

Technically, anytime I'm using it is for commuting... for example I could be working in Limerick for the week, travel down Sunday evening, back Friday evening, and claim expenses on that. Would that be classed as commuting (I'm not very good when it comes to legal jargon and the likes)?:o

I work for a large company and I think they have a legal adviser somewhere so I might ask them!

If you're receiving mileage it's generally work related. (business use)

Call your Insurance company and have a chat with them. If it's too expensive consider the train.

rain on

Padkir wrote: »

Technically, anytime I'm using it is for commuting... for example I could be working in Limerick for the week, travel down Sunday evening, back Friday evening, and claim expenses on that. Would that be classed as commuting (I'm not very good when it comes to legal jargon and the likes)?:o

To me, if you claim mileage expenses then it doesn't count as commuting but as business travel .. can anyone confirm that or am I totally off the mark?

edit: too slow!

Padkir

MugMugs wrote: »

If you're receiving mileage it's generally work related. (business use)

Call your Insurance company and have a chat with them. If it's too expensive consider the train.

Right, fair enough! Thanks for the advice!!

Wexfordian

MugMugs wrote: »

be very careful how you read this.

There is NO leeway.

If you Have Class 1 Insurance then you're not covered for work

1b covers you for less than 5 days on the road

Class 2 Covers for 5 days on the road and the carriage of work equipment and goods (this can include laptops etc)

Hmm, fair enough, its maybe 5 years since I had this (from Hibernian), but at the time it didn't have a 5 day (or otherwise) restriction. The legal department of the company I worked for vetted it at the time.

Edit: Do you mean being away from home for more then 5 days at a time for work?

Sleepy

I think most companies will cover the cost of the increase since it's their use it's being done for.

coylemj

I wrote a letter to Axa stating that I needed cover for occasional business use but with the qualifier that (1) I was not in sales and (2) I was not carrying goods or samples.

They gave me what they call 'Class 2 restricted business use' for no extra charge. The cert. said I was covered for use of the car in the course of business 'as last advised to the company' i.e. I was covered for business use only as long as the use of the car did not deviate from what I had outlined in my letter to them.

Note that there is no legal definition of class 1, class 2 etc. so while you will see the terms bandied about in a forum like this, you need to be careful to read the policy to see what each level of coverage actually covers because class 1 and class 2 can mean different things depending on which insurance company you're dealing with.

CJhaughey

I have had Class II since I started work with my company.
If you are travelling on company business and are claiming mileage then you need Class II insurance, I was told this in no uncertain terms when I joined.
I have to provide a letter from my insurer to say that I have Class II cover, if I don't I cannot claim mileage.
My employer pays for the extra cover.

Padkir

coylemj wrote: »

I wrote a letter to Axa stating that I needed cover for occasional business use but with the qualifier that (1) I was not in sales and (2) I was not carrying goods or samples.

They gave me what they call 'Class 2 restricted business use' for no extra charge. The cert. said I was covered for use of the car in the course of business 'as last advised to the company' i.e. I was covered for business use only as long as the use of the car did not deviate from what I had outlined in my letter to them.

Note that there is no legal definition of class 1, class 2 etc. so while you will see the terms bandied about in a forum like this, you need to be careful to read the policy to see what each level of coverage actually covers because class 1 and class 2 can mean different things depending on which insurance company you're dealing with.

How long ago is this? That sounds exactly what I would need, because they should surely recognise the difference between a sales rep and someone who is just travelling to a different place of work once a week!