Most drivers will be aware of the different types of car insurance, but there is sometimes uncertainty over the description of what you are covered for when it comes to going to and from work. A common term in insurance is ‘domestic and pleasure.’ This means normal day-to-day driving, such as visiting family or friends, a weekend break, or shopping. But it is unlikely to include commuting to work. If you are using your car to go to and from work and your insurance policy only covers domestic and pleasure then you will be effectively driving uninsured, as the policy will not usually cover you for this purpose.
Although car insurance companies might each their own interpretation of what you can and can’t do under domestic and pleasure, it is unlikely that they will include commuting in this. Even an occasional work related trip is unlikely to be covered. The problem for drivers is that as soon as they use their car for any purpose other than what they are insured for, they are driving without insurance and therefore driving illegally.
The penalties for driving for reasons other than what you are covered for can involve a fine, court appearances, or worse. Therefore it is important that you read the small print on the policy you buy and understand exactly what the definitions of cover mean. Even dropping someone you know off at their place of work can be considered driving uninsured if you are not covered for it, so it is essential to make sure you are covered. If you are buying your car insurance through a comparison site online, then make sure you detail what type of insurance you need for your driving needs, and ensure that you give as much detail as possible.
Once you’ve been given a list of policies to choose from, go through each of them carefully and check that you have not missed anything that might leave you uncovered for the use you intend to make of your vehicle. Including ‘commuting’ on your car policy and explaining to the insurance company any other work related driving you might need to do will help them get the policy that’s right for you.
Commuting is commonly defined as driving to and from a permanent place of work, or travelling to a destination en route such as a railway station. It is important to check if your car insurance can include other types of driving such as one off business trips. You may be able to get cover for specific business use activities as well. Commonly you will need ‘business use: class 1’ for driving to different work sites that are not your permanent place of work, but it won’t usually include delivering goods. You are likely to need ‘business use: class 2’ to add another named driver to the policy for the same driving activities as class 1. If you plan to deliver light goods for work reasons then you will need to get ‘business use: class 3’ added to your car insurance policy.
With the different options available, and different definitions across the insurance companies, as well as a varying prices and conditions, it is worth using an online comparison site to get the car insurance that is right for your needs. The important thing is not to get caught out by driving uninsured for work related reasons. A comparison site should give you all the information you need to make an informed decision, and hopefully save you money in the process by enabling you to compare car insurance prices.…