Car Insurance - Business Use

[laserblazer]

Just had a message from the office to say that car insurance should include business use if we use our car to go on courses. Now this may be taken into account in the mileage rate but I go on 3 courses a year clocking up a massive 45 miles. This isn't going to recoup the extra premium for adding business use.

 

I've said I'll take the minibus.

[sandeep2504]

i've always wondered how would insurance companies work out if you were on business?

 

they cant really prove it can they?

 

You haven't taken the minibus test by chance?

 

School has asked me to take the minibus test in a couple of weeks for "emergency planning procedures".

[Newton]

only adds an extra £10 to my insurance and I do a lot miles, lot better than driving uninsured.

[SteveBentley]

Some insurers let you specify how many miles are for business purposes and only charge you that premium on that. I specified 500 on mine just to cover a few borderline cases and I don't think it cost a huge amount.

[OutToLunch]

We're a split site school and apparently need it for travelling between sites once you've started your working day. Adding "Business use" to mine under Tesco cost nothing and hasn't under Privilege either - "Business use" isn't the same class as travelling salesman etc type travelling - "Commercial Travelling", should just be a case of notifying your insurers you will be...

[IrritableTech]

I added business use to my policy for nothing. I couldn't be bothered filling out the travel expenses claim form though for 45 miles a year.

[karldenton]

I take pupils to squash once a week in my own car. Direct line insurance added business use for nothing.

[laserblazer]

You haven't taken the minibus test by chance?

 

School has asked me to take the minibus test in a couple of weeks for "emergency planning procedures".

 

I'm old enough to have minibus included on my licence (in fact I'm covered for chariots ) The County minibus test is a straightforward drive around the town and the tester advises you on any minor points. Nobody ever fails.

 

To get a minibus added to your licence now is more involved and means a load of lessons and a strict test. One of our PE teachers failed 3 times before getting it and it cost the school well over £1000!

[enjay]

You need business use insurance if you're doing anything other than driving to your normal place of work (i.e. courses, visits to local schools, quick run to the Post Office with your Tesco vouchers, not sure if split site schools count as one location or not). Like others, I've added this for free.

 

Our school has said that when driving on school business, we're covered by the school's insurance policy, though...

[michaelf]

I added business use to my policy for nothing. I couldn't be bothered filling out the travel expenses claim form though for 45 miles a year.

 

It didn't cost me anything with Direct Line either

[IrritableTech]

I take pupils to squash once a week in my own car. Direct line insurance added business use for nothing.

 

One of our members of staff (who is an advanced motorist if that has any relevance) insists that most policies have a disclaimer if you work in a school - Transporting pupils is not covered under business use.

 

I dont know either way, but I would check your policy if I were you.

[witch]

I have to have business use because, even though I work in two DIFFERENT schools, I am paid by the LA for both so moving from one to the other counts as moving between sites. Admiral added it for free but even when I used to pay it wasnt much.

[enjay]

Transporting pupils is not covered under business use.

 

Our school has a specific policy in place regarding staff transporting pupils (the school needs to see valid insurance, MOT and so on); the issue for us techies is more likely to be attending courses or conferences than driving kids places though...

[michael2k6]

I take pupils to squash once a week in my own car. Direct line insurance added business use for nothing.

 

Be careful there are so many things that can go wrong with that i don't even know where to begin.

[laserblazer]

I've just contacked Kwikfit to see how much it will cost to add on.

[dalsoth]

Be careful there are so many things that can go wrong with that i don't even know where to begin.

 

Yeah, just had some child protection training after like 6-7 years and they did state that you should never transport students in your own car, give out personal numbers and email etc.. I would stick to a mini bus and we were even told that if you do that you need to make sure others know where you are and it is all recorded.

 

We had a similar request about the insurance thing as someone wanted to claim on the school insurance for an accident or something. Now we have been told we need to insure our cars for business if we use it for courses and stuff. Was told by about 5 ppl in the admin office that it should cost nothing. Ruined my attempted moan session really so i moaned at the tech instead when i got back to my office.