Do you ever drive your own car for work?

Drivers who use their own vehicle for business journeys, however infrequently, are referred to as ‘grey fleet’ and will need business car insurance. Journeys may include visiting clients, trips to the bank, post office and suppliers, travelling to meetings or moving between sites.

Standard car insurance won’t usually cover driving for work, so employees should check that their insurance cover includes ‘business use’.

Cover for business use can often be obtained at little or no extra cost – it is vital that you inform your insurance company.

 Driving a private vehicle for work without having insurance in place that covers business journeys is committing a criminal offence.

 Employees using their own vehicles for work journeys would need a minimum of ‘Class 1’ business use on their motor insurance policy. ‘Class 2’ allows the addition of a colleague, while you may need ‘Class 3’ if you do a lot of driving for work, or carry samples or equipment in your vehicle.

Of grey fleet drivers insurance certificates checked every year, about 20% do not have the appropriate business use insurance cover.

Employers or clients often request evidence of business car insurance cover before paying mileage expenses.

Employers and clients may request an up to date copy of business use insurance.

It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure the vehicle they are driving has adequate, appropriate and valid insurance cover.