[BartG]

Hello guys !


Recently bought a car and ladders for a startup, and I am concerned a bit whether I can ' drive around with a ladder on ' not having a 'business' policy ..
It clearly says on my policy documents " Excludes  use for business purposes, but what exactly does it mean?

Lets say I've got two jobs this week, no jobs next week and 3 jobs week after. Can I in that case transport a ladder on my car's roof on normal sd&p policy or I'm not covered?

I know the best thing would be upgrade to business one but I have 0 years NCB and just simply can't afford it at the moment.

Thanks !
Bart

[ben M]

Hello guys !


Recently bought a car and ladders for a startup, and I am concerned a bit whether I can ' drive around with a ladder on ' not having a 'business' policy ..
It clearly says on my policy documents " Excludes  use for business purposes, but what exactly does it mean?

Lets say I've got two jobs this week, no jobs next week and 3 jobs week after. Can I in that case transport a ladder on my car's roof on normal sd&p policy or I'm not covered?

I know the best thing would be upgrade to business one but I have 0 years NCB and just simply can't afford it at the moment.

Thanks !
Bart

You can't use it for business! if you have an accident, your insurance gonna ask you why you had a ladder,bucket and the rest of your window cleaning kit in your car? you won't get cover!

[BartG]

Right, thats fair enough, but I'm curious if a few irregular cleans a month ( just starting up and have ONE customer so far ;-) )can be considered by insurance company as a business. I would obviously upgrade, once I can afford it !

[ben M]

Ask your insurance, best thing to do!

By the way, welcome on this forum and good luck! 

[AshWhite]

It's not for business use - regardless of whether it's a 'startup' business, 'having a tough time' business, 'I'm only doing it on my day off' business, or even a 'it's only a bit of beer money' business.

As mentioned, if you have to make a claim, there's a very good chance it will be turned down - and you are liable for prosecution.

[rosskesava]

Also, if you're registered as self employed, the insurance company will find that out and if you only have the one vehicle......

Having said that, maybe when you had the accident you were on the way to a friends house to clean his windows for nothing and just as a favour because he's your mate?

Dunno.  

I wouldn't risk it now but in the past......   :   (the rolley eyes isn't working)

[richard jagger]

JUst use the car and ignore all the do gooders.Many have before you and many will after you.

[Mike #1]

for a car you dont need business insurance you just need to ask your insurer to change a few details so the car will be used for social ,domestic and business use . this could increase your premium but it will be far cheaper than been prosecution and a possible criminal record plus you will get your insurance cancelled and may not get insured again with any kind of insurance .    MIKE

[gr cleaning solutions]

Have you phone your insurance company for a price shouldnt be that much more i pay about £55 a month for fully comp with business cover .
Ive had a bump before while window cleaning on just normal insurance and they wanted to know everything

[bobby p]

i found business use car insurance was not anymore than ordinary car  insurance when i was using a car

[Griffus]

Like a few have said, call your insurance.

Generally it doesn't make a difference but the roof rack might put it up a bit. If you don't tell them and you have a bump you won't be covered.

[EandM]

It doesn't usually cost any more to add business mileage. On the price comparison sites they usually ask you how many miles you cover per annum including business. When I added it to my last policy it cost me nothing but then I am only paying about £200 a year.
If it says no business use that's what it means.
Interestingly if you have a van or pick up and a customer offers to pay you a £10 to take something to the tip for them then you also have invalidated your insurance unless you have also selected ' carriage of goods for hire or reward. '
Of course there's nothing stopping you doing a favour and then the customer offering to cover your fuel......

[BartG]

Thanks for all your valuable advice,

I rung up my insurance and what they said they can not cover my ' business ' due to some reason, so I canceled it and get a policy from tescos 

Under my circumstances it's 1700 a year ( sic!) but I've got now business use class 1 and it was only like 200 a year more, in sum not that bad !

Thanks again, I'm of canvass now

[David Oldham]

old thread i know guys but i have an issue with insurance

some ******** decided he was gunna reverse into me and insurance has decided they will repair my vehicle after almost a week of not having a vehicle because ***** is denying liability

my main issue is they have decided i can have a courtesy car but they wont give me a courtesy that has roof racks etc and i wont be covered to put roof racks on it

apparently i have business use class 1 and they are saying it doesnt cover roof racks i should have business class 3?

even though my policy clearly says used in connection with drivers business and travel etc and they are aware that im a window cleaner

they wont provide me with a hire car unless i prove the other driver was at fault and i have to wait for the shop it happened nr to go through there cctv to find the incident has anyone had this issue before and what would you reccomend i do

cant go to work until i have a replacement vehicle

[Mike #1]

Even if you had van you would not get a courtesy van with a roof rack as most insurance companys use a local hire company which dont fit roof racks to vans or cars .

I had a Suzuki grand vitara when using wfp trolley and my courtesy vehicle was a chevrolet matiz i managed to force 8 containers in and the trolley and pole .

Sorry mate but you aint got a hope of a motor with a roof rack .

Ring local hire companies to see what they have got and pay for it yourself otherwise you will be out of work for weeks . Mike

[home6442]

David why did it take so long are you not fully comp.
If you are, your own insurance will fix your vehicle and claim it back.

[David Oldham]

yes i am fully comp

they had to get the estimate from the garage then decide if they are fixing my vehicle which they have now decided they are going to do its the garage that is fixing my vehicle that is providing the courtesy car but admiral is saying they dont have to provide a vehicle that covers the carriage of ladders or something

i sent all the information relating to the crash but i feel im basically being told i have to provide all the evidence to prove he reversed into me which is taking time getting responses from shops etc in the area to get cctv evidence

wouldnt have been an issue if the ***** had admitted liability but as hes saying i drove into him i have to prove otherwise

[G Griffin]

Is leaving your ladders at customers' houses not an option?
If not, hire or buy one for the courtesy car, depending on the cost, of course.

[andyM]

yes i am fully compthey had to get the estimate from the garage then decide if they are fixing my vehicle which they have now decided they are going to do its the garage that is fixing my vehicle that is providing the courtesy car but admiral is saying they dont have to provide a vehicle that covers the carriage of ladders or something

i sent all the information relating to the crash but i feel im basically being told i have to provide all the evidence to prove he reversed into me which is taking time getting responses from shops etc in the area to get cctv evidence
wouldnt have been an issue if the ***** had admitted liability but as hes saying i drove into him i have to prove otherwise

That's very unusual that the insurance company are expecting you to provide cctv evidence?
And being fully comp your vehicle should be repaired without any hassles, regardless of if it was your fault or other drivers fault.
The last couple of accidents i've been involved in the last few years (not my fault) I had the hire company ring me up that day and van was delivered next day.
Almost as if they could not get here quick enough.
Maybe you should consider trying another insurance company next time who will treat you better.

[David Oldham]

yup ive googled issues with admiral and many have bad experiences

ive basically had there crappy legal company telling me they wont give like for like until they hear back from the other insurance company on liability or until i can prove liability which then means i can get a hire car

the voice recordings i made of the guy admitting liability apparently cant be used!!!!

yet the shops cctv can

the only vehicle they will provide is one from there garage which is is a category a vehicle like a corsa or something which wont have racks and is provided by the garage not admiral