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Business Use Car Insurance

Car Insurance for Business Use

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Car Insurance with Business Use Cover


What is business use car insurance?

If you use your car for work-related activities, business car insurance might be necessary. For everyday commuting to a regular workplace, a standard car insurance policy is usually sufficient. However, if your job involves visiting clients, attending meetings, or travelling between job sites, you’ll need business car insurance. There are three options to choose from when you take out car insurance:

Social, Domestic, and Pleasure (SDP)

This covers you for all of your personal journeys in the car i.e. visiting friends and family or going to the shops.  

SDP and Commuting (SDP & C)

In addition to your standard social, domestic and pleasure coverage, this will also cover you for your daily commute to and from your regular workplace.  

SDP & C and Business Use

This is a comprehensive option which covers you for all eventualities. It protects you while using your car for personal, leisure and social activities, along with commuting and using your car whilst you’re at work. 

Why do I need to insure my car for business use? 


When you drive your car for work beyond just commuting, you need to get business use car insurance. If you don’t have the right coverage, your insurance company might not pay claims if you have an accident that occurs while driving for work-related activities.  

If you don’t have business car insurance, you can’t make a claim when driving for work. Also, if your insurer finds out you’ve misrepresented how you use your car, they might void your policy (whether you meant to or not).  

What’s more, you could risk breaking the law by driving without the right insurance because standard car insurance doesn’t cover work-related driving. 

Types of business use on car insurance

Class 1

Covers occasional work-related driving. For example, it would cover you for driving between multiple places of work or occasional travel for client meetings.  

Class 2

This option provides identical coverage to class 1 but allows you to add a named driver. Ideal for employees who share a company car – most insurers will require that the policyholder and the named driver work for the same company.  

Class 3

Also known as “commercial travelling” this option covers extensive driving and is a good option for salespeople or those who drive long distances regularly for work. This class is necessary for high-mileage business drivers. 

What does business use car insurance cover?

Business use car insurance typically includes:

  • Travel between different offices 
  • Driving to regular client meetings  
  • Driving for work-related errands (such as going to the bank) 
  • Attending training, conferences or exhibitions.  

Types of car insurance coverage

If you’re exploring business use car insurance, you may also want to understand the type of coverage you will need depending on your specific circumstances:  

  • Fully comprehensive car insurance: This provides the highest level of coverage, protecting you against third-party claims, theft, fire, and damage to your own vehicle in an accident, regardless of fault. 
  • Third-party car insurance: This is the most basic level of coverage, protecting you against damage to other people’s property. 

What is not covered by business use on car insurance?

Business use car insurance usually excludes: 

  • Taxi drivers – you’ll need specific taxi insurance to cover you. 

The cost of insuring a car for business use

How much is business car insurance?

The price of car insurance for businesses varies based on several things, including the type of coverage you need. Class 3 is the priciest insurance class, as drivers who cover a lot of miles are seen as having a higher chance of getting into an accident and are more likely to make a claim. 

How much you’ll pay for your business car insurance also depends on: 

  • The car you drive – insurers check your car’s make and model and its car insurance group. 
  • Your estimated mileage for work and for social, domestic or leisure activities. 
  • Your no-claims discount and your driving record. 
  • Your age – if you’re a young driver, you might find that your premiums are higher due to perceived risk factors, while older drivers may benefit from lower premiums due to experience. 

Who pays for business use car insurance?

Typically, business car insurance is covered by the company you work for. 

If you drive a company car then your employer will take care of arranging and paying for your business car insurance. This is because they own the vehicle you’ll be using. It’s still a good idea to go over the terms with your employer though. 

If your job requires you to use your own car for work purposes, your employer may reimburse the extra costs of adding business use to your policy, as well as mileage allowances. 

If you work for yourself as a sole trader, then you’ll need to set up and pay for your own business car insurance. You can use your business car insurance as a business expense and subtract the cost from your total tax bill. You’ll also need to track the miles you drive for work.  

How can I get cheaper business car insurance?

To reduce your business car insurance costs: 

  • Compare quotes from different insurers 
  • Increase your voluntary excess 
  • Install security features on your vehicle 
  • Maintain a clean driving record 
  • Bundle policies if you insure multiple vehicles 

Additional coverage options for business car insurance 


Business use car insurance FAQs

Does business car insurance cover social use?

Yes, but only if specified in the policy. Some business use policies include social use, but others require separate coverage. 

Can I change my car insurance to include business use?

Yes, you can usually upgrade your existing policy to include business use. Contact your insurer to adjust your coverage. 

Does covering business use increase car insurance costs?

Yes, adding business use typically costs more than standard coverage due to the higher risks insurers have to take into account. Your job might involve: 

  • Spending more time driving during busy rush hours 
  • Clocking up more miles if your work requires long-distance travel 
  • Navigating roads you’re not familiar with 
  • Carrying extra work-related gear or goods. 

These elements can increase your chances of getting into an accident. In the end, your premium price will reflect the expense of covering these additional risks. 

Does comprehensive car insurance cover business use?

Not always. You must specifically request business use coverage. Comprehensive policies cover a wide range of risks but do not automatically include business use. 

Does my car insurance cover business use?

Check your policy details or contact your insurer to confirm if business use is covered. Standard policies usually do not include it. 

Can I get car insurance for business and personal use?

Yes, many insurers offer combined policies that cover both business and personal use. Ensure your policy explicitly includes both to avoid coverage gaps. 

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