I won't name the insurer yet as want to see what other people have, but I got a renewal invite today - It was OK - no real increase in price - My part time "valeting" (full time accountant) was on there, as was standard third party cover on other cars.

 

I rang up to reduce mileage, tell them about passing advanced test, and suddenly I'm told the third party cover is revoked due to my part time "valeting" business. Apparently I am higher risk even though I don't actually drive cars for that, and also I would never expect my Fabia's insurance to have any kind of cover (even remotely) for that side of things.

 

Whilst my renewal is down to £430 odd I am being forced to shop around to see what other insurers think about this. To me, it seems daft as there is no correlation between me driving the odd car third party only - mate's cars, parents' cars, etc - and the part time trade (and its REALLY part time too!) Just gathering some thoughts.

Edited 25 February, 201610 yr by devonutopia

I suppose they're thinking of the risk of you scratching or damaging a car during the valeting work? Seems a reasonable risk assumption to me, and this isn't a slight on your valeting ability at all, just an observation that accidents could happen, making you a higher risk than someone who doesn't have a valeting business.

 

Was it the same insurer you had last year, with the same details declared?

I had the same issue, I think they believe you will drive customer vehicles which would need to be covered under a business insurance policy.

I had the same issue, I think they believe you will drive customer vehicles which would need to be covered under a business insurance policy.

I agree; they're expecting you to drive (even if just "shunting") customer vehicles so explicitly withdrawing the 3rd party "other vehicles" cover.

Agree also, from an underwriting perspective, that's how they'll view it.

Shame as that's never the intention. Now looking into a potential trade policy but that's £££

While *you* might not try and use the driving other cars provision as part of your sideline business, plenty of people would so they are erring on the side of caution and removing the cover entirely.

That doesn't seem unreasonable to me, to be honest.

Quite a few policies these days do not include the 'drive other cars' third party cover as it gets abused.

Yeah it's common practise for it to be excluded for any type of motor related occupation. Taxi drivers, motor traders, chauffers, coach drivers and so on.

 

If say for instance you wasn't insured correctly/ at all whilst using another vehicle for business, yet you had a policy for your private car that states you're insured drive other vehicles, it's likely your private car insurer would be dragged into the claim despite them not insuring you for the business use. To eliminate this risk, they will simply opt to exclude this cover for certain occupations.

 

Personally, if it was me *this is not advise nor a suggestion* depending on what you do for your business, you may find occupations on drop down menus that don't result in driving other cars being excluded, yet still truthfully relates to what you do. E.g Proprietor, cleaning services.

I was under the impression that any motor trade work and they took it away.