General: Insurance trouble

[woodman]

Hello

We've just had our insurance renewal from Footman James. Last year we had unlimited mileage for about £250, and the renewal came through at just under £200 but with a 3000 mile limit. We do about 6000-7000 miles a year, so Mrs Woodman phoned up to enquire. Here's the deal at FJ:
1)unlimited mileage, domestic & pleasure use only £160;
2) 3000 miles with business use £200;
3) over 3000 miles with business use NINE HUNDRED QUID!!!!

Mrs W only does about 1000 miles a year of business use, but without business use cover she's snookered and would basically have to hire a car to do business mileage. Adrian Flux quoted her about £600 for a suitable policy, but even then, an extra £400 for 1000 miles of business use seems bonkers.

Does anyone have any wisdom/recommendations about affordable business use insurance? Turning up to meetings in an Amazon is always a talking point, it would be a crying shame for her not to be able to do it!

Thanks.

[grin factor]

Is she just using the car to drive to meetings, as opposed to using it as a business? If so, could this not be classed as communting to a place of work?
Insurance companies will try their best to convince you you need "business" cover, but this may not be the case.

[DJS]

That's a ridiculous quote.

I pay something like £100 for myself and the better half with 10,000 miles and travel to one place of work. It was with Footman and James. I hope that things have not changed.

Darren.

[woolfie1948]

In my experience insurance company's definition of business use has always been a grey area and a worry. I was once insured with the 'direct' office of a large well known insurance company who I had phoned and explained what I used the car for and they said I needed class 1 business cover. Strangely at renewal time when I looked for competative quotes via a broker the same company insisted I needed class 3.
I took this up with both parts of the company but niether would change their opinion.
When I bought my first classic I had a few queries to clear up, regarding history and use, and spoke to Peter S Taylor & Co. (Bishop Calway Ins. Services Ltd.) and they took the time to give me very friendly and helpful individual personal service. I have continued to use them since for my classics and been very happy to be able to talk to the same individuals each year, as opposed to a call centre.
I don't know, of course, if they can help in your case, but it may be worth a phone call. 01273 820303/329307.
I have no connection wioth this company other than being a satisfied customer.

[Derek UK]

Re: Footman James - You might find this thread enlightening. Might give you ideas for alternate insurance as well.

http://popularclassics.forumcircle.c...er=asc&start=0

[Alf ista]

Do they ask you what your odomoter mileage is reading every year? Over here they claim limited mileage but they never ask, so it dosent make any difference at the end of the day.

[Amazonjulian]

I paid £109 to Footman James for an unlimited mileage agreed value policy which includes social domestic and pleasure and covers me for occasional journeys to one place of work. They start to get sniffy when you have more than one place of work- as in travelling to meetings. Question thats always occurred to me- how would anyone know whether your journey was for business or pleasure?

[asneddon]

I've never heard of this business work cover. Why do they care? Surely 3000 miles to an office, or 3000 miles to a strip joint are the same as far as the car is concerned.

I could understand (I guess) if you dont have a work carpark, but then you would think that work cover would be cheaper, as you arent parked on the side of the road.

[woodman]

Many thanks for your input. I've never understood why using your car FOR work rather than getting TO work is an additional risk. The point is an employer won't allow you to use your car for business without your having business use cover, because it could render the employer liable, but usually it is the employee's responsibility - and cost - to get the cover.

I'll let you know what happens...

[swedishandgerman]

Just a thought. Seeing as you're using your Amazon as a normal car, how about insuring it with a normal insurance cover instead (like a normal insurance company) instead of through a classic car insurance specialist?

Last year, I rang Footman James for a quote on my modern V70 and nearly fell off my perch with their price

Ended up insuring it with Volvo Car insurance which was £109 cheaper than any other quote. Don't know why they were so cheap