Business car insurance is an extension of your personal vehicle’s policy that also covers you when using the car for business purposes. If you use one car for both personal and business use, it’s something you’ll need to ensure you’re adequately protected for when driving.
Insurers don’t always offer business car insurance as an option. As such, when taking out a policy, it’s essential you answer the insurer’s questions as honestly as possible about how you intend to use your car.
Generally, you’ll be able to add business vehicle insurance to the following policies.
All vehicles that drive on Australian roads are required to take out Compulsory Third Party/Green Slip insurance as a minimum. This provides cover for your legal liability if you kill or injure someone while driving but doesn’t cover damage caused to cars in an accident.
It’s important to check if you’ll be able to add business car insurance as an extra to the policy you decide on with your insurer, as cover can vary between insurers.
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You may be wondering what car insurance providers consider as business use, particularly if you use your personal car as transport to and from work. If you sometimes use your own car to duck out and get the office milk, lunch or supplies, for example, you’re unlikely to require business car insurance.
However, if your job requires you to run errands and use your car on a daily basis to achieve these tasks, you’ll probably need to take out business vehicle insurance. Essentially, if you’re using your personal car regularly to complete daily work or business tasks, you’ll need to take out business vehicle insurance. You may consider this type of cover if:
Keep in mind that you don’t need to generate income by using your car for it to be considered a business vehicle. The car can be registered in either your name or the name of your business when taking out business car insurance.
The level of personal car insurance you take out will also determine what your business car insurance will cover. For example, if you opt for a Third Party Property policy for personal use, this is the same level of business car insurance you’d receive. The table below gives you a better understanding of what’s included in each available policy.
Level of cover | Damage to your vehicle | Damage to other vehicles and property | Damage or loss caused by theft | Injuries or death to other people in an accident |
Third Party Property | No | Yes | No | Included with CTP insurance |
Third Party Fire and Theft | No | Yes | Yes | Included with CTP insurance |
Comprehensive | Yes | Yes | Yes | Included with CTP insurance |
Business car insurance is an extension of your existing policy, so you’ll likely be subject to the same exclusions as the level of cover you take out. You can find these exclusions in your Policy Disclosure Statement (PDS). It’s vital to be aware of them, so you know exactly how you’re covered in the event of an accident. Typical exclusions include:
Yes, business car insurance will cost more than a typical personal policy. While this cost varies between providers, it’s usually more expensive because the vehicle is being used more, and you may be driving in unfamiliar areas. Insurers may see this as an increased risk and, therefore, increase the price.
Of course, the amount you pay will vary based on your circumstances.
You’ll need to find an insurer that offers business car insurance as an extra to comprehensive, Third Party Property or Third Party Fire and Theft policies. When you complete a quote using our car insurance service, for example, we’ll ask for some details about your vehicle, the level of cover you’re looking for and how you intend to use your car.
Being honest ensures you receive the right cover for your circumstances and helps the provider determine if business car insurance is even an option for you. You may be required to answer questions about the car’s use, including:
If you already have a policy and you want to add business car insurance down the track, it’s best to contact your insurer directly to assess your options. If business vehicle insurance is something they offer, you’ll usually be able to add this to your existing policy at a later date.
While the two are similar, business car insurance isn’t the same as commercial car insurance. While both provide cover when a vehicle is used for work purposes, commercial car insurance protects business vehicles that are used mainly in the workplace and rarely for personal use.
Commercial car insurance is sometimes offered as a stand-alone product, and insures numerous vehicles under one policy. In addition to regular cars, this type of cover is generally used for other vehicles, including forklifts, trucks, vans, utes and trailers.
You’d typically consider commercial car insurance when:
Business car insurance can cover other employees, providing they’re listed as an additional driver on your policy. Just as you would with your standard car insurance policy, you’ll need to list anyone who you expect to drive your car regularly.
Failing to list regular drivers could mean you run into problems when claiming for an accident they’ve caused. Adding additional drivers usually increases premiums, which are calculated based on their age, gender, claims history and how long they’ve had their licence.
If you’re ready to compare car insurance and possibly find a policy that offers great value business car insurance, we can help you out. Our comparison service is easy to use, free and allows you to compare available policies in one convenient location.
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