Self employed Driver

B

Bull3785

New Member
Can anyone help me.

I am looking at becoming a self employed driver and was wondering if I drive for a client would I come under his Insurance or would I have to have my own it would be driving their vehicle for a day here and there.

Also any pointers by existing drivers would be appreciated.

Many Thanks
 
Bull3785 said:
Can anyone help me.

I am looking at becoming a self employed driver and was wondering if I drive for a client would I come under his Insurance or would I have to have my own it would be driving their vehicle for a day here and there.

Also any pointers by existing drivers would be appreciated.

Many Thanks
Click to expand...

Hi Bull3785

Here is a link to a company that provides a 'chauffeur only' service, whereby they drive the client's car.

Chauffeur Hire only - Tariff of Charges

As you can see they make it the responsibility of the owner of the vehicle.

How this would stack up in the event of an accident (when considering that you are being paid) is an area of concern.

Regards

JHD
 
JHD said:
As you can see they make it the responsibility of the owner of the vehicle.

How this would stack up in the event of an accident (when considering that you are being paid) is an area of concern.
Click to expand...
I cannot see any problem at all as long as the chauffer is down as a named driver or any driver is covered on the policy. I get paid to drive a works car as do millions of others.
 
rhea said:
I cannot see any problem at all as long as the chauffer is down as a named driver or any driver is covered on the policy. I get paid to drive a works car as do millions of others.
Click to expand...

I'm with Rhea on this,
I have fleet insurance, so any driver over 25
It is also worth checking if there is a points declaration clause, my policy increases the excess if the driver has more than 6points and on a personal level I never allow any of my staff to drive a company vehicle if they have ever had a drink driving conviction.

Regards

premier


Sent from my iPad using Close Protection World
 
Hi all

My concern is that driving the client's private car (as a named driver or any driver) in a different use than what it could currently be insured for, is a potential problem.

Regards

JHD
 
Last edited:
JHD,

Why do you think the client's car would not be covered ?
If it is being used by the client currently, it is I take it?
I'd be guessing but, I'd trust it has insurance cover..
If in doubt ask but cautiously!
you don't want to insinuate anything that may offend

Regards

premier


Sent from my iPad using Close Protection World
 
premier said:
JHD,

Why do you think the client's car would not be covered ?
If it is being used by the client currently, it is I take it?
I'd be guessing but, I'd trust it has insurance cover..
If in doubt ask but cautiously!
you don't want to insinuate anything that may offend

Regards

premier


Sent from my iPad using Close Protection World
Click to expand...

Hi Premier

There have been cases before where cars were driven on policies that were social, domestic and pleasure; and yet this was not the purpose of the journey and the insurance companies refused to pay out.

One case I know about involved a guy who drove 2 clients to view a property (he was an estate agent in his own car) and he crashed injuring the passengers. His insurance didn't pay out, he lost his job and was sued by the 2 clients.

I know that this was his own car but the principle remains the same if the policy is not 'fit for purpose'.

All the best,

JHD
 
Last edited:
JHD said:
Hi Premier

There have been cases before where cars were driven on policies that were social, domestic and pleasure; and yet this was not the purpose of the journey and the insurance companies refused to pay out.

One case I know about involved a guy who drove 2 clients to view a property (he was an estate agent in his own car) and he crashed injuring the passengers. His insurance didn't pay out, he lost his job and was sued by the 2 clients.

I know that this was his own car but the principle remains the same if the policy is not 'fit for purpose'.

All the best,

JHD
Click to expand...

JHD,

Social domestic and pleasure cover doesn't even cover you to drive to and from work,
so is nothing like a commercial policy that any of my clients would hold nor is it like the one I hold!
I know what you mean but, my advice would remain the same if ever unsure, ask, but it must be done with extreme care and tact!!

Regards

premier



Sent from my iPhone using Close Protection World
 
Im more confused then I started Lol,

For example, The Client would have his own car and own insurance just does not like to drive long distance (Europe) so wants to hire a driver to drive his car for him for the long journey with him as passenger.
 
Bull3785 said:
Im more confused then I started Lol,

For example, The Client would have his own car and own insurance just does not like to drive long distance (Europe) so wants to hire a driver to drive his car for him for the long journey with him as passenger.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry if I confused matters :)

If the 'client' was your friend and you were driving him as a favour then it is of course no issues (you just need to be a named driver). However, money is being paid for your services and my concern was whether this could cause a problem in the event of an accident.

I've looked on the terms of business for a number of 'chauffeur only' providers and they get around this by ensuring that the clients indemnify them in the event of an accident.

Here is a link to the British Chauffeurs Guild (thought they would be a good bet) - please look at Insurance Cover and Indemnity.

http://www.britishchauffeursguild.co.uk/downloads/Services/Tariffs-Terms.pdf

At the end of the day there must be hundreds of people who do this and I guess they would not mention about being paid as a chauffeur in the event of an accident.

What I would do is to speak to your own insurance company and pretend that someone was going to drive your car as a paid driver and gauge what they say.

Regards

JHD
 
JHD

You certainly are muddying the water here and there really is no need.

My boss in order to generate business takes clients out for dinner. He pays me to drive him there and back so he can have a drink.
I will use his car which is insured for business use. I sometimes use his wifes car that is SDP use.
It doesn't matter a flying f##k. I am insured to drive both and if he wants to pay me it matters not a iota more.

How on earth does every driver in the country get on with driving a business vehicle.

If the guy is a named driver and the insurance company are OK with it why on earth are trying to find a problem no one has come across????

If it was a Tesco delivery driver driving a Tesco van would you still have the same issues??
 
rhea said:
JHD


If it was a Tesco delivery driver driving a Tesco van would you still have the same issues??
Click to expand...


Hi Rea

I would not have a problem if a Tesco delivery driver was driving a Tesco van; but there would be a problem if he was making a delivery in a car that was insured on SDP.

I'm not sure whether I explained myself right, for which I apologize.

I won't put up another post regarding this thread, unless I find info that backs-up my concerns.

Kind regards

JHD
 
Bull3785 said:
Im more confused then I started Lol,

For example, The Client would have his own car and own insurance just does not like to drive long distance (Europe) so wants to hire a driver to drive his car for him for the long journey with him as passenger.
Click to expand...

Hi Bull3785

Here is the answer to your question:-

Dear Julian


Further to your mail, as long as Class 2 Business use is added to the existing SDP policy then a Chauffeur or driver would be permitted to drive a vehicle not owned by him or her and the stated driver would be permitted to receive financial reward for doing so.


When a Chauffeur provides the car, then Private hire insurance & public liability insurance is required and the vehicle & driver will also be required to be licensed under the PHV (Private Hire Vehicle) licensing regulations that are currently in place.


Regards


David Jones



British Chauffeurs Guild


Tel: 020 8641 1740

Fax: 020 8644 1945


E-mail: bcg.london@btconnect.com


Web: www.britishchauffeursguild.co.uk
 
Back
Top