Using husband’s company car

[Popsicle30]

My husband is a Director of a limited company. For the first time he is considering getting a car through the business.

Currently we have our own personal car that we both use. We went down to one car during covid due to more wfh. We currently share the car for work and personal use. We both need to have business use on the car as we don’t just use it for commuting.

My husband suggested we sell our personal car and both use the one he’ll have through his company. From what I’ve seen this shouldn’t be an issue for me using it for personal use (as long as I’m a named driver on the insurance) but I’m concerned as I don’t think I’d be able to use it when I need it to use for my work purposes.

My thoughts are that I’d require business use on the insurance to ensure I’m covered. However, I wouldn’t be using it for their business but for my work which is a completely separate company. Am I right here or over thinking this?

Want to understand whether or not to get rid of our current car.

I'm not certain but I think as named driver on the same company policy you'd likely automatically be covered for business use, even though your business isn't that of the company. When I used to have company cars my DH would make occasional business trips and I'm sure he was covered.

Haven't had a company car in years though as the tax implications mean it's cheaper for me to privately pay for a vehicle using car allowance otherwise I'd check my policy for you.

If you are a named driver you can get business cover for both of you, I need business cover on my car but I am only the names driver, my dh just put business insurance on and we are both covered.

I am insured on my DH company car (our only car) - will be using it for commute a couple of days from January when I start new job. Just going to leave it, I don’t see how they know

On our fleet policy anyone over 21 is insured to drive, as long as they have permission. If you can afford to keep your own car though, do.

"They know" when you are involved in an accident! They'll almost certainly want to know reason for the journey and why you were where you were at that time. Of course you could lie, but there may be evidence to the contrary!

Thank you for the replies so far. It won’t just be for commuting that I’d need to use it but would be to go to external meetings sometimes too.

I am still more wfh so this would be occasional. I can also hire cars through work if needed.

I would ask them OP.

Currently in my husband's job, an employee has been using his personal car for business without telling the insurer, he ran a colleague over. It will now be a massive issue.

It is better to ask.

My company's policy is personal use only for additional drivers - my DH can drive but not for commuting/business.

There was also a traffic cop programme the other day where they pulled someone for speeding but then found not to be insured as it was a company vehicle being used for other business.

Talk to your insurance company. It needs to be covered for your business use. It may not cost any more but you absolutely do need the cover.
The issue with using 'his' company car is one for HMRC rather than insurance, I'd have thought. One to run past his accountant and your company expenses policy

I certainly wouldn’t use it if I’m not covered for business use as I understand the implications if I had an accident. I think my ask is whether they actually can put me down for business use on the company cars insurance when I wouldn’t be using it for business use for their company.

@Tickledtrout yes I’ve asked him to check with accountant and good shout on me asking my company in relation to our expenses policy. Thanks all!

I've got a company car so can use it for business/personal. My OH is named as a driver on the car, but cannot use it for any business travel, as not an employee of the company I work for. The business use on the car is only for me.

As it's his business you probably could if the insurance policy is written that way... But there's likely to be tax implications