To use my personal car

[rainbowscalling]

So my car insurance is social and domestic. I don't usually use my car to commute as I work in london and get the train.

I have a trip coming up next week that I would rather drive for than get the train. It's about 140miles and would be quicker by car and save me going into london to go back out again.

DP seems to be adamant that I cannot do this trip as I am not insured to do so. I feel like it being a single, one off trip, that I am ok under my current insurance. AIBU?

Just ring your insurance company and have business added. You'll pay for a mid term adjustment, but the business cover is usually free or peanuts (unless you're 21).

If the trip has anything to do with your work, your husband is correct.

If it isn’t your normal place of work, you would need to add business use.

YABU, obviously. You can't do a business trip if your insurance doesn't cover you for that. It'd be like me arguing that I am OK to drive on just one more trip even though my insurance has run out and I've not replaced it.

You are not insured to do that.
You need to add commuting if it is to your normal place of work, or business use if you are going somewhere you dont normally visit.

You would be driving uninsured. So your DH is right. Either get the train or add the insurance and then drive.

Most companies that I have worked for ask for proof of business insurance before they will pay mileage expenses. I added it onto mine midway through the year and only had to pay an admin fee to do it.

You wouldn't be insured. It's like me saying well I'm insured in the UK but since it's only a one time thing I'm just going to drive in France, my insurance will cover that as it's only a one off. Nope, not how it works. Just get the train.

Call and add it. It’s cheap.

If you’re not claiming the mileage back then technically you aren’t insured for the journey without commuting added on. If you’re wanting to claim mileage back then you’re definitely not insured as you need business insurance.

Call the company or the broker and explain that it is a one off. They might ask where car will be kept if overnight.

Get your car insured or get work to pay for a hire car instead of train fare

Thank you all! I just wanted to double check. Obviously I don't want to drive uninsured but I wasn't sure if business cover was needed for a single journey, if you Google it there is actually some mixed advice. You have all been very consistent so extremely helpful.

I will call the insurance today and if it works out costly will just get the train.

Thank you again

It shouldn’t be too costly - the first year I added it, it cost £11.

I once found it cheaper with it on you might be surprised op. It’s not usually expensive I’d definitely have it on for convenience.

I checked this with my insurance company, as I very occasionally (maybe once or twice a year) need to do business miles and they were absolutely clear I need to be properly insured even for a one off.

I also know, from a mess a colleague got into, that if you have an accident they do ask and check what the journey was for.