Mileage and travel for work

[ThatBluntLimeStork]

Just Realised I don't have business insurance and wanted to make a claim for work mileage. Can't do it because I need business insurance. I sometimes travel to one office so use commuting insurance. Sometimes to another office within a couple of miles and insurance stated it was ok.

However I've been travelling miles for work this week and now I think I'll be trouble for work.

I'm not Required to have a car for work, don't get an allowance and have agile contract.

Will I be in trouble?

I accept I've just wasted a tank of petrol with my travel.

I've occasionally claimed mileage before and have never had business insurance, I ddin't know you were supposed to? WHo would know anyway?

Do your company ask to see the business insurance? Mine do and won’t let staff drive for work without it. If yours doesn’t check then just submit the claim and get the insurance before you next drive for work.

I went to complete the online expense form and found out I wasn't authorized. So asked HR and then they said I need business insurance, it's within the mileage policy

They don't for my position as I'm non essential car use staff. But they would if they pay extra every month in the form of a car payment

Your HR team should have policies. I think hmrc say need business insurance

Rub another brain cell against it.

What happens if you are driving for work and have an accident that you aren’t insured for…….

You may have issues then, you do need business insurance so that your insurance is valid, but sounds like your work also check this and it’s in the policy.

So next time they ask you say no. Or they need to hire a car with the appropriate insurance as you don't have businesses cover on your motor insurance.

I'm surprised that your boss expected you to use your own car to travel for work.

Were you just going between bases or actually carring out a business function. Check you insurance because some cover between offices without it being a business risk.

I don't because I checked with my own insurance....

My work don't check because I don't get a monthly allowance as I'm not essential. I'm an agile worker and occasional travel to sites maybe necessary.

However my role has changed (just because they want my help) and I've done heaps of traveling and will do for the future. So I paid for the business insurance as I will need that according to my own insurance policy and also to claim mileage. I don't have a car allowance

I was visiting houses for a meeting. I work in housing.

So I probably should have got business insurance in the first instance as it's not much more expensive.

Hmrc m7st have started c4acking down on this or something because I've been told to get it too. It was about £3 extra when I amended my policy though

I don't think the rules have ever changed.

Would they pay your bus or train fare to get there?

Nope..

Prob expected to meet driving colleagues at main office and get a lift.

Yes. Going to houses is the business activity. Just get it sorted from now and don't claim the previous. Chalk it to experience. Nothing bad happened so there is no need to worry about what could have.

Hr know. My manager knows.

Well presumably your manager set your activities so why didn't they ensure you were insured correctly as it was a new role. Can't just say you should have known. I think no reimbursement is as far as they will want it to go.

Makes sure your insurance idemdifiesyour employer too and you can carry colleagues, if you might need to. They will want that and possibly a valid MOT and your license details. That's what we ask for.

It's not a new role, I'm just doing more duties, getting more involved.

I know I can't claim for petrol but worried about being in trouble.

My contract has always been agile, so I don't know who is really responsible.

Yes I've been asked for a lot of information from hr, which is ok. Mot, insurance, licence, form to say car belongs to me etc. very intense

My issue is that I'm travelling but I'm not getting a car allowance, so I think I will consider this in the future.

I'm refusing to drive with colleagues. Too much of a risk

In my experience, if this is playing on your mind it's best to have a direct conversation with your manager. Then at least you will know if there are going to be any consequences. If not, you can move on. If so, then you can plan how to deal with it. Overthinking about these things is often worse than any consequences. In our organisation that employs thousands in the Public Sector you would not be in trouble. Just a quick meeting to clarify everything was in order from now on.

Unfortunately she's on annual leave and I've raised it with her manager who didn't get back to me.

See that's what I don't understand. If I have an agile contract than who's concern is it for me to attend meetings at other sites? I don't have a car allowance, so perhaps it's down to me to make sure my insurance is ok, but what happens if I have an accident, on work time doing work stuff, isn't that then their responsibility and they should have checked my insurance to make sure it's business as they do with the essential car users. My insurance was ok until recently, but it's grey what insurance means by occasional and recent travel wouldn't suggest that.

If I'm office based 100% of the time I would understand they don't have a duty.

Just curious. Obviously I know I fucked up.