Do I Need Business Car Insurance as a Carer?

Yes, if you’re using your own vehicle to visit clients, transport patients, or run errands as part of your job as a carer, you need business car insurance. A standard car insurance policy won’t cover work-related journeys, and you won’t be protected if you’re in an accident or anything goes wrong.

If driving is a regular part of your daily routine as a carer, it’s essential you have the right car insurance cover in place. Let’s take a closer look at what you need to know about your car insurance cover. 

If you're using your own vehicle for work (beyond commuting), it's vital that you have the right insurance cover. If you're a carer who travels between home visits, then standard car insurance simply isn't enough. To ensure you're fully protected, you must have business car insurance in place, as the wrong policy could void your cover entirely if you're involved in an accident while driving for work.

For example:

If you're a carer, driving your personal car between 10 different clients a day in various locations, this counts as business use. So, you will need to inform your insurance company and add business use to your existing policy, where possible. If not, you will need to take out a new policy that covers using your vehicle for work purposes. 

However, if you're a carer and you only commute to one fixed place of work, such as a care home, then a standard car insurance policy may be enough, as long as you're not leaving your place of work to visit other patients. Reach out to your insurance provider for clarification if you're unsure.

Insurers classify car usage into different categories, which affects the type of cover you need. While standard car insurance policies, such as comprehensive cover, typically include social, domestic, and pleasure use, such as visiting friends, shopping, and commuting, which is limited to one single and regular place of work, business car insurance is a little different.

It's required if you travel between different work locations or client homes. It offers added protection to ensure you're legally covered for business-related driving and fully protected if you're involved in an accident.

What type of business car insurance do I need?

There are different levels of business car insurance, so it's essential to understand what each class does and does not cover.

• Class 1: Ideal if you're a self-employed carer. Covers social, domestic, and pleasure use, plus travel between multiple locations as part of your work requirements. The named driver and spouse are covered. However, it generally doesn't cover carrying passengers for work purposes, particularly if there's payment or a formal arrangement in place. Some insurers may cover occasional, non-commercial patient transport under business use, but it's likely you'll need a different type of insurance if this is a standard part of your job.
• Class 2: Offers the same cover as Class 1. However, it adds another named driver who uses the car for work but must work in the same business as the primary policyholder. This is usually ideal for colleagues who share a work vehicle.
• Class 3: Business use that includes long-distance travel without a fixed route. Often used by sales reps and not used by carers unless travelling extensively across regions.

What type of car insurance do I need if I transport patients?

If you regularly transport clients to and from appointments or to the shops as part of your responsibilities and are paid specifically for this, you'll need to inform your insurer as soon as possible. To ensure you have the right cover and are fully protected, you must take out a commercial hire policy, similar to those required for taxis. This will only be necessary if you transport patients as a formal part of your job. If you're unsure, contact your insurance provider for peace of mind.
 

In the care industry, many employers provide vehicles and handle the insurance requirements on behalf of their staff. If your employer does this, always check what's included in the policy, especially if your role involves driving between multiple locations.

If you're using your own car, then it is your personal responsibility to take out the right insurance cover. Remember, to stay protected, legal, and safe, you need a policy that includes business use. Even if your employer reimburses your mileage or offers a fuel allowance, this doesn't count as a carer's insurance policy.