Why do auto insurance companies ask whether you use car for business use?
Question:
Answer:
They ask because you are on the road more (could be most of the day depending on what you do) and put more mileage on the car, therefore, there is more chance of an accident. You would drive you car much more than someone that just drives to work. There are also different rate classes for driving to work (pleasure up to 3 miles one way, 3 miles to 10 or 15 miles one way - depends on the state & over 10 or 15 miles one way) The more you drive even based on your commute, the more you will pay for insurance. The business use class is the highest because even the over 15 miles class maybe drives 40 miles in a day to work & back are only on the road twice a day. Also, if you say you do use the vehicle for business use the agent will ask what the business use entails. Are you just running errands for the business (going to the post office to pick up mail, going to the bank with the deposit)? Or are you delivering mail or newspapers or taking people in your vehicle (there is a difference for taking co-workers to a meeting or taking people for a fee)? Do you have signs on your vehicle? The answers to the follow up questions will determine if your vehicle can stay on your personal policy or if it has to be on a business auto policy.
Expect to pay 25-35% more for business use over pleasure use if the vehicle is able to stay on your personal auto policy. Some companies may be more but that is the average in my area. I am not sure of the business auto rates but I have had someone move their vehicle from a personal policy to a business auto policy & the premium was actually less with higher liability limits.
Yes it does affect the cost of the insurance. The reason it is asked is because if you use the car for business you subject the insurance company to a higher possible cost because of clients, use of the vehicle, and if you have a sign attached to the vehicle you also become a target for those wanted a higher insurance settlement.
If you use it for business get a commericial policy they are usually just a bit more expensive than a normal policy. ( depending on use)
"Business" may mean you transport clients or have extra people in your car besides yourself which opens them up to more liability risk.
Yes, for teh reasons stated above, but also, many companies will exclude coverage for you if you are on business when an accident occurs.
Yes it does affect you auto rate, for example if you just use your car to go to work or school thats considered as normal use but lets say your a real estate agent, or do some type of delivery you are considered a higer risk of having a accident. check out globalwideinsurance. com for insurance quotes
Yes, it can affect how much you pay, and it can affect if they will write it AT ALL. If you run a jitney service, THEY WILL NOT insure you - you need public auto liability. If you deliver pizzas, most will not insure you - you need a commercial policy.
If you lie, and tell them you don't deliver pizzas, but do - or if you START to deliver pizzas, I've seen companies deny claims! Meaning, no coverage for the damage to YOUR car, and no coverage for the damage you do to someone else's - you have to pay it out of pocket.
This can be problematic because it depends what you mean by 'business use'. Most people drive their car to work - is that business use? And if you drive your car from one client to another in the course of your job is that business use?
Check out this website which has a page devoted to this topic. It might help!
Good luck.
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