Is it cheaper to insure a car for work or pleasure?

Asked by: Glenda Kemmer  |  Last update: February 26, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (19 votes)

Pleasure use car insurance is slightly less expensive than commuter coverage, at an average of $1,427 per year for auto insurance versus a commuter vehicle's $1,438. This difference is fairly insignificant until you assess specific car insurance providers.

Is car insurance cheaper if you use it for work or pleasure?

There's no difference between pleasure and commute car insurance plan coverage, though car insurance premiums are generally higher for commuters.

What is the difference between commute and pleasure for insurance?

How you use your car will impact the type of insurance you need and therefore the premium rates you pay. A commuter vehicle is one that you use to commute on a daily basis, while a pleasure vehicle is one that you do not drive every day but, rather, only from time to time.

What does pleasure mean in insurance?

What does pleasure mean on car insurance applications? Pleasure use car insurance applies to drivers who use their car solely for personal or leisure activities. Here, you do not use your vehicle to drive to/from work and is more of a weekend vehicle.

Does using your car for business increase insurance?

Even if not specifically excluded, how you use your vehicle may not be an acceptable risk to the insurance company under a personal auto policy. The insurance company may charge additional premium for certain “business use” or refuse to insure or cancel policies when the use presents too much risk.

3 Reasons You Need to Purchase Business Auto Insurance

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Is pleasure cheaper than commute?

Average Cost of Car Insurance for Pleasure vs Commute

Commuter insurance usually costs about $11 more a year than pleasure driving coverage. The average annual cost of commuter insurance is $1432 to $1445. If you are using your car for commuting, you can pay anything between $995 and $1978 per year.

Can I use my car for work purposes?

If you use your own car or van for business travel, there is the statutory system of tax-free approved mileage allowances available. The maximum amount per business mile is known as the approved mileage allowance payment (AMAP). Your employer can pay or reimburse you up to these amounts on a tax- and NIC-free basis.

Does commuting to work affect car insurance?

You may have to pay more to continue commuting

The cost of premiums and the additional cost of commuting cover will depend on your insurer. But typically either increasing your mileage or adding commuting cover will push up prices.

Does it cost more to add commuting to car insurance?

The more you drive, the more you'll cost to insure. Using your vehicle to commute two hours to work and back will generally cost you more than using the car just to drive to the store, for example.

Does commuting increase car insurance?

Among the questions it asks might be the number of miles you drive the insured automobile per year. If you use your vehicle to commute three hours to work every day, you will generally pay more in insurance premiums than someone who only drives one mile a day.

Why is business car insurance more expensive?

Business car insurance premiums generally cost more because of the greater risks and higher liability limits the policies are designed to cover. Business users also tend to drive more miles than the average motorist, and at busier times on the road.

What does commuting mean for car insurance?

Commuting. Commuting is the next class up, and covers everything included in Social, Domestic and Pleasure, plus driving to and from one place of work in a day. Driving your car to the train station and leaving it there while you go to work counts as commuting for some insurers.

What is Auto pleasure?

producing sexual excitement or pleasure without association with another person or external stimulation.

How many pleasure miles do you drive per year?

Insurance companies vary in what annual milage counts as pleasure driving, but it is well under 10,000 miles per year.

What does primary use of vehicle mean?

A car insurance company asks the primary use of a motor vehicle as part of the application since, typically, how you use your vehicle is one of the main rating factors of your policy. You would choose pleasure as the primary use of your vehicle if your driving doesn't include driving to and from work.

What is the difference between personal and commercial insurance?

A personal auto policy usually covers one person driving their own car, but a commercial policy covers an entire business. That could include multiple drivers, multiple vehicles, trucks, and employees with poor driving records.

How much more is commuting insurance?

According to The Ascent's data on the national average cost of car insurance, motorists who use their vehicles for commuting pay $2,662 per year in insurance premiums. By contrast, drivers who use their vehicles for personal use rather than for commuting pay an average of $2,629.

Is commuting the same as business use?

Business use does not include cover for Commercial Travelling, Deliveries or any form of Courier use. We cannot provide any form of business use for additional drivers but we may be able to extend cover to include commuting to a single place of work or study.

Do you need business insurance to commute to work?

You don't need to add Business Use to your insurance if you just use your car to commute to and from one place of work every day. Your commute will usually be covered by a standard Social, Domestic and Pleasure policy, but you should check your certificate and schedule if you are unsure.

Does occupation matter on car insurance?

Yes, your job title does affect your car insurance premium. As car insurance is based on risk, some professions are considered higher risk than others, so insurance companies have to charge varying premiums accordingly.

Can you lie about your occupation on car insurance?

No, you shouldn't lie when you describe your job to your insurer. Putting down the wrong job could mean you get cheaper insurance quotes, but it's pointless because your insurance would be invalid.

What is the difference between social domestic and pleasure and commuting?

Social, Domestic, Pleasure and Commuting (SDP+C) insurance

SDP+C is the same as an SDP except you also use your car to commute to a permanent work place. We say permanent, because if you drive to various locations as part of your job you may need to take out a higher level of cover.

What if I use my own car for business purposes?

If you use your car only for business purposes, you may deduct its entire cost of ownership and operation (subject to limits discussed later). However, if you use the car for both business and personal purposes, you may deduct only the cost of its business use.

How much per mile can I claim for using my own car?

Car Loans, Repairs, Etc.

The 40p per mile is deemed to cover all the costs of running the car, and any additional payments from the employer will be taxable.

What counts as business use for car?

Business vehicles are cars, SUVs and pickup trucks that are used for business activities. What does not qualify: Vehicles used as equipment, such as dump trucks. Vehicles used for hire, such as taxi cabs or airport transport vans.