This is an important risk factor that can catch many people out, especially if you change your job part way through a policy.
Another couple of incidents, someone doing a job for someone on their car, in his own car (all his work tools in the boot), while doing the job, his car keys fell out of his pocket, he carried on and finished the job without noticing that the keys where missing out of his pocket (someone didn't fail to notice though
), when he went in to wash his hands and to collect payment after putting everything (tools) in the boot, still without noticing that his keys where missing, however as he left he noticed his car had gone, tools and all
.
After notifying his insurance, he actually said that he could tell that they didn't want to pay out from the start, saying that the keys where left in the vehicle, after winning that argument, explaining what had actually happened & why he was where he was at the time (the only way to get out of the 1st situation
) and to try and explain the couple of thousand (underestimated) pounds worth of tools in the boot (not just the jack & wheel-brace & other usual tools
), this then voided the full claim
, so he actually tried to get paid out for just the car, only to be told "it doesn't work like that".
Someone that I know was stopped by the police, he was actually carrying something in the boot for work, however this looked suspicious to the police at the time, the police then contacted his insurance and they flatly refused that he was insured (covered on his policy) due to his load, this incident didn't even involve an accident or a claim and yet his insurance was voided, the same as above, he said that they (insurance) actually tried a couple of other excuses as well but then stuck on 1 (I think that they actually sent his premium back
).
Insurances can vary and most of them cover you to & from work (+ social, domestic & pleasure at dinner time, whichever one you indulge in
) you are supposed to notify them if you actually intend on using your vehicle in the course of your work (this applies to a private policy as well), it does not always cost any extra or cost much extra to do, you just need to notify them (insurance) for the extra risk factor
, and to ensure that you're fully covered
.
Don't lie to your insurance about what you actually do as a job just to get a cheaper quote as it can be a costly mistake (as you can be asked for proof)
.