Insurance for Delivery Drivers, are your staff covered?

By : Business Start Up
Published 24th November 2013 |
Read latest comment - 25th November 2013

Hi,

Whilst I have had my first order through for a website, it hasn't been enough to retire on. Therefore, I have still had to continue with my regular job of delivering Pizza's. That was until my insurance was due for renewal.

I was told that my insurance company did not need to know that I delivered pizzas as an occupation so it stayed as 'full time dad'. However, during the cause of the year, there were a few things that cropped up that got me thinking - um, I'm sure (i know) that's not right. So when my policy expired, I decided to ask my insurance company that I was thinking of taking a job as a deliver driver, how would it affect (effect?) my insurance? I got the simple reply of 'sorry, we wouldn't insure you'.

Because of the amount of time it took to sort out (four weeks), I will just briefly describe the issues and it was finally resolved. I realise that this could go on for a while but please bear with me. It's important and it got resolved really easily

The issue:
My insurance company DOES need to know about my occupation (No surprise there)
My wife needed business use as a named driver
During my hours of work I was covered by the works insurance but as a third party policy only. This caused problems with insurance companies because they classed it as dual insurance.
I get paid per delivery. Insurance companies got the impression I was driving around like Lewis Hamilton to earn more money.


What the experts said.
CAB said - I should be given a copy of the company insurance policy so that I am aware of the t&c's of the policy.
I should ask for a refund for the 'contribution ' I had been making as the policy was effectively void should I be involved in an accident.
The Police told me that had I been pulled over I would have got a

The Happy Camper
Comments
Interesting post.

I used to be a big Dominoes fan (before my fitness crusade ) but always wondered how it worked. The cars were obviously privately owned, but with a big stick on Dominoes sign on the roof.

So if they were in an accident, it's pretty obvious who they were working for, and what the car was being used for. So as you say, a serious chance of being declared uninsured. Plus some of the cars seemed pretty ropey to say the least!

I wonder if it's down to simple costs, as most pizza places are a franchise model, and they can't afford their own delivery vehicles. But then proper logo'd delivery vehicles would give a better image, be better for the workforce etc.

But I guess it all comes down to costs and overheads.

Sounds like a legal nightmare though, and I doubt few people would be a diligent as yourself, pleading ignorance or chancing to fate!

Steve Richardson
Gaffer of My Local Services
My Local Services | Me on LinkedIn

This Thread is now closed for comments