19 September 2008
Drivers who give their colleagues a lift to work should check the terms and conditions of their car insurance policies to make sure they are fully covered for all eventualities. This is the advice of AA Insurance, which has released research showing that the cost of petrol has prompted 47% of the population to consider car sharing. However, it also reveals that 73% of those who do car share did not think about checking their insurance beforehand. AA Insurance points out that while they may be covered for social journeys, motorists may require separate cover for business travel. Spokesperson Ian Crowder said: "We found that 14% of people car share to get to business meetings. If this is the case, you may not be covered on your current policy and need to upgrade to 'occasional business use'." Rules set out by the Association of British Insurers state that car insurance policies may be invalidated if car sharers make a profit from taking colleagues to work.