Is commuting covered by my car insurance during lockdown if I need to drive to work?

The ABI has extended the current pledge that if you have to drive to and from your workplace because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, your insurance policy will not be affected. 

ABI general insurance manager Laura Hughes said: “Despite a year like no other, it is good to see that during 2020 motorists continued to get the best deals in a competitive motor insurance market. 

“In addition, the extra support that insurers continue to give to motorists during this uncertain and unsettling time is helping drivers adapt to this ‘new normal’.”

This extension to cover is one of the ways car insurers are supporting drivers during Covid.

Yes you do. It is still a legal requirement to drive on a UK road with at least third-party car insurance cover.

Even if it’s just parked up, your car needs either needs to be insured or SORNed to make sure you’re not hit with a fine.

Read our guide to the different types of car insurance and compare car insurance quotes.

There are concerns that the coronavirus pandemic might lead to a rise in the number of uninsured drivers.

MIB chief operating officer Anna Fleming said: “The sad reality is with Covid-19 putting so many people under financial strain, uninsured driving levels could creep up.”

Current figures show:

The number of claims for compensation from victims of uninsured drivers has fallen 26% since 2016.

However, with so many people suffering financial hardship due to the disruption of Covid-19, there are growing concerns that this could result in more people breaking the law and driving without insurance.

To check if a vehicle is showing as insured on MID (Motor Insurance Database), drivers can look for free at www.askmid.com.

Car insurance policies will include different levels of cover depending on what you use your car for.

Following the first Coronavirus lockdown members of the Association of British Insurers agreed to cover journeys to work, so long as it was only a journey to and from work.

Find out whether your car is insured

The extension is aimed at helping those in essential jobs avoid having to use public transport.

The extension applies to insurance companies that are members of the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Most UK insurance companies are members of the ABI so you may want to check the ABI website.  

The extension also doesn’t apply to all types of car insurance.

While many insurers will also automatically cover your car if you commute to and from work – you will need to take out business car insurance if you need to use your car to do your job.  

You will need to have extra car insurance if, for example:  

So, if you are a care worker who needs to drive to see clients, a cleaner who visits different houses or a doctor on home visits then you will not be covered by normal car insurance.

It depends what cover you have. These are the different types of car insurance cover:

Social, domestic and pleasure

This covers a named driver for normal day-to-day use including visiting friends and family, shopping or trips out. 

Social and commuting: 

The same as the social, domestic and pleasure but also for driving to and from work:

Commuting includes:

This includes social and commuting cover, but also if you use your car for work. It is not the same as commercial use, which you need if you were to use your car for extended periods, for example if you are a long-distance driver or taxi/cab/car share driver. 

Business car insurance is not the same as commercial car insurance.

There are three different levels, or classes, of business car insurance:

ABI member organisations have also pledged to extend car insurance cover for key workers who are using their cars for business and any volunteers using vehicles.

If you use your car on a voluntary basis, such as to deliver medicines or food and supplies to people impacted by Covid-19, then your cover will not be affected. 

The ABI has also extended this to NHS volunteers who are helping transport patients and medical supplies as well as those involved in the roll-out of the vaccine. 

If your insurer is a member of the ABI, you do not need to speak to your insurance company. You will need to speak to your insurer if you have to use your car for more than just travelling to and from work.

“In addition, the extra support that insurers continue to give to motorists during this uncertain and unsettling time is helping drivers adapt to this ‘new normal’” - ABI

Some insurers have been offering refunds to reflect fewer miles being driven during the lockdowns, as well helping customers who are concerned at being able to keep paying their premiums by instalments due to the pandemic.

However, not every insurance provider is offering a goodwill gesture, so if you haven’t heard from them, you should check your provider’s website or contact them directly to see if you could receive a discount or money back.

If the number of miles you drive has changed significantly, you should speak to your insurer and inform them so they can update your policy to reflect this. 

You could receive a partial refund on an annual policy or see your monthly payments drop as a result.

It’s not quite clear yet what the long-term impact of the coronavirus outbreak will be.

The ABI’s latest Motor Insurance Premium Tracker, published in January 2021, found that the average price paid for comprehensive motor insurance in 2020 was £465, a drop of 1% over the year and the lowest level since 2016. 

While you are a student you may still be covered but if you start to use your car for commuting because you have finished your studies and are now in employment you will need to check with your insurer whether you need commuting cover, or - if you are using your car for your job - business car insurance.

If you still owe money on car finance, you have until 31 March 2021 to request a payment holiday.

The payment freeze lasts a maximum of six months. If you’re still having payment difficulties, you will need to ask your lender for tailored support.

If you are struggling to pay your insurance and your financial situation has been impacted by coronavirus then contact your insurer. You will need car insurance if you want to drive your car.

If your insurer decides your current policy no longer meets your needs due to coronavirus, they might suggest an alternative policy that is more suitable.

Any charges and fees you would normally have to pay for switching or to make changes to your policy should be waived.

Some examples of how your needs might have changed include:

You might also no longer have need of some extras attached to your policy such as:

We explain car insurance add-ons and extras 

Getting a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) means you won’t need car insurance or tax, but you must not drive or park your car on a public road.

Find out how to SORN a car here