As an employer, if my employees use their personal vehicles

by lmontoya » Wed Oct 15, 2008 09:49 pm

As an employer, if my employees use their personal vehicles for company business or rent a car for company business, do I need a copy of their driver's license & proff of insurance on file? -

Total Comments: 26

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:17 pm Post Subject:

Not sure but I know when I was using my vehicle for the green house I worked for they had to have a copy of my drivers licence. If it is for company use and they wreck their own vehicle they would want to have it covered. I know I would.

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:10 am Post Subject:

If your employees use their personal cars for your business, you need to reflect that on your commercial policy.

Um...you do have a commercial policy don't you?

Anytime an employee is doing something for your business, they are a representitve of your business. Which means, ultimately, it can come back to you (lawsuit), if something happens.

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:24 am Post Subject:

You can keep a copy of their DL and insurance card but this is not going to make any difference. The _real_ question is if their insurance is going to provide them liability insurance if they are using their vehicle for work. Most policies will cover this (as long as it's not being used for livery) but some policies exclude coverage anytime you are earning money by using your vehicle. If the employees policy will not address the loss, then the employer could be held liable.

As LifeIsGood pointed out, the employer needs to protect his own interest. It comes down to that. You don't need to look out for the employee... you need to obtain a policy to protect _you_.

In this case you want a Business Auto Policy with at least Non-Owned coverage (as long as no vehicle is titled to the company).

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 06:24 am Post Subject:

I'll go with LIG, if your employees are using their private vehicles for business purposes, you're required to mention it in your company auto policy, since their private auto insurance may not cover the vehicle after accidents if it was used for business purpose at the time of accident.

~Jeremy

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 06:35 am Post Subject:

Except there is really no requirement to tell the insurance company... it's the insurance company that should know this. I've not seen one but I'm willing to bet that there are several questions about the companies use of vehicles that the insurance company asks. Also keep in mind that the commercial policy is written differently then a personal policy. The defintion of "insured" is much more broad. So it's really designed to address these types of situations as they happen all the time.

But the impression I get from the OPs post is that it's a mall business and he/she does not have a commercial auto policy at all. If he/she does, then the insurance company needs the names and drivers licenses numbers of all employee.

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:38 am Post Subject:

Regardless of the fact if the employee has auto liability insurance or not, the employer should have, as tcope stated, non-owned auto (and hired auto if warranted) insurance as if the limits of the employee's insurance are exhausted or not even present then the coverage will provide protection to the company. It would also be advisable to have Employees as Insureds endorsed to the policy as well.

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 01:33 am Post Subject:

It would also be advisable to have Employees as Insureds endorsed to the policy as well.

It would be a commercial policy and as such, each employee would automatically be considered an insured under the policy.

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 07:04 am Post Subject: insurance

OK...I thank this is a good thread to talk about. I work with the Elderly. I DO work for a 'single' company, however, I drive to different home, to go to work. I have 'regular' insurance on my car. Do I need to have ANTHING else 'added' to my policy, for using my car to do the traveling? I hope this question makes sense.

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 07:08 am Post Subject:

That question is best discussed with your agent. We don't know the wording of your policy nor exactly what is taking place.

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 03:13 am Post Subject:

I actually quit using my vehicle for work purposes before they let me go due to my injuries. When new management took over they thought it was my responsibility to use my own vehicle to go to the other sites to check on plants. They quit reimbursing for travel time and gas so I said fine give me a company vehicle (there were a few) and that way I am still on company time and not using my gas...they started getting the lazy boss off his butt and out to do the job. It was fine by me.

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