The festive season is in full swing and many motorists are expected to take on some part-time driving jobs as a side hustle to help earn some much-needed extra cash for Christmas.
While there is nothing really stopping people from picking up a few odd jobs over the next few weeks, insurance experts from Quotezone are warning drivers that they could be at risk with their cover.
Many drivers could assume that because they have private car insurance or they have informed their insurer that they are now using the car for business purposes, they will be covered – but they won’t be.
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Therefore, anyone considering delivering parcels, food, gifts and so on over Christmas could find themselves accidentally uninsured if they don’t know to take out courier insurance.
Courier insurance takes into account the additional miles likely to be travelled, the elevated risks associated with the vehicle being driven in heavily built-up areas – plus cover for vehicles that perform multiple pick-ups and drop-offs within a specific area.
It also has the option to add goods-in-transit insurance to ensure all goods carried, such as parcels, are protected.
But it’s feared that thousands of courier drivers may be operating with invalid insurance simply because they don’t know what cover they need.
Not having the correct insurance can void your insurance policy, meaning delivery drivers would actually be driving without insurance and could face a hefty fine, penalty points and be left unprotected should they need to make a claim.
Demand for courier drivers is at a peak at this time of year as Amazon and scores of other retailers actively recruit motorists to make deliveries.
The cost-of-living crisis will also likely increase enthusiasm amongst many car owners to turn to their vehicles to make some much-needed extra money.
Founder of Quotezone, Greg Wilson, said: “If you have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, signing up for work as a courier or delivery driver is a flexible and relatively straightforward way of fitting in extra work around busy lives - adding additional income in the build-up to Christmas.
“But what many drivers might not know is that their private car insurance policy won’t cover them while they’re operating as a courier, even if they add ‘business use’ to that policy.”
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