Managing your business’ fleet of vehicles—worth anywhere from a few thousand to millions of pounds—can seem like a Herculean task. As a fleet owner, you must ensure your employees are authorised to drive, that each vehicle’s use is covered in your motor fleet insurance policy, and that you can add or remove vehicles from your policy to coincide with your business’ needs.
Fortunately, with a bespoke motor fleet insurance policy you do not need superhuman strength to manage your business’ vehicles. Compared to standard motor insurance policies, the average motor fleet policy is much more robust and flexible, making your job easier by reducing driver restrictions and allowing you to regularly add or remove vehicles from your policy. Unburden yourself by securing a comprehensive motor fleet policy for your business.
Types of Motor Fleet Insurance Cover
Insurers usually define a fleet as anywhere from five to thousands of vehicles however, we can find you a fleet policy for 2 or more vehicles. The advantages of a motor fleet policy stem from its flexibility and wide breadth of cover. While standard motor insurance can only cover certain vehicles under certain policies, motor fleet can cover an assortment of vehicles with a variety of uses under one policy. This flexibility reduces the need for fleet oversight and thus lowers overall administrative costs. The following vehicles can be covered all together under one policy:
- Special type vehicles and mechanical plant
- Agricultural and forestry vehicles
- Large goods vehicles (LGVs)
- Motorcycles
- Private cars
- Vans
Although motor fleet policies are more flexible and can encompass a larger array of vehicles, the same general range of covers, listed below, is available to fleet operators as private individuals:
- Third party only policies are legally required in the United Kingdom and only protect against injury, loss or damage to third parties.
- Third party fire and theft policies extend fire and theft cover to a third party only policy.
- Comprehensive policies come with a higher excess but substantially protect vehicles owned by your business or in its custody from accidental damage.
Excess amounts across all three categories of cover will vary depending on the type of work your business does and its level of risk. Insurers rate business’ risk exposure and calculate premiums based on the fleet’s claims experience over the last three to five years and any current trends that can forecast how the fleet will perform in the future.
Extensions
Motor fleet policies typically offer a more expanded selection of extensions than standard motor policies to accommodate all types of fleets. The following extensions may be available as part of a fleet policy:
- Replacement locks following loss or theft of keys
- Vehicle recovery and redelivery
- New vehicle replacement
- Occasional business use
- Personal accident
- Medical expenses
- Personal effects
- Legal protection
- Trailers
This list isn’t comprehensive. It represents just a few of the scores of extensions available to motor fleet policyholders. We can work with you to write a bespoke policy that addresses your business’ specific risks.
Exclusions
Motor fleet policies are a viable, cost-saving alternative to standard policies, but they are not without their exclusions. The exclusions enumerated below are some of the most common to motor fleet policies:
- Loss of use costs not covered by a courtesy car arrangement
- Wear, tear, depreciation and diminution of value
- Mechanical breakdown repair costs
- Loss of vehicle through deception
- Tyre damage through normal use
- Keys left in the vehicle
- Sonic booms
- Pollution
This list is also not all-inclusive, but it may be possible to obtain cover for these exclusions as an extension of a bespoke policy.
Manage Your Risks
Motor fleets are a diverse group. They can encompass anything from a five-vehicle food delivery business to a multinational office supply company. We will find the best policy to suit your needs from your panel of leading insurers. You can rely on our expertise and experience to craft you a bespoke policy that safeguards your motor fleet for years to come. Call us on 01925 989641 or if you prefer, you can visit us in branch: Webster Court, Carina Park, Westbrook, Warrington WA5 8WD