Frequently Asked Questions

The basic vehicle information that we require in order to provide a quotation would include:

• The make and model of the vehicle
• Vehicle engine size
• Vehicle registration number
• The value of the vehicle

If the vehicle is commercial, then we may also ask for the gross vehicle weight. We would also ask if the vehicle has been modified to ensure that we provide you with the correct cover.

For example, you may want to include cover for specialist racking that has been fitted to your vehicles or note that your vehicle is signwritten so that you are compensated correctly in the event of a claim.

Can I be on a fleet insurance policy if I have a driving conviction?

Drivers who have serious convictions on their driving licence MUST be referred to insurers before allowing them to drive. These would include any conviction code that begins with the following letters: AC, BA, DD, DR, IN, MS, NE, TT, UT & XX.

We recommend that all fleet operators carry out regular licence audits and take photocopies of all drivers’ licences at least once a year.

Do I qualify for a Fleet Insurance

Yes, you can get fleet insurance for a small business. We can insure fleets with a minimum of 2 vehicles, which comfortably suits most small businesses. We offer small and mini fleet insurance that typically covers between 2 and 5 vehicles of any type.

If you are a UK business with 3 or more vehicles then ‘yes’. There are no restrictions to the type of business which can have a fleet policy.

Can I get fleet insurance for a small business?

Yes, you can get fleet insurance for a small business. We can insure fleets with a minimum of 2 vehicles, which comfortably suits most small businesses. We offer small and mini fleet insurance that typically covers between 2 and 5 vehicles of any type.

Any additional premium charged by your insurers will be passed on to you and on occasions, we will make an administration charge.

Full details of how we are remunerated are contained within our Terms of Business which are available upon request and will be given to you when you become a client of Fleetcover.

Can I add taxis to a fleet insurance policy?

Yes, if you already have a fleet insurance policy with us then you can add taxis to your policy. We offer comprehensive taxi insurance for fleets, covering your fleet as standard whilst also offering public hire insurance, public and employers liability and passenger and luggage effects cover.

If you already have a standard fleet insurance policy with us and want to add one or multiple taxis, get in touch with us to discuss your options.

Do I need to update the MID on changes to my fleet?

The Motor Insurance Database (MID) is a government database which stores the details of every insured vehicle in the UK. It exists to reduce the number of uninsured vehicles on the road as well as assisting with claims that occur in the EU.

The police use the MID to identify uninsured vehicles, using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras which are fitted to most police cars and are used on the road network. They can check which company a vehicle is insured with and who is named to drive on the policy.

It is a legal requirement to keep the MID up-to-date with any additions or deletions to your vehicle fleet. Some insurers will do this automatically for you when you notify them of any changes but the onus is on you, the policyholder, to ensure that the vehicles are correct at all times.

You should try to update the MID immediately via the MID online portal, although you have 7 days from the date that you take delivery of the vehicle to amend this on the website. This still applies if your policy is on a declaration basis.

For our valued customers, we do offer an MID update service for a nominal charge.

Can you cover vehicle contents?

Contents are covered on most motor insurance policies however, we need to be clear on the definition of ‘contents’. Contents would not include tools or business goods. An example of what would class as contents would be personal belongings, such as a mobile phone.

This would be: 

• Only covered up to the policy limits (which are usually quite low for contents)
• Would also be subject to the items being stored securely in the vehicle. For example, the policy may specify that the goods are stored securely in the glove box. 

Can you cover vehicle contents
Tools and business goods will not be covered under the contents section and separate cover should be arranged for these items either on a tools poes olicy or a goods in transit policy. We can also arrange this cover for you.

Does my fleet policy cover me to drive any vehicle?

No, you can only drive vehicles that are noted on the policy.

Fleet policies do not cover driving other cars on a third party basis

Typically, fleet insurance is cheaper than individual vehicle insurance.

If you have 2 or more vehicles within your company, it is likely that you’ll benefit from investing in a comprehensive fleet insurance policy that covers your entire fleet in one, rather than taking out separate policies.

How many vehicles do I need to get fleet insurance?

The minimum number of vehicles you need to qualify for fleet insurance is two.

The number of vehicles required to qualify for a fleet insurance policy has reduced from 5, which was the requirement just a few years ago.

Is breakdown cover included on a fleet insurance policy?

Breakdown cover isn’t included as standard on most  fleet insurance policies however, we offer fleet breakdown cover as a separate policy, working with a number of  trusted providers to offer you the best price possible. We can cover your fleet for breakdowns with 2 or more vehicles of any type, tailoring your breakdown policy to suit your specific business needs and mirror your current fleet package.

Even though these policies are separate, they are both managed and maintained by our FleetCover team so you have just one point of contact.

The huge benefit of our motor fleet insurance is that different types of vehicles can all be placed on the same policy. The following vehicles can all be accommodated on our policy:

• Construction and agricultural plant: Tractors, JCB’s, excavators.
• Special types of vehicles: Fork lift trucks, trailers, horseboxes and even road sweepers.
• Policies can also be extended to include the Tool of Trade Risk (sometimes known as Third Party Working Risk). It is important to consider where your plant will be used as the current definition of a “road” is very broad and will include most places where the public have access, including car parks.

Do you insure electric fleet vehicles?

Yes, we can insure electric fleet vehicles. Electric car insurance is slightly more complicated to set up, so it’s best that you speak with an expert insurance broker such as FleetCover when doing this. We can help secure the right level of insurance for your electric fleet, covering all necessary aspects.

What vehicles can I insure under my fleet policy?

Any vehicle which is owned by & registered to the company. This will also include hired-in vehicles and loan/courtesy car vehicles. Vehicles leased under a lease agreement to the company or one of its directors can also be added.

What vehicles can’t I insure under the policy?

– Vehicles which are insured elsewhere under a private policy
– Vehicles that are not registered in the UK or registered in the name of the company or a director.

A declaration fleet policy is a policy developed for businesses that have a vehicle fleet which has regular changes to the schedule of vehicles.

Rather than having to inform us/your insurer every time a vehicle is changed (known as ‘As and When’), you can opt to complete a quarterly, half yearly or even annual declaration instead.

The policy will automatically include any vehicle which is purchased, acquired or deleted by the company in the intervening period without having to notify us. A declaration of any changes is then completed for the agreed period and the premium is adjusted accordingly.

The type of declaration that you choose will normally depend on the size of your vehicle fleet. Our team will let you know which style of declaration is best for your needs when they provide your quotation.

Are all Fleet insurance policies the same?

No. Some fleet policies offer added value benefits and cover extensions that may be a useful addition to your cover. Others may offer assistance with risk management, optional Breakdown Cover or driver training as part of the package. There are different levels of cover options available and others may be a fleet declaration type policy. As experts in Motor Fleet insurance we can help you find the best policy to suit your requirements.

Who can drive on a fleet policy?

Most fleet policies are usually arranged on an Any Authorised Driver basis which means that anyone can drive with the permission of the company/directors.

However there are discounts available if you wish to restrict driving either to Named Drivers only or Any Driver but with a driver age restriction (e.g. Any Driver over 30). Younger drivers under 25, if included, will usually have an increased excess applicable when they are driving. At Fleetcover, our experts will be able to advise you on the best options available to suit your individual business needs so that you get the right cover at the very best price.

Can I use my personal vehicles on a fleet policy?

Director’s own vehicles can usually be included in a company fleet as long as they are registered to the directors personally. A special motor certificate will need to be issued for these vehicles showing the registered owner’s name – these will need to be declared to us.

We will advise you on how long your quotation is valid for when we provide you with one. Any changes to the quotation after it has been given could invalidate the first quotation. We would however, issue a new quotation based on the updated details and advise you how long it is valid for in this case. 

We wouldn’t usually offer quotations more than 30 days in advance as most insurers will not quote outside of this timescale. 

When will my cover start?

Your policy will start either:

• The day after the expiry of your previous insurance policy or;
• On the date that you instruct us to place the cover, if you haven’t had insurance before.

When you are moving to FleetCover from another provider, we will take the required information relating to the policy start date from your previous insurance cover.