Zurich welcomes and supports this ABI announcement.
Motor insurers support Big Society and give green light to volunteer drivers.
Motor insurers, including Zurich, have been given the green light to volunteers who want to use their cars to help out their local communities by promising not to charge extra premiums.
The commitment, which covers 54 insurance brands representing over 85% of the motor insurance market, comes after talks with the voluntary sector showed that some volunteers found barriers to ‘Big Society’ work either through extra charges or bureaucratic requirements.
The commitment applies to private car insurance policies. Policyholders must be using their own vehicle and will be allowed to accept expenses up to the HM Revenue and Customs mileage rates, currently 45p per mile, but will not be permitted to use their vehicle for hire or reward.
Insurers will make all the necessary information publicly available so that volunteers can be fully covered to take part in community activities, such as taking old and sick people to hospital appointments or on day trips, without such trips being classed as business use.
The ABI’s website has details of the motor insurers who have joined the commitment, setting out details of who to contact if necessary.
Nick Hurd MP, Minister for Civil Society, said:
“We’ve made it very clear that we want to tackle the obstacles that get in the way of people getting involved as volunteers. That’s why we commissioned Lord Hodgson’s red tape taskforce. This was one of the recommendations of the report and I am delighted the insurance industry has responded so positively to that challenge – making it easier for people to do more for their communities”
Paul Emery, Head of C&SO said:
“Zurich is a keen supporter of this initiative and we're delighted to support it. We are fully engaged with government departments on the wider agenda to remove the potential barriers for individuals and groups coming together to do more volunteering in the areas where they live and this is a welcome clarification for volunteer drivers”.
Further details on the ‘motor insurance commitment’ can be found online here.
