Car Insurance Misery

[Dan allanthemsdisco 0]

I have just got my renewal through which is very high (£300 gone up to £700!!!) & although i got a great deal from the co op in the small print the exclusions include anyone involved in the entertainment industry "Musical performers/entertainers" Obviously this includes us & DJs & after speaking to a few other DJs I know, it turns out they are driving on Social Domestic policies!!!!

So i know nobody here is going to say "Dont tell them" But if anyone can give any tips in regards to this tricky situation, please do!!!

[Dukesy 0]

This has been covered and discussed quite a few times in the past. I would venture that quite a few DJ's and entertainers are tempting fate (alongside 6 penalty points and a huge fine) by risking the social, domestic and pleasure aspect whilst conveying equipment to / from gigs as part of their business, or are just driving with generic business policies and burying their head in the sand, convinced that as long as they have the piece of paper needed to tax their car, they'll be okay.

 

I wouldn't listen to what these other DJ's say they are doing either or be tempted to follow their example as I doubt that they will be there to help you or back you up if it all goes ti*s up!, i'll also tell you now that people who lie to their insurance companies in any respect, are one reason the rest of us are now footing the bill with increased insurance premiums, and probably does also account for most of that £700 premium you've just been quoted!. Basically, these individuals can dress it up how they like, but they are committing a criminal offence by driving to their gigs without insurance / correct insurance, as, when its discovered, the insurer will just revoke all cover from the date it commenced and effectively they'll be left uninsured at the time of the incident and the police will then prosecute accordingly. In addition, with no insurance in force, they'll probably also be persued by their insurance company to reimburse them for any damage to other third parties / street furniture that they legally have had to pay out, where the policyholder was found to be at fault.

 

It does make me chuckle however that DJ's still openly dummy spit and report each other for not having things like Pro-Dub and PAT Tested equipment, and often can be seen openly labeling others randomly on forums for being Cowboys just because somebody is suspected of not having PLI ( a voluntary option which isn't yet a legal requirement), yet some Dj's are seemingly perfectly happy to admit / boast to each other that they are effectively driving without insurance which is a legal requirement and risking criminal convictions from doing so, and still nothing is said regarding this premeditated decision to lie to their insurers, and so its obviously deemed by other Dj's as being 'ok', or at least is considered far less important and not as deserving of open criticism as opposed to not having PLI. How screwed up is this industry? :wall: .

 

The potential expense and penalties of what could happen if you take the risks are far greater than any increase in premium through legitimately declaring your sideline / occupation.

 

Basically, if discovered, this aspect is treated just as harshly as driving with no insurance and the penalties are exactly the same. If you lie to your insurance company, and its discovered, then you also risk being blacklisted for life on the MID, making it difficult to get ANY insurance in your name in the future. If DJ's do this, they are playing a very risky game - and its foolhardy especially during the bad weather we've just experienced. Insurance companies employ and pay well educated people extremely good money to investigate claims and the backgrounds of policyholders in order to negate or lessen a payout. Its also going to be hard to deny your little sideline, if you are in an accident and £2000 worth of Audio / Lighting Equipment and your business cards are scattered all over the carriageway, or you are smiling from behind the decks on a picture on your website.

 

Unfortunately, our profession is specialised and currently excludes us from using many of the mainstream & high street insurance companies, and certainly taking advantage of comparison sites - who nearly always state the 'No Entertainment' exclusion right at the start of the quote. Its not going to change anytime soon.

 

I can only suggest that you try some of the more specialised brokers, such as

 

http://www.adrianflux.co.uk/

http://www.aplan.co.uk/

http://www.mwainsurance.co.uk/motor.html

http://www.doodsonbg.com/

 

I also suggest that you ring the above and speak to an actual person inside each of the brokers, who can understand your requirements better than a database.

 

If your DJ'ing is part time then make sure you point this out to them, and that its not your main occupation. If you truely use the car more for SD&P and Commuting to your normal place of (full time) work MORE than you use it to get to Gigs, then also point that out as well. Try and give them a annual breakdown of how many 'gig' miles you do compared to how many SD&P miles you do. All of these are important factors in getting an individual quote, rather than one from a talking Meercat.

 

Either way, even with a specialist, sympathetic insurance broker, you can still expect to pay two to four times more than you would for normal business cover, depending on age, vehicle, driving history etc.

 

Unfortunately, you've also highlighted one reason why our businesses all need to make money.

 

I also hate to be the barer of additional bad news, but according to the insurance industry, there have been so many claims for accidents during the recent long winter spell, as well as claims for burst pipes etc, that we can all expect Santa to have brought us an estimated 40% rise across all types of premiums when we come to renew next year.

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Also try Zenith.

 

I found them to be the most competitive for van insurance for mobile DJ use.

[Robster 0]

if i won the euro millions big time i would look into becoming an insurer for entertainers pli the other pli and car and van insurance and a combined multi cover policy ..there has to be money in it

[Dukesy 0]

In addition to my earlier post above. Anybody who thinks that the Police randomly won't / don't check occupations of drivers against their insurance documents at the side of the road, or who thinks that lying about (any of) their occupation(s) in order to reduce the policy cost won't be treated with the same penalties as having no insurance if discovered, would be best advised to read this independant post on another forum.

 

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=57824

 

Given that we drive late at night, can often be seen pulling out from pub and hotel car parks and have lots and lots of expensive equipment piled floor to ceiling in our MPV's, then I would also say that risks of a random 'pull' are high and its not a case of 'if' but rather 'when' somebody in this industry gets stopped and perhaps their use of the vehicle put to further scrutiny. It probably already has happened, but I would venture that they wouldn't be as apt to brag about it to their peers as they are to admit that they are actively and knowingly committing a criminal offence by blatantly lying to their insurance company.

 

if i won the euro millions big time i would look into becoming an insurer for entertainers pli the other pli and car and van insurance and a combined multi cover policy ..there has to be money in it

 

Thats the thing though, if there was any money to be made out of it, then why aren't the insurance companies in on it, and why are they still actively excluding it?. We all know they are a bunch of greedy *****'s so if there is a cash cow waiting, why haven't they got their milking stool out?.

 

When I approached several insurance companies back in the DJ@ days, in order to get an explanation for this very question, there was no real solid excuse that they could offer. Many simply refered to it as being a blanket wide exclusion levied by nearly all of the popular insurance underwriters, and so the brokers and insurance companies were simply passing on the exclusions of the higher authority.

 

Non of the Underwriters, whom I contacted, even bothered to reply to the question :wall:

 

One insurer did venture a different excuse, namely that it was because of the hours that we work and travel, and therefore there was a higher risk of a driver falling asleep at the wheel.

 

Whatever the reason, I guess its here to stay. The history of protests, solidarity and speaking out by DJ's, collectively isn't exactly awe inspiring. Many of us protested against the introduction of the Pro-Dub license and look what we won.

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The history of protests, solidarity and speaking out by DJ's, collectively isn't exactly awe inspiring. Many of us protested against the introduction of the Pro-Dub license and look what we won.

 

 

Good point.

 

On the other hand I don't think take-up has been very high!

[Dan allanthemsdisco 0]

Good point.

 

On the other hand I don't think take-up has been very high!

 

I wonder what the musicians union have to say? This must affect so many people!! A friend does Soul and gospel singing at weddings - im looking forward to finding out what she does... As for one of my DJ friends, he told me he has two policies, one standard policy and another that covers DJing!! I have not actually paid my renewal yet but some suggestions for insurers would help! I will check out Zenith , thanks to the person who suggested that. (Cant scroll up and see anymore because you have to click on the individual post - so annoying!)

[Dukesy 0]

(Cant scroll up and see anymore because you have to click on the individual post - so annoying!)

 

This is easily remedied. The viewing choice can be selected in your individual profile. Click on the 'options' box at the top right hand side of the thick blue bar just above the first post in the forum topic heading.

 

From the drop down menu - under the heading 'display modes', click the 'Switch to Standard' option. All should then return to normal .

 

I wonder what the musicians union have to say? This must affect so many people!!

 

Funnily enough, the M.U had plenty to say, when the Insurance Company 'Swiftcover', used Iggy Pop as a front man to advertise their insurance services. Iggy was shown to be stating that he insured with 'Swiftcover' and so endorsed the company. Somebody spotted, that like most insurance companies, Swiftcover did not allow anybody connected with the entertainment industry to be insured through them, effectively making it impossible for Iggy Pop to be insured through them, given his profession.

 

What an Ironic.....and Stupid mistake to make by the insurer.

 

Of course, in light of this discovery, complaints were made, and I believe that the M.U was just one of a few entities to pressure the ASA to take action against Swiftcover, which they did and ruled that the advert was misleading.

 

As a goodwill gesture, and probably out of some embarrassment, Swiftcover u-turned on its decision not to allow Musicians to insure with them, and now they can :pro: .

 

Sadly, this exception is ONLY, levied to Musicians and not DJ's - as I asked the question of them myself.

 

I also believe that the occupation is still 'loaded' in relation to the cost, as it is with most other insurers.

 

In essence, if that £700 you were quoted is genuinely including Mobile DJ cover, then its a quite a good price.

 

In relation to the M.U taking up the case on behalf of DJ's, then you can try, but I believe that it will be a non starter. DJ's have always made up only a small minority of M.U members and our voices within that entity are few and far between. I suspect that the number of DJ's within the M.U has also still fallen further, probably to a record low, in light of the many other cheaper deals on PLI which now exist.

[RaveDJs 0]

Commercial Vehicle Direct will cover DJs/Entertains vans including contents (while contents is IN the van). Try phoning them as their website may not include this product. (Or PM me your number and I can schedule a call for you).

 

Sister company One Business Insurance Solutions will cover DJ/Entertainers in cars as well as providing PLI combined with either of the above.

[Dan allanthemsdisco 0]

well thanks for all that guys i love this forum - id rather give the money to you guys your more helpful than any insurer ever will probably be!

Going to ring around tomorrow and hopefully get a reasonable deal.

I am still really intrigued by the amount of musical performers that probably have the wrong insurance!

[Dukesy 0]

Commercial Vehicle Direct will cover DJs/Entertains vans including contents (while contents is IN the van). Try phoning them as their website may not include this product. (Or PM me your number and I can schedule a call for you).

 

Thanks for the information. I'm guessing that given the comment relating to scheduling a call, that you either work for them, or know somebody who does?.

 

If my assumption is correct, why not perhaps have a word with somebody within the company and perhaps have a page on the website advertising their ability to insure DJ's and such?. This seems to work well with DJ related pli companies like Musicguard - who have built a whole successful business model around insuring entertainers for pli, and like Robster stated earlier, there could be a whole profitable little niche here for them to tap into!.

 

I'd also be happy to promote either company for free on the forum, if it is indeed confirmed, that they are happy to consider insurance for our profession.