Key points
- Take-home vehicles are common for on-call technicians and supervisors — and underwriters will ask about them.
- Personal use, family members driving, and after-hours trips are where problems arise.
- Disclose take-home use accurately and put a written policy behind it.
For many service contractors, take-home vehicles are a practical necessity. A technician on call needs a stocked van at home, and supervisors move between sites before and after hours. Underwriters understand that. What they want to see is that it is disclosed and controlled.
The underwriting questions
Expect to be asked how many vehicles go home, who drives them, whether personal use is allowed, and whether anyone other than the employee — a spouse or teenage child — may drive. Some insurance companies are comfortable with commuting use but limit personal use; others have specific rules about household members.
Where coverage questions arise
- Unlisted or ineligible drivers: a family member drives the company truck and has an accident.
- Personal errands: the vehicle is used for non-business purposes contrary to company policy.
- Employees without personal auto policies: an employee who relies entirely on a company vehicle may have no personal auto coverage for other situations. A drive other car type endorsement is sometimes used to address this for certain individuals; availability varies.
A practical take-home policy
- Who is eligible for a take-home vehicle
- Whether commuting only or limited personal use is allowed
- That only approved company drivers may operate the vehicle
- Rules for passengers
- Where vehicles must be parked overnight
- Consequences for violations
Share the policy with your agent. Accurate disclosure of take-home use avoids problems at claim time and lets your agent present the account correctly.