Over 1 million small business owners could be breaking the law simply by driving to a meeting, a new survey reveals.
With a third of owner-managers admitting to either not having or not knowing if they have the appropriate insurance cover, 1.2 million of the UK's estimated 4 million owner-run small firms may be at risk of fines or other penalties when they use their private cars for business purposes.
A fifth told Motorinsurance.co.uk they do not have appropriate cover, and 9% admitted they do not know which cover they should have.
This was despite 82% claiming they drive at least 50 business-related miles per week.
A further quarter said they drive over 500 miles a week for business purposes, and nearly half drive five times during the workweek.
"With larger taxable benefits now associated with company cars, small business owners and many of their employees are increasingly moving out of company car schemes, choosing to use their own private vehicles for business travel," said Andrew Dunkerley, of Motorinsurance.co.uk.
"In simple terms, if they are not properly insured, they are breaking the law. It is a really serious matter."
