How Freelance Writers Can Save Money on Car Insurance

No, I’m not trying to get you to switch to Geico, but a 15-minute call to your car insurance agent really could save you money on car insurance if you are a full-time freelancer. Why? If you’ve abandoned the daily commute, you may be able to get your car reclassified as ä “pleasure use vehicle.”

One of the factors insurance adjustors take into consideration when issuing an insurance policy price quote is that your car will be speeding down the freeway in oh-so-dangerous rush hour traffic. Not to mention the fact that you will be wearing and tearing your vehicle day in and day out. But if you’ve made the switch from a daily commute to a stay at home job, those insurance premium-hikers disappear.

What is a Pleasure Use Vehicle?

  • Pleasure vehicles are not used for daily commuting
  • They are generally driven less than 5,000 miles per year
  • They are not driven for business use

That last caveat can get tricky for freelance writers, who may use their cars for business intermittently.  But if your household has more than one vehicle and only one of you is commuting, you have a high chance of having your second vehicle reclassified as a pleasure use vehicle.  Further, even if for some reason you cannot get your car reclassified to “pleasure vehicle” status, many car insurers will offer low mileage discounts, so be sure to track your mileage for more than just tax purposes.

Give your insurance agent a call, tell him you heard about the pleasure use vehicle status, and explain your situation.  I was able to reclassify my cute little Altima as a pleasure use vehicle last year, and I saved about $100 every six months on car insurance even while living in a dangerous metropolitan area. Depending on the safety of the area you live in and where your park your car at night, you may be able to save even more.  Good luck!

Comments

10 responses
  1. Jessie Haynes Avatar

    Thanks for the helpful tip. I’m about due a call to my insurance agent, and I’ll see if this can apply to my situation.

    1. Jennifer Escalona Avatar

      I hope it helps! When researching this article, I read that some pleasure use policies require the car to be parked in a covered garage, but that wasn’t the case for me with Geico.
      .-= Jennifer Escalona´s last blog ..A Few Tricky Ways to Stay Current on Business Books =-.

  2. Rebecca Avatar

    It’s true that car insurance can save you money if you’re a freelance writer. I switched insurance carriers back in 2009. Not only did I cut my bill in half
    (previous insurance company was overcharging me) but working from home also helped.
    .-= Rebecca´s last blog ..Freelance Writers Use Slang with Caution =-.

    1. Jennifer Escalona Avatar

      Rebecca, congrats on cutting your bill in half! That’s amazing!
      .-= Jennifer Escalona´s last blog ..A Few Tricky Ways to Stay Current on Business Books =-.

  3. Isa Avatar
    Isa

    This is very helpful information I had no idea about. I am happy I came across your article. Even though I am not a writer (I am a freelance Graphic Designer) I think this is something helpful for any freelancer out there.
    Thanks for the tip!

    1. Jennifer Escalona Avatar

      Hopefully anybody working from home can benefit from this, Isa. Thanks for reading!!
      .-= Jennifer Escalona´s last blog ..A Few Tricky Ways to Stay Current on Business Books =-.

  4. AuroraGG Avatar

    Been doing this for years and my car insurance rate dropped quite a bit when I recorded a “work drive distance of 0 km” with my insurance provider. Love the freelancer perks!
    .-= AuroraGG´s last blog ..Ecommerce Marketing: Tips for Writing an EBook =-.

    1. Jennifer Escalona Avatar

      I’m so glad to see that others have gotten the same fantastic results!

  5. Mark Avatar
    Mark

    Yeah, I’m not a writer, but I get something similar working at home. It does save a bit, but be careful about using it when you actually drive a lot.

  6. rith Avatar

    yes, even I’m not really a writer, but I recieve such like working at home. It will save a bit, but be careful about utilizing it whenever you actually drive a lot.

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