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Insurance calling my personal trip 'commercial use' to dodge my claim — is this even legal?

I'm so frustrated right now and need to know if anyone has dealt with this.

Here's what happened: I was helping my sister move last weekend and borrowed her SUV to haul some boxes to a donation center. Mixed in with her stuff was a small bag of my own — some equipment I use for my side photography gig that I happened to grab since I was going that direction anyway. Totally a personal errand that just had a tiny work-adjacent thing along for the ride.

On the way back, a cat shot across the road and I swerved instinctively. Caught the rear quarter panel of a parked car on a narrow street. Nobody hurt, thankfully, but there's real damage to both vehicles.

Now my insurance adjuster is telling me there's a question about whether I was on a 'business trip' because of my equipment being in the car. She's implying that might affect my coverage — or worse, void it for this incident entirely.

Like… what?? I wasn't on a job. I wasn't being paid. I didn't have a client with me. I just happened to have my camera bag.

Has anyone else had their insurance try to spin a personal errand into a commercial activity? Does having any work-related item in the car really put your coverage at risk?

Also — does my sister's insurance come into play since it was her vehicle? I'm worried about leaving her exposed here too and I feel awful about the whole thing.

Any insight appreciated. I don't know how hard to push back or whether I should just accept whatever they say.

8replies

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8 replies

  • 12
    clear-badger-360

    This is a classic adjuster move. They throw out words like 'commercial use' early in the process to see if you'll panic and either drop the claim or accept less. Don't confirm or deny anything about the 'business' angle without understanding exactly what your policy language says. Ask them to point you to the specific exclusion in writing.

    • 11
      patient-owl-424

      A couple of things worth knowing: first, your policy's 'commercial use' definition matters a lot here — they vary. Second, your sister's liability coverage on her vehicle might actually be primary since it's her car, with your policy stepping in as secondary. That could actually work in your favor. I'd pull both policies and compare the definitions side by side before your next conversation with the adjuster.

  • 12
    calm-swift-990

    Not legal advice, but the distinction between 'incidental business property in the vehicle' and 'operating a vehicle for commercial purposes' is a real legal line that courts have addressed more than once. Carriers don't get to redefine your personal errand just because you own a camera. If they issue a formal denial citing commercial use, that denial letter is worth having an attorney review — many do free consultations for exactly this kind of coverage dispute.

    • 5
      patient-newt-314

      Something similar happened to me — I had work samples in my car when I got rear-ended and my adjuster started asking weird questions about whether I was 'on the clock.' I just kept repeating that I was not performing any work task, I was not being compensated for the drive, and I was not en route to a client. They eventually dropped it. Be clear and consistent every time they bring it up.

    • 13
      hearty-stoat-408

      Stop talking to the adjuster casually. Every phone call is being documented and anything you say can be used to support their 'commercial use' angle. Send emails instead so you have a paper trail, keep your answers short and factual, and if they send you anything in writing claiming the trip was commercial — get a lawyer on the phone that same day.

  • 7
    candid-swift-295

    I used to work claims and honestly, 'commercial use' exclusions are meant for people running actual businesses out of their personal vehicles — like gig delivery drivers or contractors who never bothered getting a commercial policy. Having a camera bag in the car during what is clearly a personal errand is a real stretch. That said, adjusters do sometimes float these things early to see what sticks. Request everything in writing and don't just take her word for it over the phone.

    • 5
      swift-kestrel-880

      Ugh, I'm so sorry. You were doing something nice for your family and now you're being interrogated about a camera bag?? Please don't let them bully you into thinking you did something wrong. You swerved to avoid an animal — that's just a reflex.

  • 5
    bold-tern-914

    I'd want to know more before jumping to 'this is definitely bad faith.' Did you actually tell the adjuster about the equipment, or did they ask specifically? And do you have any emails or texts from around that day showing it was a personal move trip? Context matters if this ever escalates to a formal dispute.