Car insurance - driving someone's else's car

Sk8er_Girl_2

I'm buying my sister's car for my son who is learning to drive. I had to drive the car 70 miles to my home while it was still in my sister's name but her insurance on the car had expired. I already have fully comp insurance for my own car.

I wanted to make sure I was covered for the journey and phoned my insurers M&S. The chap I spoke to said yes I was covered to drive the car, third party, fire and theft. I asked him to confirm that was true even though the car was no longer insured by the owner, my sister. He then changed his mind and said I needed temprary cover.

My brother-in-law disagreed with this so I phoned again. This time the lady i spoke to went off and checked and came back and said that I was deifinitely covered even though the car was not insured by the owner.

I find that difficult to believe. On that basis I can leave the car in my sister's name and never insure it. I can put my son as named driver on my own car, he can drive that and I can drive round in the new car without ever buying insurance for it. It's not as old as my car and it's more powerful.

Does anyone know where I can get a definitive answer please?

tinkerbell84

Sk8er_Girl wrote: »

I'm buying my sister's car for my son who is learning to drive. I had to drive the car 70 miles to my home while it was still in my sister's name but her insurance on the car had expired. I already have fully comp insurance for my own car.

I wanted to make sure I was covered for the journey and phoned my insurers M&S. The chap I spoke to said yes I was covered to drive the car, third party, fire and theft. I asked him to confirm that was true even though the car was no longer insured by the owner, my sister. He then changed his mind and said I needed temprary cover.

My brother-in-law disagreed with this so I phoned again. This time the lady i spoke to went off and checked and came back and said that I was deifinitely covered even though the car was not insured by the owner.

I find that difficult to believe. On that basis I can leave the car in my sister's name and never insure it. I can put my son as named driver on my own car, he can drive that and I can drive round in the new car without ever buying insurance for it. It's not as old as my car and it's more powerful.

Does anyone know where I can get a definitive answer please?

They seem to be wrong on several counts.

It would be covered third party, not third party fire and theft

The car needs it's own insurance - you can't tax it without an insurance policy covering that specific car and it's illegal to park the car on the public road without tax. You'd also get pulled constantly by the police when it got flagged on ANPR.

You shouldn't have your son as a named driver on a car which is 'his'. He should be down as the main driver on his car.

Sk8er_Girl_2

Well done thanks I knew there was a flaw in my logic somewhere.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

Sk8er_Girl wrote: »

Well done thanks I knew there was a flaw in my logic somewhere.

a named driver also wouldnt get the other cars provision, the other car provision is often age barred too, and many insurers are removing it altogether. Basically what you are suggesting is illegal as well.

tripled

I checked with my insurers (co-op) today about driving an uninsured vehicle under my own policy and they said it was fine. However I've done some digging on the internet as well and it appears that it cannot be left parked on a public road (as my insurance cover is only valid when the car is being driven). Also some insurers apparently have caveats which may mean the vehicle has to have valid insurance as well - check your policy documentation.