Am I covered to drive another car?

talksr

Terms and conditions are confusing, I think I am right in saying no I am not covered, but would be really grateful if anyone could confirm.

My mother has a fully comprehensive policy for her car, and I am a named driver on the policy. It says somewhere in the ts&cs that she is able to drive another vehicle and will get 3rd party cover. What about me? I am guessing this does not cover me.
It just says "We will also provide the cover shown above, to drive any private car that you do not own and have not hired, as long as you have the owner's permission to drive the car"
Seems a little vague, as it does not say who?!
:rolleyes:

olly300

If you don't understand the T&C ring the company up.

negg

"We will also provide the cover shown above, to drive any private car that you do not own and have not hired, as long as you have the owner's permission to drive the car"

Usually this applies only to the main driver, not to named drivers.

Notice you also need the owner's permission also. This is important because if your mother's vehicle is being bought by "hire purchase" or is leased, the owner is the finance company and they never give permission for anyone to drive it unless the cover is fully comprehensive.

talksr

Ah that is a useful point about the hire purchase. She has bought her car so it is 100% hers but still well worth remembering. Thanks
:money:

negg wrote: »

"We will also provide the cover shown above, to drive any private car that you do not own and have not hired, as long as you have the owner's permission to drive the car"

Usually this applies only to the main driver, not to named drivers.

Notice you also need the owner's permission also. This is important because if your mother's vehicle is being bought by "hire purchase" or is leased, the owner is the finance company and they never give permission for anyone to drive it unless the cover is fully comprehensive.

FH_Brit

talksr - ONE BIG THING - your mother is only insured to drive another car as long as that car has insurance itself. Example I had a spare car (old Mk 4 Grany 2.8) was off road but MOT'd - I just was not using and my brother borrowed it on his Fully Comp ins. My brother returned the car to me when he'd finished using it and illegally parked it outside my house but over hanging the next door neighbours drive (the lowered kerb) I gort a ticked for the parking and fined and points for no insurance - my argument was that brother had it insured and that's how we found out it had to be insured in it's own right.

As for you, probably not at all as you are not the policy holder, you are a named driver for THAT car and that car only.

You can always ask the insurers, but don't take their word for it, get it in writting (cover note) to be possitively sure - don't learn the hard way!

talksr

arenaman wrote: »

Correct, otherwise everyone would be insuring 1.1 fiestas and driving BMW's or Mercs on that insurance

Thanks for that very useful post FH Brit. I was already aware of that and it also mentions about this in my policy, but still something well worth pointing out.
Sorry to hear about your parking ticket and points. It is annoying when innocent, or unaware people get penalised by the system. Most honest people like us would not dream of driving un-insured, and I do find certain aspects of car insurance very confusing despite reading and re-reading my papers and ts&cs.

vikingaero

Driving other vehicles extension normally only applies to the Policyholder. Your mother is the Policyholder, not you, you are a named driver and wouldn't normally be covered.

shelly

FH_Brit wrote: »

My brother returned the car to me when he'd finished using it and illegally parked it outside my house but over hanging the next door neighbours drive (the lowered kerb) I gort a ticked for the parking and fined and points for no insurance - my argument was that brother had it insured and that's how we found out it had to be insured in it's own right.

I would say you got the fine and points because your uninsured car was parked on the public highway, not because your brother drove it on his policy.

My hubby has fully comp and his insurance certificate says...(typed word for word)

*The policyholder may also drive, with the owners permission, a motor car not belonging to, or hired or leased to them or their partner*

Says nothing at all about the other car having to have its own insurance.
I believe my hubby could borrow your car and it will be insured under his policy but as soon as it is parked (and left unattended) on a public highway then it becomes uninsured.

Its also talked about on this thread... http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1974685

talksr

shelly wrote: »

I would say you got the fine and points because your uninsured car was parked on the public highway, not because your brother drove it on his policy.

My hubby has fully comp and his insurance certificate says...(typed word for word)

*The policyholder may also drive, with the owners permission, a motor car not belonging to, or hired or leased to them or their partner*

Says nothing at all about the other car having to have its own insurance.
I believe my hubby could borrow your car and it will be insured under his policy but as soon as it is parked (and left unattended) on a public highway then it becomes uninsured.

Its also talked about on this thread... http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1974685

Good point Shelly, also what would mechanics do who have to drive cars around all the time. I suppose some of them have trade plates but I don't know if they cover you for insurance too.

Quote

Motor mechanics would normally be covered by a Road Risk Motor Trade Policy which allows them to drive any vehicle in their custody or control.

What is the obsession people have with driving other vehicles?

The sooner this flimsy piece of contingency cover is removed from all motor policies, the better.

darich

FH_Brit wrote: »

talksr - ONE BIG THING - your mother is only insured to drive another car as long as that car has insurance itself. Example I had a spare car (old Mk 4 Grany 2.8) was off road but MOT'd - I just was not using and my brother borrowed it on his Fully Comp ins. My brother returned the car to me when he'd finished using it and illegally parked it outside my house but over hanging the next door neighbours drive (the lowered kerb) I gort a ticked for the parking and fined and points for no insurance - my argument was that brother had it insured and that's how we found out it had to be insured in it's own right.

As for you, probably not at all as you are not the policy holder, you are a named driver for THAT car and that car only.

You can always ask the insurers, but don't take their word for it, get it in writting (cover note) to be possitively sure - don't learn the hard way!

Sorry but unless your policy explicitly states insurance must be in place, then a car can quite easily be driven under "another car" without its own insurance.

The reason you were fined is because the car is only insured while it is being driven and insured under the driver's "other car" extension. As soon as the car is parked it reverts back to the owner's responsibility to insure it, regardless of who was last to use it.
In your case, because it wasn't insured it meant that when parked it was uninsured and that's an offence hence the fine.

I would suggest carrying a copy of your own insurance if you plan on driving another car because to the police the car will not be on their database as having insurance. So they'll stop you. Unless you can prove at the road side you're insured to drive, then they'll take the car and you'll be walking.

But you can easily drive another car under your own policy even if it is not insured (unless your policy states otherwise.)