Driving other Cars on RAC Comprehensive Policy

InnesL

I have always found one of the more reassuring elements of comprehensive cover to be the "third party only" cover provided for using "any other vehicle (with the owners consent)." (All be it with a few exceptions: hire cars, HP cars etc). I have always taken this for granted on any comprehensive policy.

Having just received my wife's new policy from the RAC I noticed that tucked away in a little accompanying document was a note that this cover is not included.

I immediately telephoned them and questioned this and they say it is a proactive step in response to a government white paper!! They also claim that many other insurers have taken the same step.

I have made a couple of checks with other companies and all still offer it. (Barclays do not mention it in their docs, but have confirmed that it is there and they just don't promote it! Bizarre but what the hey!)

So:

Firstly - Be warned! You will not get this cover with the RAC.

Secondly - If you want this cover it is worth specifically double checking as some companies seem to be sacrificing it (whether it be in anticipation of legislation or just to cut costs.)

Thirdly - Does anybody have any knowledge of this proposed legislation and other companies that have dropped this cover?

Astaroth

Driving other cars (as the extention is called) hit the press at the start of the year with a number of companies announcing that they were not going to be including it any more.

Unfortunately as I have changed job since then I no longer have the press releases which said which insurers were dropping it - the only one I remember was Norwich Union through brokers but that it would continue through their direct channel

InnesL

Thanks Astaroth. I have found quite a comprehensive article here.

http://www.tiscali.co.uk/money/guardian/features/2005/08/13/newsdriverssettolosesecondcarcover.html

Given the situation though i am disgusted at RAC for not more clearly publicising this. How many of their policy holders are now inadvertently driving around uninsured?

The press release highlights that that customers have come to expect this and there is concern that drivers may not realise the change. For insurers to fail to clearly highlight it is outrageous. It is going to make the problem of insured drivers worse, not better if they tuck it away in the hope that you won't notice that they are providing lower cover levels than other insurers.

Could this be the beginning of a campaign?

Astaroth

It was highlighted both in the national press and in the important information section of their renewal/ new customer packs - the main problem is that the majority of customers do not read these things but this is a challenge that we always face... how do you tell your customers something in a cost effective way if they dont read the letters you send them.

We however did do a number of press releases objecting to the withdraw of the service because of the uninsured driver risk that you mention and stating that we have no intention of removing DOC from our cover.