Car insurance

[Deleted User]

Hi all

I am overseas with work for six months and my car insurance is about to expire. My car is parked in a private car park but it's not clear to me whether I need to insure it or not (no-one will tell me whether it's "on the public highway" or not).I cannot work out a definitive answer, which is absurd.

I am not willing to take the risk of being done for having a car parked on the public highway without insurance, so is there any company which will insure a car for minimal cost in this situation? The car itself will obviously not be used for the next six months...

Thanks,
James

Hammyman

If it is in a private car park and off the Queens Highway, you don't need to have it insured. You can find out if its on the Queens Highway by looking at the deeds for the property its parked on/in and seeing where the boundary lines are. Contrary to belief, the QH doesn't stop at the kerb and in some cases extends past the path and the grass in front of a house to the garden wall as some people, my parents included, have found out to their expense.

There are plenty of insurance companies who offer "lay up" insurance which covers you for fire, theft and damage but no road use.

taffy056

I think it needs insuring if the public can access the car park, though I am sure someone here can give a definitive answer for you, personally I would insure in any case because if its stolen or damaged you could be left stranded, also if its on finance they probably have some term somewhere where it requires it.

[Deleted User]

Thanks - this 'lay up' insurance seems interesting - how do I get it?

The issue of whether or not I *need* to insure is not clear to me - the public do have access to the car park and cars parked on my street have been towed - never seen this happen in one of the car parks, but am not willing to take the risk as it looks bad for a solicitor to get done for insurance crime!

taffy056

Deleted_User wrote: »

Thanks - this 'lay up' insurance seems interesting - how do I get it?

Quick search on google has some options for you

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=laid+up+insurance&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

david39

I find it difficult to understand why a solicitor does not have enough contacts through his profession to enable him to know how to answer the question himself.

It seems strange that he has come to a board such as this, frequented by enough lay-lawyers to fill the Old Bailey, when he surely must have real experts available to him by email or telephone.

[Deleted User]

david39 wrote: »

I find it difficult to understand why a solicitor does not have enough contacts through his profession to enable him to know how to answer the question himself.

It seems strange that he has come to a board such as this, frequented by enough lay-lawyers to fill the Old Bailey, when he surely must have real experts available to him by email or telephone.

I don't find this post very helpful. I obviously don't know the answer otherwise I wouldn't have asked the question.

I have absolutely no idea about motor insurance law and neither does anyone else in my firm.

Gloomendoom

Hammyman wrote: »

If it is in a private car park and off the Queens Highway, you don't need to have it insured.

If the public has unrestricted access to the private car park or road then any vehicles in it may need to be road legal. Supermarket car parks and roads on industrial estates are a good example of when they do need to be taxed, MoT'd and insured etc.

You can find out if its on the Queens Highway by looking at the deeds for the property its parked on/in and seeing where the boundary lines are. Contrary to belief, the QH doesn't stop at the kerb and in some cases extends past the path and the grass in front of a house to the garden wall as some people, my parents included, have found out to their expense.

That should read that in 'most cases'. People who put rocks or posts etc. on the verge outside their houses are, technically, obstructing the highway and could be fined. They will also be liable for any damage caused caused by said rocks or posts etc. to any pedestrians or vehicles trying to use that part of the highway... including parking on it.

Our local parish council found that out the hard way.

There are plenty of insurance companies who offer "lay up" insurance which covers you for fire, theft and damage but no road use.

Unfortunately, most insurers will insist that vehicle is garaged.

vikingaero

david39 wrote: »

I find it difficult to understand why a solicitor does not have enough contacts through his profession to enable him to know how to answer the question himself.

It seems strange that he has come to a board such as this, frequented by enough lay-lawyers to fill the Old Bailey, when he surely must have real experts available to him by email or telephone.

Most solicitors are engaged in private practice or commercial work and will have very little knowledge of other aspects of law such as insolvency law.

Why should a solicitor know? There are very few solicitors that specialise in motoring law. Even the Police themselves who are responsible for upholding the law do not always know the law.

dacouch

I don't think laid up insurance is any good for what you want as it typically covers Fire and Theft with sometimes theinclusion of Accidental Damage to your own vehicle. It does not normally include cover for third party liability which is what's needed if the car park is classed as being under the Road Traffic Act.

benham3160

To my knowledge, it'll need to be insured on any road where it is understood the public have access.

For example, you can be arrested for drink driving in a private car park, if it's ungated and anybody could drive in. I think similar applies with regards to insurance. The "Highway" element I don't think actually comes into play, as you'd need insurance to drive around Sainsbury's carpark, which is private (non-highway) road, as the public have access.

Regards,
Andy