Lending vehicle to named driver - liability?

Kamper

Hello,

New to this forum so hello everyone and hope there is someone out there who can advise. I am the owner of a 1980s VW campervan insured under a specific motorhome/classic vehicle policy which allows up to 4 named drivers. This year, for the first time I have put 3 friends on the policy and said they can borrow the van. There is no benefit to me from this, it is is purely as a favour and they will not be paying for its use.

My question is, if one of these friends had an accident and either they or a passenger were injured, is there any way in which I personally could be held liable and sued? No doubt third parties would be covered by the insurance policy but what about the driver and passengers? Is there a disclaimer I can get them to sign to say that whilst in their hands, all liability associated with the van is with them, as if they were the owner (including assuring themselves beforehand of it's roadworthiness)? If so, does anyone have a suitable legal form of words to use?

Of course the van is well maintained and I wouldn't dream of either using it myself or lending it out if I had any reason to believe it was anyway unsafe but at the end of the day it is a 30year of vehicle so despite recent service and MOT, there is always the potential to breakdown. Neither would I have put these particular friends on my insurance if I believed they were the sort of people who would sue for something that was out of my control but you never know, especially once the 'Find out how much your accident is worth' texts and emails start should the worst happen.....

Any advice from the legally minded would be much appreciated.

Quentin

All passengers will be covered by way of the policy.

Your main concern should be that in the event of any claim where the driver is at fault will mean your NCD (if unprotected) will be impacted, your excess will be payable and after any claim (fault or non fault) you can expect your future premiums to be loaded.

vaio

Quentin wrote: »

All passengers will be covered by way of the policy.......

but not the driver

Quentin wrote: »

.......Your main concern should be that in the event of any claim where the driver is at fault will mean your NCD (if unprotected) will be impacted, your excess will be payable and after any claim (fault or non fault) you can expect your future premiums to be loaded.

and, this will also cascade down into any other motor policies you have or are named on