Volkswagen - Courtesy car

chokolat2

Hi everyone.

Just taken my car to VW dealer to warranty work, appointment which I had booked since last Saturday.
Was expcting a courtesy car, as lady on Sat explained over the phone that as long I have a fully comp insurance that allows me to drive other cars and courtesy cars - I am fine. I have this fully comp insurance that clearly states I am ok to drive other/courtesy cars.
They were running low on courtesy cars in the first part of the week, which is why the appointment was made for Thurs (today)

However this morning, the same lady changed her story and tried to charge me £12.50 for insurance. She explained that my insurance only covers other vehicles on third party basis only.

Is this correct that they should charge me the £12.50?
She didnt explain about the third party to me on the phone, just said if I am fully comp + can drive other cars, I am ok.
The car is also "Disabled" by the V5 docs, as my wife is disabled, does this affect anything?

Many thanks

marlot

My Toyota dealer charges me for the insurance if its a service, but its free if its warranty work.

'Driving other cars' extension usually is third party only, but some insurance cover gives fully comp for courtesy cars - it won't be in the insurance doc, but would be in the policy handbook. Or why not ring your insurance company and see if the cover they give is fully comp?

Lum

She is right that your cover only covers 3rd party damage, i.e. damage you do to someone else. It does not cover any damage you do to their car, or damage others do to their car if you don't catch them (e.g. someone reverses into you and does a runner). Unless you have a policy like in Marlot's post above.

The fact that your car has a disabled tax disc does not matter. That tax disc simply puts an additional restriction on your car. That it can only be used either by the disabled person or for a purpose that is of benefit to the disabled person.

Your courtesy car will come with a standard tax disc which will not have that restriction, but that doesn't prevent you from using the courtesy car for the benefit of your wife. In my experience what prevents that is that the courtesy car is usually a tiny little noddy car that cannot fit two people and a wheelchair!

forgotmyname

If the car was damaged in your care, You may have to pay for the repair yourself. If it was not your fault you could claim it back from the 3rd party but that may take some time.
Leaving you out of pocket.

marlot

I've just checked, and the wording is actually on my insurance certificate:

The insured vehicle:
The vehicle registration mark described above or
any vehicle loaned to the policyholder for a maximum of seven days from a garage, motor engineer or vehicle repairer while the vehicle registration described above is being either serviced, repaired or having an MOT test.

Unless you have something similar, the 'driving other cars' extension on your policy will be third party only

chokolat2

Hi marlot

Thank you for this. Yes my insurance does state its third party only - which is fine.
I just wished they would have explained this to me over the phone on Sat, and if I didnt want the courtesy car then at least I would not have waited until Thurs, I would have taken the car on Monday morning.

Thanks again;)