Driving a Van on car insurance....what is the likely penalty??

kimidge

Hi,

I really need some advice. To cut a long story short I scrapped my car the other day as it wasn't worth trying to fix it, I had insurance on my car which also covered driving other vehicles. My partner was a named driver on my policy but when he got his van I didn't add myself as a named driver to his as i had this already covered in my policy or so I thought.

On the way back from the scrap yard I drove my partners van as I was going to cancel my policy as soon as I got home and knew I wouldn't be driving for again for a little while. We randomly got a stop and check by the police and I now have to hand in my insurance docs to the police station.

The police informed me that as I had sold the car as scrap (not even 10 minutes before I was pulled over) my insurance would be void because the car officially does not exist anymore. (im not too worried about this as I have the tickets to prove just how soon after I scrapped the car I was pulled over) But this is why they want me to take my docs to the police station.

I've since re-read my insurance policy and it does cover me to drive other motor cars but does not say anything about vans. which I've since found out have a completely different type of insurance even when they are only used for domestic reasons. I really would like to know if I am likely to receive a fine and 6 points for driving the van???

I would be grateful if anyone could help, Thanks Kim

custardy

kimidge wrote: »

Hi,

I really need some advice. To cut a long story short I scrapped my car the other day as it wasn't worth trying to fix it, I had insurance on my car which also covered driving other vehicles. My partner was a named driver on my policy but when he got his van I didn't add myself as a named driver to his as i had this already covered in my policy or so I thought.

On the way back from the scrap yard I drove my partners van as I was going to cancel my policy as soon as I got home and knew I wouldn't be driving for again for a little while. We randomly got a stop and check by the police and I now have to hand in my insurance docs to the police station.

The police informed me that as I had sold the car as scrap (not even 10 minutes before I was pulled over) my insurance would be void because the car officially does not exist anymore. (im not too worried about this as I have the tickets to prove just how soon after I scrapped the car I was pulled over) But this is why they want me to take my docs to the police station.

I've since re-read my insurance policy and it does cover me to drive other motor cars but does not say anything about vans. which I've since found out have a completely different type of insurance even when they are only used for domestic reasons. I really would like to know if I am likely to receive a fine and 6 points for driving the van???

I would be grateful if anyone could help, Thanks Kim

The bit in red,I'm not so sure you should be so complacent.
once scrapped,your insurance would be void.
So the time doesnt really come into it

TrickyWicky

As above. As your insurance covered cars only your point doesn't count in the eyes of the law.

Sorry to say I don't think you'll get off lightly. I think you're going to get some points and maybe a court appearance.

kimidge

Oh no, not what I wanted to hear but what I expected if I'm honest. Thank you

Paperbird

If police say you will be fined for no insurance you will need to phone your insurance and ask them, if they say you were covered get it in writing and you have nothing to worry about.

Johno100

kimidge wrote: »

On the way back from the scrap yard I drove my partners van as I was going to cancel my policy as soon as I got home and knew I wouldn't be driving for again for a little while. We randomly got a stop and check by the police and I now have to hand in my insurance docs to the police station.

The police informed me that as I had sold the car as scrap (not even 10 minutes before I was pulled over) my insurance would be void because the car officially does not exist anymore. (im not too worried about this as I have the tickets to prove just how soon after I scrapped the car I was pulled over) But this is why they want me to take my docs to the police station.

How do the police know you sold the car for scrap? Did you volunteer that information?

Aretnap

There are two separate questions really.

The first is whether your driving other vehicles cover still applies if you've scrapped you own car. It will depend on the wording of your policy of course, but FWIW one of the conditions of mine is that "you still have your car and it has not been damaged beyond economic repair". if yours has a similar clause then you won;t be covered - and I suspect that as far as the fact that you'd only just scrapped it goes, a miss is as good as a mile. That said, if you have one of the better insueres they may give you a bit of leeway.

The second is whether your DOV cover applies to vans. Again that depends on the terms of your policy, but if it says "car" rather than "motor vehicle" then I reckon you're stuffed. Maybe some room for argument if it was a car-derived van I suppose.

If you fail either of these points then you're looking at a minimum of 6 points and a hefty fine I'm afraid, assuming the police don;t drop the ball. It's worth ringing up your insurer though and asking them to confirm whether they would have covered you in the circumstances - and if you were, asking them to put it in writing. If they're prepared to do that then you have a defence to any no insurance charge.

jb66

Tell the police they never scrapped it till you got home

cgk1

jb66 wrote: »

Tell the police they never scrapped it till you got home

Then what happens if they phone the scrapyard and they say something different?

Joe_Horner

What sort of van? If it's a car based" one like an Escort, Astra, Pug Partner etc then your DOC insurance should cover it if it was still in force.

The fact you'd sold it for scrap is another matter and likely to be more of a problem if the policeman noted that fact. You may also have a problem with other vehicles owned by your partner (some policies exclude that, some don't)

derrick

It seems like the police allowed the OP to continue driving the van, if so they must assume they had insurance, otherwise they would have impounded the van!

.