Am I the registered keeper or my company?

angel81uk

Have just bought a car through my ltd company for the first time and am having no end of problems trying to sort out insurance before its delivered on thursday. I don't actually have the V5 as yet but the dealer said the car would be registered to my business and that's where the problem lies.

As far as I can see in the DVLA's leaflets, when a company is listed on the registration document there is still a requirement to list a persons name as the person responsible for the vehicle, that person is me. So when getting insurance quotes should I be ticking the box to say I am the registered keeper or not? I have phoned a number of insurance companies and they can't give me a clear answer either way. I don't want to get it wrong and end up unintentionally without proper cover. But surely my circumstances aren't that unusual?

rs65

I think the company is the registered keeper, you would be the person responsible.

The following is copied from INS160 which seems to acknowledge a company can be a keeper.

If the vehicle is registered in the name of a business or organisation, give the business or organisation name and then give the full name of the person responsible for the vehicle.

Its not a question for insurance companies to give you an answer.

angel81uk

That backs up what I thought. The problem is if I'm not the owner or the registered keeper every insurer I've contacted said they can't offer me cover. It looks like my only option is to register it in my name rather than the business but I'll have to check with my accountant how that will affect things as far as HMRC are concerned.

rs65

Just insure it in the company name. Not sure if the aggregator sites will cope with this. You may need a broker.

Just looked at Direct Line
Q. Is it possible to get car insurance on a car that is not owned by my partner or me?

A. If it is a company car, or one that is on long-term lease for example, we can look at insuring it in your name. To discuss your circumstances further please contact our Customer Hotline on 0845 246 8701.

kingstreet

The company is the registered keeper and should be the policyholder of an insurance policy.

You will be the "person keeping the vehicle" and therefore a driver named on the insurance policy.

Your problem here is you are probably trying to arrange insurance via "owner-driver" comparison sites, while you actually need a commercial/business insurance product.

colino

As above. It sounds like the Ltd. Co. are paying for and registering the vehicle so you (the co.!) should arrange business insurance for it.
Believe me it is much better, even for a one-man-band outfit, to get your head around the fact that the limited company is a different, separate, legal entity. Keep your own ncb for a fun car if you like, but don't confuse the business with you.

arcon5

You being the registered keeper of the vehicle is unlikely to affect anything as far as your tax affairs are concerned. The registered keeper isn't necessarily the 'owner' of the vehicle and it should still be on the Ltd companies balance sheet.