Problem Insuring and Taxing 2 cars

Nhuni

I have a car, (Car 1) fully insured with Post Office insurance, taxed/MOT'd etc until July. Nothing wrong with it, and I intended keeping it, as I bought it new.

I received a new car (Car 2) as a birthday present last month, and to make sure I liked it, (as I'm rather attached to Car 1) before selling my original car, I was bought a short term (28 days) comp insurance on it.
I want to keep the new car, and am now advertising the old car, complete with tax etc.
However, this weekend, I intended transferring my insurance as the 28 days short term cover will have ended.
Problem is, if I transfer the insurance from old Car 1 to new Car 2, without the insurance on Car 1, it will invalidate the Tax.
I understand I will then have to SORN it, and then it will be untaxed. Not a good selling point, and no one can test drive it. Plus it's got no insurance while parked on the driveway, if someone should decide to key it! And unless I SORN it, it could be seized, destroyed etc etc.
So, I thought I'd do the right (expensive) thing, and take out a new, whole year's comp policy on Car 2, whilst letting the insurance on Car 1 run its course, or until it sells. That way it's insured for test drives, and taxed.
But no...I now see, when trying to pay another £200 for the new policy that I have to supply my NCB proof, (20 years worth!!) showing that it isn't attached to another policy!
Which, of course, it is...on the Car 1 policy.
I'm going round in circles here, trying to do the legal thing with the Tax, Insurance, SORN or no SORN, and I can't be the only person who is affected by all of this.
I actually thought, when I was given Car 2 a few weeks ago, that I could not only park it on my drive (it was already taxed, but had no insurance attached to it by the previous owner), but drive it with 3rd Party cover, under my comp policy on Car 1.
It took a call to my insurer late on a Friday night to realise that the law had changed a little while ago, and in fact as it wasn't insured, it had no tax valid either! Also, I never knew that the 3rd party cover which you get to drive another (not hired) car, with owners permission, is only applicable IF there is a valid insurance policy on that car.
We quickly took out the short term insurance and that cost more than a whole year on my Car 1 !!:eek:
Anyone got any other ideas on how I can do this, thereby keeping both cars taxed and insured, until the Car 1 is sold?
Thanks

dacouch

How told you that not having insurance invalidates your tax?

Not all Insurers require the other car to be insured when driven under the Driving other cars extension.

Have you tried ringing your normal insurer to ask if they can cover both car temporarily?

Nhuni

My insurer told me that having no insurance automatically invalidates the tax!
I called them the evening I was given the Car 2, to try to arrange either additional cover, short term, or to ask if my fully comp policy covered me to drive car 2 3rd party.
The insurer said "No". They also said that even if I transferred my policy when I'd decided if I wanted to keep the new car, they would charge me as £25 admin fee and an additional amount to take it up to my renewal date in July.
I asked what I'd get back if I cancelled the original policy (I 'd paid in full, annually, so still had 5 months to go). They said "Nothing...we take that as your cancellation fee!!"

That's why I took out the short term policy...

forgotmyname

If the car is not insured you are supposed to declare SORN and send the tax back.

Short term though, By the time the system catches up and give you time to send the forms off you will have sold it, yes?

Advertise it on ebay now and it maybe gone by the weekend. Sorted.

dacouch

The person who told you not having insurance does not know what they're talking about.

Try ringing again and speak to someone else and ask them about a cheap way of covering your old car while you sell it.

Be polite and if anyone tells you something that's complete B.S again ask them to confirm it in writing.

aeb_2

I understand what the OP is saying but a bit confused about my own circumstances

I have a car and so did my DH. He died so I rang to transfer his insurance to me. The ins. co. said I couldn't do this but they would refund the remainder of his policy and I had to take out a new policy. I did this so I have two cars taxed and insured in my name. At no time was I questioned about NCB on either car. Both have full NCB. Both cars policies have been renewed twice as it is three years ago. Did I do something wrong? Both are with the same company, and also the house ins. I get a multi-policy discount so the ins. co.know I have two cars in my name.

Just wondering

Nhuni

aeb..perhaps you are with one of the insurers who offer multi-car policies and mirror NCB on each. I think there are some, like Admiral, but dacouch would know!

Nhuni

dacouch wrote: »

The person who told you not having insurance does not know what they're talking about.

Try ringing again and speak to someone else and ask them about a cheap way of covering your old car while you sell it.

Be polite and if anyone tells you something that's complete B.S again ask them to confirm it in writing.

Thanks dacouch...will do this tomorrow.

Nhuni

forgotmyname wrote: »

If the car is not insured you are supposed to declare SORN and send the tax back.

Short term though, By the time the system catches up and give you time to send the forms off you will have sold it, yes?

Advertise it on ebay now and it maybe gone by the weekend. Sorted.

Got it in Autotrader....bit unsure about using EBay for cars.....

Nhuni

dacouch wrote: »

The person who told you not having insurance does not know what they're talking about.

Try ringing again and speak to someone else and ask them about a cheap way of covering your old car while you sell it.

Be polite and if anyone tells you something that's complete B.S again ask them to confirm it in writing.

I called my insurer...they reiterated that I have to have valid insurance on old car (which is up for sale) or the tax is void.
Asked to speak to a manager...was told none available.
In the end I transfered the insurance to the new car, as the woman was very unhelpful, and I needed to get the insurance sorted yesterday, when my short term policy expired.
I was told I have to send back my old insurance certificate.

Anyway, I have someone coming to see the "for sale" car tomorrow morning, and now I have another problem;

How can I give anyone a test drive...with no insurance!! Plenty of tax, but no insurance, as from today!
How DO people sell cars privately these days? If you have already bought the new car, and transfered the insurance?
Surely not everyone sells the first one before taking delivery of the new one??

Dumbe

Can you get a short term 28 day policy for the car you are selling?

Like you initially did for the new car?