3rd party insurance on other vehicles vs named driver

Arfa__

Quick question, regarding the 3rd party insurance to drive other vehicles included with my policy.

I have TPFT insurance on my vehicle, it covers me to drive other vehicles with 3rd party cover. My wife has just bought a new vehicle, also insured it TPFT, which I may want to use occasionally. Any reason not to just use the cover provided by my policy, rather than adding myself as named driver to her policy? Is this perfectly kosher?

Am I right in saying the only difference being any claims would be against my insurance rather than hers?

The reason I ask: I have an outstanding claim on my policy where liability hasn't been nailed down (my insurance reckons 100% other parties fault, but they're contesting it and it's gone to legal proceedings). As such, sticking me down as a named driver bumps my wifes premium quite a bit.

advantix

Driving other cars cover usually excludes any car owned by partner / spouse. You would need to check with your insurance company.

Also, its unusual for DOC cover to be included on TPFT policies, i thought it was only provided on fully comp policies.

OddballJamie

Myself and my partner have each other as named drivers, bizarrely we save over £300 by doing this.

Regarding your TPFT insurance, have you saved much by doing this rather than fully comp?

Aretnap

Read the small print carefully - some companies exclude cars owned by a spouse or other close relative from their driving other cars cover. Otherwise no reason I can think of why not - usually the downside of using DOC cover is that it only gives you third party cover, but if you've only insured your wife's car third party then you're presumably willing to take a chance on having to pay for damage to it yourselves anyway.

InsideInsurance

Some insurers try to restrict DoC to exceptional circumstances type things and so arguing using your wifes car is exceptional may be difficult. Also remember that with DoC you often dont have legal expenses cover and so you are on your own or at the mercy of ambulance chasers if you are involved in a not 100% your fault accident.


Have you actually compared costs with Comprehensive cover? In many cases Comp is cheaper than TPFT, if the car is of little value then bump the excess up to something high but reasonable (before the mainstream players stop quoting) and you'll probably be a lower premium (though no difference to DoC)

Arfa__

OK, will give my insurance a bell and confirm the DOC cover does indeed extend to my wife's vehicle. Legal cover point is interesting though.

In fact, both vehicles in question are motorbikes. FC cover on my bike was crazy high, as it is my first bike after passing test. FC cover on my wife's bike didn't make sense as it was only worth a few hundred quid and was more expensive. TBH I can't ever see us putting a claim on this insurance, even if it was pinched, just not worth premium increase. Value of bike minus excess would be a pitiful cheque back.

Probably wouldn't use my wife bike much, as it's quite low and bit cramped for me. But could be handy if mine was ever off the road. Was hoping to add me as named driver anyway later, once my claim has been settled (3rd party would be mad to actually fight the claim in court, most likely just delaying tactics).

InsideInsurance

The bike market is very different to Car, I think most assumed "vehicle" was a car rather than bike.

dacouch

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Some insurers try to restrict DoC to exceptional circumstances type things and so arguing using your wifes car is exceptional may be difficult. Also remember that with DoC you often dont have legal expenses cover and so you are on your own or at the mercy of ambulance chasers if you are involved in a not 100% your fault accident.


Have you actually compared costs with Comprehensive cover? In many cases Comp is cheaper than TPFT, if the car is of little value then bump the excess up to something high but reasonable (before the mainstream players stop quoting) and you'll probably be a lower premium (though no difference to DoC)

Insurers restricting driving other cars to exceptional circumstances, interesting.

Aretnap

Shirley they a would need to offer a more precise definition of when it can be used than "exceptional circumstances"? I believe the intention behind it may have originally been that it was for emergencies, but that's not been a condition of the DOV cover on any policy I've ever had, nor do I see how it could be turned into a meaningful condition anyway. Is it an emergency if my wife's feeling tired and wants me to take over driving? Is it an emergency if my own car's broken down? Is it an emergency if we've run it of milk and the vcar's coming round for tea?

Gloomendoom

Don't call me Shirley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A5t5_O8hdA