Car not being used - insurance required?

fluffnutter

My car's not being used at present but will remain parked on the road. I know having valid VED is a stipulation but is insurance? Obviously it can't cause an accident because it's not going anywhere, I don't care if it gets nicked but I suppose there's always the possibility that it will explode and damage other things in the process...

So do I need insurance?

paddedjohn

If its parked on the public highway then it needs insurance. If you can get it off the road and don't want to insure it then you can return the tax disc for a refund and declare SORN.

ianders

It needs to be continually insured unless it's SORN

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/blog/new-car-insurance-laws-explained/

Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) regulations

As of June 2011, all vehicles registered in the UK must now be continuously insured.

The only exception to this rule is when the owner has guaranteed that the vehicle never goes on the road by sending a completed Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Association (DVLA).

Basically, if you are not using your vehicle, and you can keep it off the public highway, you should fill in a SORN. And if you are using it, it must be insured at all times.

Failure to abide by CIE could result in a court prosecution and a penalty of between £100 and £1,000, while your vehicle could also be wheel-clamped, impounded, or even destroyed.

These measures are in addition to the powers the police already have to seize an uninsured vehicle and fine its driver.

And with the DVLA and the Motor Insurance Database (MID) working together to pinpoint drivers who have not insured their vehicles, the chances of flouting the rules successfully are slim.

The good news, however, is that cracking down on uninsured drivers in this way should reduce the cost of the accidents caused by these motorists.

As these costs are covered by the insurance industry, which adds about £30 a year on the average policy to cover them, this should then translate into cheaper premiums for us all.

Herzlos

If it's on the road and taxed it needs insurance.

You can only avoid having insurance if you get it SORN'd, but then you need to keep it off the road.

You can probably get 3rd party only cover with no mileage allowance pretty cheap, if you're not using it.

arcon5

Depending on how long it will be off road, look in to renting a garage or renting a private parking space, some people with driveways will rent out the driveway if they have no use for it

fluffnutter

Thanks all.

Mrs_Imp

fluffnutter wrote: »

but I suppose there's always the possibility that it will explode and damage other things in the process...

So do I need insurance?

It does happen

My car spontaneously combusted one night. There was also a short out, which turned the starter motor, resulting in my flaming car driving along the road, with no-one in it, in to the back of another parked car. Something under the bonnet then exploded (battery? there wasn't a lot left of it) and damaged another neighbouring car. :eek:

Ultrasonic

Mrs_Imp wrote: »

It does happen

My car spontaneously combusted one night. There was also a short out, which turned the starter motor, resulting in my flaming car driving along the road, with no-one in it, in to the back of another parked car. Something under the bonnet then exploded (battery? there wasn't a lot left of it) and damaged another neighbouring car. :eek:

Did you leave it parked in gear with the hand-brake off? Even in the spectacularly unlikely event of a car starting itself I'm struggling with what made it move down the road! Or was it on a hill and the fire destroyed the brakes perhaps?

Stooby2

Regardless of what might happen with the vehicle, you are required by law to have the vehicle insured if it is kept on the road. And that's it really.

Mrs_Imp

Ultrasonic wrote: »

Did you leave it parked in gear with the hand-brake off? Even in the spectacularly unlikely event of a car starting itself I'm struggling with what made it move down the road! Or was it on a hill and the fire destroyed the brakes perhaps?

An old car, so I was in the habit of leaving her in gear. Handbrake was on. And yes, it did start itself. There were two very bemused witnesses.