Driving my girlfriend's car in Ireland (insurance)

rockhead3006

I think the title says it all.

What is the deal with being insured to drive my girlfriend's car in Ireland. I have a UK driving license, and a car in the UK with fully comprehensive insurance. I know if I drive someone else's car in the UK, I'm covered by my own insurance for 3rd party cover. But I'm not sure about in Ireland.

Do I need to be added to her policy? Or does my insurance cover me already?

forgotmyname

I doubt your insurance will cover it. Some exclude Ireland or N.Ireland when getting quotes. You need to phone them to check.

But don't forget your only 3rd party if you are covered. Any damage you cause thats your fault wont be covered at all.

InsideInsurance

You need to read your policy and check:

a) If you have driving other cars cover or not, its been removed from many policies and often has age limits and

b) check territorial limits for the DOC section

There is no statutory right to DOC and therefore unlike the policy on the vehicle itself there is no statutory requirement for it to give TPO cover in the rest of europe.

Even if it does provide cover there is only third party cover at the minimum level as required by Irish law so if you were to have an accident there is no cover for damages to your own vehicle, its recovery etc. Remember that most breakdown cover excludes RTAs

Aretnap

You need to read the details of your own policy carefully; driving other cars cover usually only applies within the insurer's territorial limits (which sometimes include Ireland, and sometimes don't).

forgotmyname wrote: »

But don't forget your only 3rd party if you are covered. Any damage you cause that's your fault wont be covered at all.

Nor would any damage which isn't your fault - if you had a no fault accident or one where liability was in dispute you'd be left to deal with it yourself which means chasing Irish insurance companies, possibly through the Irish courts, with little or no help from your own insurer, as legal expenses cover doesn't usually apply when you're using the driving other cars extension.

TBagpuss

It would probably be worth while to get yourself added to her insurance. If this is for a short visit / holiday then the cost may be quite low. Other than that, the best bet is to ask your insurer whether you would be covered, and what the cover would include.

rs65

rockhead3006 wrote: »

Or does my insurance cover me already?

What does your policy say? Are you happy driving it 3rd party only? Is she happy with you driving it 3rd party only?

System

If it is Eire then DOC can't be used because it is normally a benefit limited to the UK and not other parts of the EU

nobbysn*ts

!!!!!! wrote: »

If it is Eire then DOC can't be used because it is normally a benefit limited to the UK and not other parts of the EU

I've looked at my current, and old policies, all cover the territorial limits of the policy, which is at least the eu. Any links for your statement?

InsideInsurance

nobbysn*ts wrote: »

I've looked at my current, and old policies, all cover the territorial limits of the policy, which is at least the eu. Any links for your statement?

http://www.aviva.co.uk/static/library/pdfs/motor/multi-car/NMDMG10249.pdf

Territorial limit is defined as GB, N.Ireland, channel islands and isle of man.

DOC says its only within the territorial limits.

rs65

Esure is:-

This cover only applies if the car is being driven in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands

Aretnap

Direct Line, OTOH, say it applies in the UK or the Repubic of Ireland (or the Channel Isands, IOM etc), but not the rest of the EU. So it does vary by insurer.