Motor Insurance Disagreement

madze90

Hello there,

I have recently encountered a problem with my van insurance and I need some advice as I do not know where to turn now. Its a long story, but I will try and keep it short and simple!

I took out insurance on my transit at the start of May. Phoned them in August to enquire about me taking the van to europe, driving it for a month, parking it up(it won't be in use for 6 months due to working in a ski resort) then after 6 months driving it back to the UK.

I was told after the employee checked with the underwriter that I would be covered for this trip, but for third party only. I was asked to call back closer to the time to confirm plans etc. I was happy with this and then went ahead accepting the job and planning and spending everything!!

After calling back today, they re-checked with the underwriter, and now they are saying that I will not be covered for this trip, the maximum they are allowing me to drive in Europe is now only 2 weeks. They are admitting that they give me false information and have apologised for their mistake. They are saying now that the underwriter will not budge and they cannot do anything more for me.

I am obviously extremely annoyed and greatly put out at the situation, however i feel like i have a good leg to stand on as I was originally informed that I would be insured for what i needed.

I wonder if anyone can advise me on what to do. I have been on the phone all day, expressed my frustration, but to very little effect.

Thank you

forgotmyname

The person on the phone made a mistake the underwriter wont cover vehicles out of the country for that period of time.

Unless you want to spend years and lots of money trying to drag them through the courts i dont see that changing.

Sorry to say but its going to be change your plans or change the insurer.

halibut2209

Do you have written proof of them acknowledging their error?

EDIT: Forget this. I missed the part where you asked about this information several months after the policy began. You are bound only by your original agreement. Not by what might have be said afterwards.

InsideInsurance

All vehicles insured by any insurer in the EU/EEA (always get the two confused) are automatically covered to the minimum level as required by law of all other member states. The exact level of cover does vary by country but generally its roughly inline with the UKs third party only cover. This is a statutory requirement and so insurers dont have a choice

"European cover" is about extending your normal level of cover into other countries (ie TPFT or Comp) and this is purely at the discretion of the insurer and there is no statutory requirement for them to offer this.

Whilst there is always "the principle of the matter" are you really that bothered about having cover for own damage, fire and theft whilst driving it when you arent bothered for these at all whilst its parked up?

Assuming you are then register a complaint and advise them what you want the outcome to be. Realistically you wont get the insurer to honour what the broker said and so the best you can expect is a fee free cancellation and a small amount of compensation for the hassle of finding a new insurer but this is something the broker may well be able to do for you.