Car Insurance Excess question

LiquidStool

So, I've employed a care agency to look after my daughter, due to her medical condition they have refused to carry her in their own vehicles and have requested that they use mine. I'm willing to have my insurance extended to cover use of multiple drivers on the condition that if any of the staff claim on my insurance, they must pay the XS. The agency has advised their staff that they should not agree to this condition..... thoughts? My feeling is that why the hell should i pay the excess if i'm not the driver or even in the vehicle. Does anybody know the legal position? I've scoured the interweb for ages but can't find anything.:(

Aretnap

Why should the staff member pay the excess on someone else's car if, say, a hit and run driver damages it while they're driving, or it gets vandalised or stolen while in their care? If they drive it into a tree you might have more of a point, but there are many reasons why an excess might be payable.

The legal position would broadly be that if you lend your car to someone then you can agree whatever you like, within reason, about what you'll do in the event of an accident. If you can't come to an agreement between yourselves then your other option is that they don't drive your car. Or that you find a policy with little or no excess, which would avoid that particular problem (but would still leave you with the worry of how to deal with the increased premiums/loss of no claims bonus if they have an accident).

LiquidStool

OK your first point is well taken but you could also argue the point that any of those could happen whilst in charge of their own motor. Maybe an "At fault" clause would be more appropriate... With a 30 year clean driving record that i'm keen to keep, i fail to see why i should, as you rightly mention pick up the tab for increased premiums and being out of pocket. It's a conundrum and one that I hope can be solved amicably.... Thanks for your reply.

forgotmyname

I think you may struggle to get a decent price on the cover you need. Dont forget that a different person may turn up one day andf your insurance probably wont cover them.

They may have had their licence just a few days or maybe a foreign licence, Maybe they have had so many accidents that insurance is more than they earn.

Is it possible to employ a nanny instead?

FutureGirl

The policy will terms will state that the excess is due in the event of a claim. I don't think they will care who paid it, be it yourself of the carer driving the car, so long as it got paid.

forgotmyname

The insurer wont care who pays it as long as they are properly insured, but if you had to drive somebody elses car for your job would you pay their excess if the car got damaged and they claimed it was in your care so your fault?

Their excess could be higher than you think acceptable.

If an employer said i was liable for their no claims i would tell them where to go.