Car insurance - stuck abroad. Should it be renewed? Loss of no claims...

lad22

Hi, my elderly dad in his 80s was visiting me for a 2 week holiday in South Africa and is now stuck here during lockdown and probably for 3-4 months until it's safe for him to return to the UK. His car insurance is up for renewal tomorrow. It will automatically be renewed unless we stop it. They're quoting about £450 fully comp (up about £70 on last year) He was thinking it should be stopped as he's not able to drive his car obviously. He would have to also pay for an off-load certificate. My concern is that if he does so, he will lose his no claims bonus and be starting all over again, which could be costly as he's elderly (though he still drives well). I suggested just searching for a cheaper option rather than stopping it. Thoughts? Thank you!

jimbo2108

Your no claims last for 2-3 years without any insurance i think? If anyone knows different will be corrected. It depends if he wants to take the risk of not insuring his car, what if it got stolen? Vandalised? etc

TadleyBaggie

Where is the car parked? 
He might fall foul of the DVLAs "continuous insurance" enforcement if insurance lapses but is still taxed.

sheramber

 Without insurance the car has to be sorned as 'off the  road'. It must not be parked on  a public road.
Without insurance he risks the car being stolen or damaged without any cover.

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/uninsured-vehicles
https://www.gov.uk/make-a-sorn

Hasbeen

lad22 said:

Hi, my elderly dad in his 80s was visiting me for a 2 week holiday in South Africa and is now stuck here during lockdown and probably for 3-4 months until it's safe for him to return to the UK. His car insurance is up for renewal tomorrow. It will automatically be renewed unless we stop it. They're quoting about £450 fully comp (up about £70 on last year) He was thinking it should be stopped as he's not able to drive his car obviously. He would have to also pay for an off-load certificate. My concern is that if he does so, he will lose his no claims bonus and be starting all over again, which could be costly as he's elderly (though he still drives well). I suggested just searching for a cheaper option rather than stopping it. Thoughts? Thank you!

If his car is not sitting on public road, but in his drive/garage/private land etc Then cancel or go for better deal.

If sitting on public road, car park etc then renew or go for better deal.

No claim bonus depending on company are valid up to 2-3 years. So no rush and no loss.

Off load certificate? South African paperwork that you pay for?  Or off road, UK requires SORN Statutory Off Road Notification, apply on line free to DVLA.

molerat

Declaring SORN could be problematic if he does not have access to the V5.

Hasbeen

molerat said:

Declaring SORN could be problematic if he does not have access to the V5.

Very true! but if OP decides to go down that route? Is there any other relatives in the UK that can get to the V5 and inform them?

Perhaps if not, OP should compare and insure with suitable company, after not renewing with present.

lad22

Thanks all! Friend can hopefully pop round and find the V5 in the car. It's kept in the driveway in a quiet village with pretty much no crime. I think our options are reinsure, declare via SORN, and then claim back regarding insurance, or maybe only buy 1 month's insurance, as his insurance say he won't lose his no-claims for 1-2 years (not every insurer will permit this, so obviously it's a risk as we have no idea of the cost when he tries to reinsure). Or possibly reinsure with fire and theft, as long as the company will allow upgrade when he finally gets home (forgot to ask this on the phone today). After asking for a discount and reducing annual mileage, they did come down by £40.  

Norman_Castle

Fire and theft insurance can be more expensive than comprehensive plus the insurer may charge for policy changes. Ask his current insurer if they will accept his ncb in a few months if he ends his policy now.

forgotmyname

1 months insurance may cost more than you think.  It wont be the years cost divided by 12. More like divided by four.

MovingForwards

Why is the V5 in the car? It should always be kept somewhere safe away from the car, regardless of how safe the area is.