MOT expires whilst I am stuck abroad-effect on insurance

cestina

I have already posed this question here under motoring and am grateful for the replies. I am still however left with one question which is can the insurance company refuse liability if the car can be shown to have been roadworthy if a valid MOT certificate is required under their policy conditions.  
I am still in a dilemma whether to talk to the insurance company to try to persuade them to waive that condition under circumstances which are beyond my control because of covid and the tightening of borders (things have tightened even further since I first posted at the beginning of January).  It seems to me that if the insurance company refuses to help then I am in a total fix, quite apart from the possibility of their cancelling my policy.   I have looked into reregistering the car over here and it is clear that this is very much a last resort option.

williamgriffin

You've already been given a number of options, it's clear that your mind will only be at rest when you have a definitive answer. That will only come from the insurance company. 

cestina

I think you may be right William :-(

sheramber

Have you applied for the green card, which is required since Brexit.

Sandtree

What section states that the MOT certificate is required?

If it is the general T&Cs then there is a risk, if its under the accidental damage section then the risk is only towards your own damage but not any third party liability.

Most insurance companies ask that the vehicle is roadworthy and not explicitly that an MOT certificate is in place. In those types of policies the lack of an MOT cert simply impacts the value of your vehicle and so makes a total loss more likely and a lower settlement if it occurs.

cestina

Yes I have taken the precaution of a green card for the past two years as the whole Brexit situation was so unclear.
Website won't let me download the policy booklet again today but I did make a note when I checked it recently that it was in Section 2 of the General Conditions...

Will keep trying for the policy booklet itself to double-check....

williamgriffin

Sandtree said:

What section states that the MOT certificate is required?

If it is the general T&Cs then there is a risk, if its under the accidental damage section then the risk is only towards your own damage but not any third party liability.

Most insurance companies ask that the vehicle is roadworthy and not explicitly that an MOT certificate is in place. In those types of policies the lack of an MOT cert simply impacts the value of your vehicle and so makes a total loss more likely and a lower settlement if it occurs.

Some may most specify it should be mot'd if applicable.

cestina

Final update - in the end I bit the bullet and contacted SAGA. They could not have been more helpful. Predictably I am not the only person facing this situation and I think they are probably handling it on a one by one basis according to circumstances. They have agreed to cover me until I can get back to the UK for a pre-booked MOT, and have asked me to obtain either an MOT equivalent from the Czech Republic or, if that is not possible (it isn't) then to have the main basic things required by an MOT checked and certified by a garage so that if there is a claim, I can show the car was roadworthy.  They have not asked to see this certification in advance, nor do they require me to return by a certain date.
All the necessary information about their agreement has been added to my file and was read out to me as it was recorded.   Great relief! Thanks to all who contributed to this thread.  It helped to clarify my mind!