"Does the driver own or use another vehicle?" "Where is the vehicle kept?"

martyp

Hi all,

Can anyone advise if this question has much of an effect on car insurance policies?

You only ever get one option to choose yet 3 tend to be applicable to me:

• I own another vehicle although it isn't roadworthy and SORN'd
• I am a named driver on another family member's car although have rarely driven it
• Am covered to drive the company pool car at work but have never driven it but may have a need to some time.
  

I never know which to select as such? Does anyone know if it makes much of a difference?

Also I park on the driveway and on the road about half and half, guessing driveway is considered better than road?

Myci85

Driveway definitely better I would say, though I only realised recently, some insurers do actually check you have a driveway! We moved last year to a house that the address makes it look like it's in a cul de sac of houses (none of which have drives) but we're actually on the road just before the cul de sac and have a drive. Insurer called me up to ask where the drive was as they couldn't see it on Google maps!

The other question I've no idea what impact it has on the insurance premium, but I would say 100% you have to answer yes to that question as you do both own and drive, even occasionally, other cars. 

kinger101

Well you own another vehicle.  And drive another one.  So you know the answer.  You've more to lose than gain by thinking the answer is something else.

martyp

Thanks, interesting they actually went so far to check on Google Maps. My road is a cul de sac so generally only cars for the houses in the street come into it rather than on a main road with cars going past all the time.

The problem with the question on the own and use is 3 of the different options apply to me so hard to know which one would have the most benefit.

MyRealNameToo

martyp said:

I never know which to select as such? Does anyone know if it makes much of a difference?

Also I park on the driveway and on the road about half and half, guessing driveway is considered better than road?

Different insurer have different views on which is the least risky:

• Garages - reasonable rate of low/modest claims when people hit their own garage when parking
• Driveway - makes it really easy to know where the keys are and keyless cars susceptible to repeater thefts you may as well put a bow on the car for them
• Road - more prone to hit and runs  

The last project I did in Motor insurance was to take the question off our website as we'd not used it as a rating factor for years and sample testing had shown customers were prone to not answering the question truthfully. 

Myci85

martyp said:

Thanks, interesting they actually went so far to check on Google Maps. My road is a cul de sac so generally only cars for the houses in the street come into it rather than on a main road with cars going past all the time.

The problem with the question on the own and use is 3 of the different options apply to me so hard to know which one would have the most benefit.

Ah I see what your issue is. I'm in similar situation as I own another vehicle (van) and am named driver on my sons car. I select that I own another vehicle if its a case of choosing one option. I think some may lump them together into a yes/no question?

martyp

MyRealNameToo said:

martyp said:

I never know which to select as such? Does anyone know if it makes much of a difference?

Also I park on the driveway and on the road about half and half, guessing driveway is considered better than road?

Different insurer have different views on which is the least risky:

• Garages - reasonable rate of low/modest claims when people hit their own garage when parking
• Driveway - makes it really easy to know where the keys are and keyless cars susceptible to repeater thefts you may as well put a bow on the car for them
• Road - more prone to hit and runs  

The last project I did in Motor insurance was to take the question off our website as we'd not used it as a rating factor for years and sample testing had shown customers were prone to not answering the question truthfully. 

That's great, thankyou. Yes I try to be as honest as possible with my answers. Some of course are black and white e.g. you have points or you don't and others I think there can be some variation such as annual mileage etc.

Interesting the considerations on the risks.

I take it the "normally" clause is often used to account for holidays, visiting people and all sorts.

martyp

Myci85 said:

martyp said:

Thanks, interesting they actually went so far to check on Google Maps. My road is a cul de sac so generally only cars for the houses in the street come into it rather than on a main road with cars going past all the time.

The problem with the question on the own and use is 3 of the different options apply to me so hard to know which one would have the most benefit.

Ah I see what your issue is. I'm in similar situation as I own another vehicle (van) and am named driver on my sons car. I select that I own another vehicle if its a case of choosing one option. I think some may lump them together into a yes/no question?

Definirely, it's that you have to select one option and can't choose multiple so no idea if one of them is considered better than another. Is there a higher risk owning another car than just having access to another or being a named driver etc.
As has been mentioned if 3 of the options apply to me I could "test" using them and see if any price difference as ultimately I'm not being dishonest as all apply.

I don't know how it would have an impact as such if I have access to another car for any reason or own another one if the policy is associated with the one I'm getting a quote for.
It's almost like for house insurance asking if I go into another house or own another house? Surely what I do in other cars with their own policies would be irrelevant or is it more about driving experience and exposure to driving different cars?