Driving other cars, third party cover

aroominyork

I thought is was standard for motor policies to give third party cover for driving other vehicles, but today two companies (GoSkippy and Vavista) have said they do not give this cover. Has this changed in recent years - is it becoming standard not to provide this cover?

Keep_pedalling

It’s not been a standard offering for many years.

mr_stripey

it's pretty rare to find this cover as standard on any policy in my experience and has been for some time

(sorry, crossed with @Keep_pedalling)

Car_54

mr_stripey said:

it's pretty rare to find this cover as standard on any policy in my experience and has been for some time

(sorry, crossed with @Keep_pedalling)

My experience is different, possibly because I'm much older?

I understand that companies at the bottom end of the market may not offer it at all, and others only to customers who meet their criteria - age, claims record, NCD, etc..

The OP should note that it's not normally "for driving other vehicles", but specifically for other CARS.

lordmountararat

My insurance has always covered me for third party driving another car, though that car has to be insured by someone. I check that I have it at every renewal because I understand it is being phased out.

daveyjp

Its something I need so I always check.  I've found if you go to the stripped down brands of the many larger companies it is one benefit that is dropped.

aroominyork

Thanks all. I'm looking at cheaper brands so that might explain it. The new tactic of adding a compulsory excess to a voluntary one is also annoying. It reminds me of an Andy Capp cartoon when he is in the bookie and realises there are four tills for taking bets but only one for paying out. 

CliveOfIndia

The DOC extension used to be fairly standard for most comprehensive policies, but it hasn't been that way for quite a few years now.  There are still quite a few insurers that do offer it, but it's by no means as widespread as it used to be.

aroominyork said:

The new tactic of adding a compulsory excess to a voluntary one is also annoying.

Likewise, that's always been the case - there's always a compulsory excess, and you can choose an additional voluntary excess to reduce your premiums.

Also, it's worth watching if you add a younger driver to your policy - very often, the compulsory excess for a younger driver will be higher than that for the older main policyholder.

MyRealNameToo

CliveOfIndia said:

Likewise, that's always been the case - there's always a compulsory excess, and you can choose an additional voluntary excess to reduce your premiums.

Also, it's worth watching if you add a younger driver to your policy - very often, the compulsory excess for a younger driver will be higher than that for the older main policyholder.

Excess can be an odd thing, whilst you would assume a higher excess gives you cheaper premiums there is an element of negative selection in there too and actually a lower excess can be cheaper, particularly compared to a very high excess (which also limits the number of firms that will quote)

Tends you be young and inexperienced driver additional compulsory excess, normally if you have less than 12 months with a full licence there will be an additional excess irrespective if you are 19 or 91 

aroominyork

The only reasonably priced option was Hastings Direct, with a telematics gizmo. Through confused.com it was £10 cheaper than through Hastings, and with no voluntary excess rather than £200. 

sheslookinhot

Are you happy with all the customer reviews of Hastings Insurance.