Car Insurance

[annieigma]

I have given a car to my grandaughter, Her partner has insured it for him to drive, but i am still the owner. is this legal?
thanks.

[dzug2]

As long as the insurance company are fully aware of the situation, then yes it's legal

[New Judge]

How has her partner insured it for him to drive? Is it an addition to an existing policy or has he insured it from afresh?

[TWR]

More to the point, can you trust her Partner Annie?

[annieigma]

Hi,
Yes, He has insured it for Him, I have purchased another vehicle and transferred my insurance over the same day.. I do know its insured and taxed,
i have seen the cover note. No I don't trust the little sh###t, but I don't want my Grandaughter and kids driving around in a old heap.

[IggyB]

You say you have given the car to your granddaughter but that you are still the owner - both of these can't be correct.

The legal owner / registered owner does not need to be the purchaser of insurance. It is perfectly legal for person A to be the registered legal owner and now drive the car and for person B to take out insurance and drive the car (provided they have the owners permission of course).

This situation happens all the time - think of husband and wife, car may be bought by the wife but exclusively driven by the husband who takes out insurance for this purpose.

If you are still the legal owner you can decline your permission to let the boyfriend drive the car but this wouldn't affect the insurance side of things, instead it would be a taking without consent issue for the police if he then drove it I believe.

[TWR]

Ckeck YOUR CAR on a un-noticed regular basis Annie, I'v no need to spell out, what I have written!!!!

[IggyB]

how can you not spell out what you have written? That is the very essence of writing!

[TWR]

Think about my answer Iggy, I've no need for me to spell it out to Annie, I'm sure she will understand what I mean.

[factor-fiction]

So who would be liable for speeding tickets or parking fines, annieigma?

[boxtops]

Good point, factor, as it says on another thread - the registered owner of the vehicle is responsible for them....

[Hopkirk]

Registered keeper, not owner.

[New Judge]

One complication that may arise here is that if the partner has taken out a comprehensive policy (i.e. one which includes the total loss of the car by accident, fire or theft) he has no financial interest in the vehicle and so cannot be paid out for its loss. It is a general principle of insurance that you cannot insure something which you do not own or in which you do not have a financial interest. (Imagine, I could take out a policy on one of David Beckham's two Bentleys and make a nice claim when he wraps it round a lamppost). Not all insurers will issue a policy to a driver for a car they do not own and those that do will want some enquiries made about the ownership.

You need to be very careful here, annieigma. If he has made a false statement when making the proposal (for example by saying the car is his) and it is discovered the insurers may cancel the policy retrospectively and you could find yourself prosecuted for allowing a car to be used or driven whilst uninsured.

[boxtops]

apologies - registered keeper

[bednobs]

To avoid any comeback, if you don't mind them having the car (you say"given" rather than "lent") why not just change it so it's in her name and she is the owner?

[annieigma]

thank you all,
i will put it in granddaughters name and tell Him( the driver) to contact the insurance company and confirm that they are happy with the situation.