Driving with no insurance

[powster]

I drove my friends car because my insurance policy said 'other vehicles available - yes'. It didnt describe what this meant in the insurance documents so I assumed it meant i was insured to drive other vehicles.
I then went out and crashed into someone. My insurance company and my friend's both said I was not insured. My friend's insurance paid out to the person i crashed into and now they have sent me a letter telling me to pay �1300. Do I have any defence? Is there any way to get out of it?Afterall I wouldnt have driven if I didnt think I was insured!

[NORMANTHEDOG]

so why if you dident understand it,phone up and check it out,im glad you have been caught,lets also hope the police are informed,then you will get6/8 points and a heavy fine and with a bit of luck you will lose you licence if you have passed your test in the last two yrs

perhaps then you might think first,its a good job you dident kill anyone,or youd be sharing a cell with the bloke in yesterdays papers for the next 7 yrs.

and no,how the hell do you think you can get out of it.

[Mortartube]

In a slightly less brutal and Nazi party way than the last answer poster (who incidentally, I hope is the first against the wall when the next revolution comes, pompous, pious Tw@t).

I would suggest that you ask your insurers to state in writing exactly what the phrase in question does mean in a legally binding way and to point out that you believe that their policy is deliberately written to be misleading to give them the opportunity to avoid their responsibility to pay out. on the stated terms of their policy.


You should also tell your friemds insurers that as they made the unilateral decision to pay out without consulting you, it is their responsibility. (I assume they didn't write and say they were paying out and give you a chance to object or voice an opinion).

Also tell them that you intend to report them to the association of British Insurers for being deliberately misleading.

[Ethel]

I agree with everything moratube says except the insurance had no option but to pay out to third party - that is the law, but they do have the right to recover the money from the driver in these situations.

Similarly if the registered keeper inusured runs somebody over whilst drunk, the insurance is legally obliged to pay out to the third party but they will get it back from the driver if at all possible.

How old are you? Where exactly does it say 'other vehicles available' on the policy?

[powster]

Thanks for your reply,
Im 26. Under the title 'About me, Regular driver' it lists date of birth and other information about me and then says 'other vehicles available - Yes'. I spoke to the insurance company and apparently it means that I drive other vehicles for work etc, but Im not insured to drive them on this policy. It doesnt explain this anywhere on the policy and I didnt assumed it meant that I was insured to drive other vehicles.

[Ethel]

I am sorry to say the insurance is quite correct and there is no ambiguity.

If you were insured to drive your friend's vehicle on your insurance policy there would be clear wording on the policy that states:
The insured is covered by third party insurance to drive any other vehicle not belonging to him or hired to him and is being driven with the owner's consent

Or words to that effect.

I can only assume that you ticked 'other vehicles available' on the application form and this is not stated on the policy under liability

[rental7]

def correct, does insure for fire of theft either if you were the last driver, owner of cars problem not yours as he/she should not have let u drive the car, if they didnt know the risk

[flashdj]

Hi powster
is your policy comprehensive or 3rd party ?
if its the first then you can drive any vehicle 3rd party meaning you pay for damages to the car you drive
also the insurance document says you have access to any vehicle ?
well any court of law would see that means all vehicles that you are licenced to drive as stated on your driving licence.
so if i where you i would get solicitors advice pronto .

[leighb]

use you have fully comp insurance, it does NOT automaticaly cover you to drive other cars 3rd party.

[leighb]

Above should of read "Because"