Insured or Not

[Bob906]

My son is away in Afghanistan and is not due home till May 2010, while he is away he asked me to run his car for him. I am insured to drive anyone cars WITH THEIR PERMISSION but only third party. If his insurance expires while he is away am i still covered on my own insurance.

Thanks in advance

[ChuckFickens]

no

That clause in insurance policies requires the other car to be insured itself the reason is to stop people insuring a 2cv and then driving a Ferrari as the other veihcle.

[ABerrant]

Driving Other Cars (DOC) is not necessarily contigent on the "other car" having another policy in place. The only way to get accurate advice on the criteria for DOC coverage and under what circumstances it applies (e.g. emergency use only) is by asking your insurance provider.

[Panic Button]

All cars on the road must be insured..

If you drive on your insurance when his has expired, and get out of the car on a public road, then it has no insurance.

Therefore DOC is contingent on the car having another policy in place.

[ABerrant]

You have made an assumption that the person driving on DOC is going to park the car in public and leave it unattended, but that is not always the case.

Since road traffic law currently states it is the driver that must have insurance (not the car) then it is perfectly legal for a car which is temporarily stored off-road with no insurance to be legally driven (and I specifically mean driven, not parked) on the road using DOC provided the driver's insurance policy allows for such.

Therefore DOC cannot be contingent on the existence of another policy.

[Panic Button]

Is that the way the police see it?

If you have a bump at a junction, are you going to stay in the car and refuse to get out to exchange details?

[ABerrant]

Exiting the car for such a situation would not be leaving the vehicle unattended.

[ChuckFickens]

Think the safe answer for you Bob is.

No...

Otherwise get in writing that you are covered!

[ABerrant]

Think the safe answer is in my first reply... ask your insurance provider.

[Buenchico]

Ahmskunnirt:
You must have a very strange insurance policy!

Insurance is taken out against a risk. In the case of (compulsory 'third party') motor insurance, the risk involved is that the driver might be sued for compensation for damage or injury. You can't sue a car. It has to be the driver who is insured, not the car.

However, as ABerrant correctly states, any vehicle which is on a public road must have an insurance policy (relating to it being driven by someone) in place. Bob906's policy will be valid throughout the time which he is driving it but (as ABerrant also correctly points out) he must not leave it unattended on a public road.

Chris

[Bob906]

Thanks to all who answered, i have had a word with my sons partner and she showed me his certificate, his insurance does not expire till August 2010 so he must have renewed it before he went away.
THANKS AGAIN.

[dizmouk2009]

At that point you slap your friend, ask him where he parked it and tell the insurance company you parked it there and went out to town, simples.

[Caddieman18]

If that happens with the "twist" the insurance company cannot refuse your insurance. The vehicle would have been parked there if "Billy bloggs" used the vehicle or not so it has no bearing on the theft. If the insurance company does refuse you insurance. a little call to the Financial Ombudsman Service will soon clear that up.