Driving other cars (insurance I'm afraid)
Discussion
A friend (an actual friend that I've known for over 30 years) has asked me to help out with some driving in a couple of weeks. This will involve driving his car a couple of times. So, I have the driving other cars clause on one of my insurance policies (with Direct line), my question is at what point does a car turn into a van?
The car in question is the superbly named Mazda Bongo Friendee, which while it is described as an MPV, has glass in the rear and seats and a pop-up roof, looks, sounds and feels like a van. MY VW Caravelle also has (factory fitted) glass in the rear and rear seats, but I'd not class that as anything other than a minibus and don't let my friends drive it on DOC cover.
I'm going to put myself through the torture of talking to a call centre to get an answer that I probably can't rely on anyway, but am throwing the question out there in case anyone already knows.
The car in question is the superbly named Mazda Bongo Friendee, which while it is described as an MPV, has glass in the rear and seats and a pop-up roof, looks, sounds and feels like a van. MY VW Caravelle also has (factory fitted) glass in the rear and rear seats, but I'd not class that as anything other than a minibus and don't let my friends drive it on DOC cover.
I'm going to put myself through the torture of talking to a call centre to get an answer that I probably can't rely on anyway, but am throwing the question out there in case anyone already knows.
fatjon said:
On your certificate of insurance (as opposed to the waffle that comes with it) you will probably not find the word "car" you will find you can drive other "vehicles" for which you are hold a valid licence.
I have my certificate of motor insurance in front of me (Equity Red Star, through Adrian Flux):'The policyholder may also drive a private motor car not belonging to him/her and not hired to him/her under a hire purchase or leasing arrangement, as long as the policyholder has the owner's permission to drive the car.'
This is something I have been pondering, as my stupid mate is getting banned today, and I need his van to return my dad's ladders. The safest option is to ask the insurer.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
akirk said:
does it not depend on the licence category required to drive it?
can drive it on a car licence = car for insurance purposes...
need a lorry licence then it is not a car!
No. You cannot drive a Fiesta Van on a DOC extension, but you can drive it with a car licence! can drive it on a car licence = car for insurance purposes...
need a lorry licence then it is not a car!
some policies state other car, some policies state other vehicle...
a twin cab pickup might be defined as a car or not depending on payloads etc.
so clarification might be useful from any specific insurance company
Phone the insurer and ask them, that way they have a call recording where they agreed to cover you - if they do!
If you want to read about types of vehicle and DOC have a read of Laurence v Davies 1972.
If the insurer exclude it then its not covered, but if they just say 'motor car' then they follow the Road Traffic Act definition - but much easier to phone them and ask right?
If you want to read about types of vehicle and DOC have a read of Laurence v Davies 1972.
If the insurer exclude it then its not covered, but if they just say 'motor car' then they follow the Road Traffic Act definition - but much easier to phone them and ask right?
akirk said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
akirk said:
does it not depend on the licence category required to drive it?
can drive it on a car licence = car for insurance purposes...
need a lorry licence then it is not a car!
No. You cannot drive a Fiesta Van on a DOC extension, but you can drive it with a car licence! can drive it on a car licence = car for insurance purposes...
need a lorry licence then it is not a car!
some policies state other car, some policies state other vehicle...
a twin cab pickup might be defined as a car or not depending on payloads etc.
so clarification might be useful from any specific insurance company
And a twin cab (crew cab) pick up cannot be defined as a car, because it's a pick up. It's a commercial vehicle.
ads said:
Out of interest my brother has a double cab Ford Ranger. Does this mean I wouldn't be able to drive this under the driving other cars cover?
What is your policy's definition of 'Private Motor Car' ?If it's 'a privately owned motor car manufactured to carry up to eight passengers, which is designed solely for private use and has not been constructed or adapted to carry goods or loads' (or similar), then you wouldn't be covered.
LV is quite definitive:
LV said:
Private Motor Car
How the other car is described on your certificate of motor insurance when allowing the driving other cars extension. Driving other cars and this definition is given with the intention of allowing you to drive private motor cars only under the extension of cover. It does not extend cover to car derived vans, vans, motorcycles, or any other motor vehicle.
How the other car is described on your certificate of motor insurance when allowing the driving other cars extension. Driving other cars and this definition is given with the intention of allowing you to drive private motor cars only under the extension of cover. It does not extend cover to car derived vans, vans, motorcycles, or any other motor vehicle.
fatjon said:
On your certificate of insurance (as opposed to the waffle that comes with it) you will probably not find the word "car" you will find you can drive other "vehicles" for which you are hold a valid licence.
All my old policies used to state, as long as licence allows, 'any vehicle'. Over the years this became 'any car or motorcycle' and finally 'any car'.I have 3rd party cover on any car and separate Commercial Insurance for my Ford Ranger Supercab - though even the Commercial Insurance doesn't give me 3rd Party Cover on any other commercial vehicle.
Seems the Insurance Companies are nailing / have nailed everything down.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
akirk said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
akirk said:
does it not depend on the licence category required to drive it?
can drive it on a car licence = car for insurance purposes...
need a lorry licence then it is not a car!
No. You cannot drive a Fiesta Van on a DOC extension, but you can drive it with a car licence! can drive it on a car licence = car for insurance purposes...
need a lorry licence then it is not a car!
some policies state other car, some policies state other vehicle...
a twin cab pickup might be defined as a car or not depending on payloads etc.
so clarification might be useful from any specific insurance company
And a twin cab (crew cab) pick up cannot be defined as a car, because it's a pick up. It's a commercial vehicle.
but there is just a small possibility that an insurance company you are not familiar with might say vehicle
and it is just possible that there are definitions around for motor car which mean that as long as the load carrying capacity is low enough a twin cab pick up could be argued to be a car not a commercial vehicle
what we don't know, or seems difficult to discover is what the insurance company definition of a car / vehicle might be...
and I suspect that it will be different for every insurance company - I don't recollect ever touching on this when working in the industry...
Edited by akirk on Thursday 30th July 15:25
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