Insurers cut 'other car' clause?

Money-saving move to to hit second car owners

By PH Staff / Thursday, 6 October 2005 / Loading comments

Do you insure this and drive a Porker?

The insurance industry looks set to cost you more -- but not perhaps quite as you'd expect.

Norwich Union has become the first to announce that it's to scrap the clause, known as Driving Other Cars (DOC), that allows us to drive a second car with just third party protection. The move takes effect in January.

With police support, the aim is to remove the scam which allows owners of two or more cars to insure the cheapest one but use the more expensive one on a regular basis. You buy and insure a Polo, for example, but mostly drive the Porsche. It saves money, although you have to hope that the more expensive car doesn't get re-textured by contact with something.

According to Auto Express, abolishing DOC clauses is a move the insurance industry is discussing across the board. Meanwhile, NU has said that this won't affect existing insurers, only new ones -- until you renew.

The reports suggests that insurers Cornhill Direct, AXA, Sun Alliance and More Than could be pondering emulating NU's policy.