How can I confirm I’m insured on my partners company car?

[philmots]

As above, my partner recently acquired a company car and it was all agreed that I’m ok to be insured on it.

I’ve shared my license with them at their request, and there had to be a letter of confirmation from the company CEO to say they’re ok with it (I’m guessing this is an in house rule) this has all be done.

But is there a way I can actually check as currently I’d be potentially driving it just on their word, what if I was involved in an accident and it came out they hadn’t done something right, I’m assuming I’d be still liable for 6 points etc for no insurance. Or would a note saying I’m definitely insured be enough to make it not my issue.

I’m maybe overthinking it but I’m putting quite a lot of trust into people I don’t know.

Cheers

[BrabusMog]

philmots said:

As above, my partner recently acquired a company car and it was all agreed that I’m ok to be insured on it.

I’ve shared my license with them at their request, and there had to be a letter of confirmation from the company CEO to say they’re ok with it (I’m guessing this is an in house rule) this has all be done.

But is there a way I can actually check as currently I’d be potentially driving it just on their word, what if I was involved in an accident and it came out they hadn’t done something right, I’m assuming I’d be still liable for 6 points etc for no insurance. Or would a note saying I’m definitely insured be enough to make it not my issue.

I’m maybe overthinking it but I’m putting quite a lot of trust into people I don’t know.

Cheers

Ask for a copy of the policy and keep it in the glovebox, it will have wording along the lines of "employees of ABC Corps and nominated partners have permission to use this vehicle".

[eybic]

Your partner should be able to get a copy of the insurance cert which will likely say something along the lines of insured being anyone that has permission etc. you have written permission so perhaps keep that in the car.

[megaphone]

No you're not over thinking this. I had an issue many years ago, was told I was ok to drive someone's company car ( he was a top executive). After being pulled and given a producer(don't ask!), I asked him to get the insurance docs, I discovered I wasn't insured, fine and an endorsement followed. I still meet up occasionally with the prat who told me I was insured. Thank god I never had an accident.

[shep1001]

What about a copy of the company car policy? Ours specifies who can & can't drive - not by name but its worded as any employee, your spouse or child over the age of 21 with the correct licence entitlement.

[ianwayne]

megaphone said:

No you're not over thinking this. I had an issue many years ago, was told I was ok to drive someone's company car ( he was a top executive). After being pulled and given a producer(don't ask!), I asked him to get the insurance docs, I discovered I wasn't insured, fine and an endorsement followed. I still meet up occasionally with the prat who told me I was insured. Thank god I never had an accident.

I presume you didn't have your own car and insurance then? Third party any other car would likely have been included. But some companies don't include this so you need to check.

[philmots]

Thanks guys.

Will looks for policy info and written permissions etc.

[ElectricPics]

Most switched on fleet managers give their drivers a laminated sheet that can live in the glovebox sheet that includes details of insurance, breakdown number, maintenance, tyre providers, etc, but importantly who can drive the car - it usually states the employee and their spouse if the company allows that.

[megaphone]

ianwayne said:

megaphone said:

No you're not over thinking this. I had an issue many years ago, was told I was ok to drive someone's company car ( he was a top executive). After being pulled and given a producer(don't ask!), I asked him to get the insurance docs, I discovered I wasn't insured, fine and an endorsement followed. I still meet up occasionally with the prat who told me I was insured. Thank god I never had an accident.

I presume you didn't have your own car and insurance then? Third party any other car would likely have been included. But some companies don't include this so you need to check.

I had my own car policy, I was also on a company van policy, neither technically covered me to drive my 'friend's' company car. It was many years ago so policies where different. In those days you went to court for no insurance, fortunately the magistrate was quite sympathetic, I received a very small fine and an endorsement.

[grumpyscot]

Our company automatically gave you a copy of the insurance certificate, so it was quite clear who could and couldn't drive the vehicles. They also issued a "driver's guide" which told you in no uncertain terms on things to observe - e.g. what to do in an accident, taking the car out of the country, handling of speeding / parking fines,etc etc. You were given a fresh copy every year on the renewal of the policy.

[anonymous-user]

shep1001 said:

What about a copy of the company car policy? Ours specifies who can & can't drive - not by name but its worded as any employee, your spouse or child over the age of 21 with the correct licence entitlement.

This is exactly what we have....

Insurance certificates state that any car owned, hired, leased (or whatever) by the company is covered and that any employee or spouse or anyone else can drive them with the company's permission. You are unlikely to get a cert with your name on it.

This is what I have: A copy of the (generic) insurance cert, a copy of the V5 with a letter that says I am entrusted with the car (or whatever the wording is, this is often needed for taking the car aboard on work or personal trips (looking at you, France)) - your company or lease car management should provide this on request if the cars are allowed to leave the country), a copy of our company car policy and the contact details of our lease car management company.

I haven't ever been stopped or asked to provide these details, but the above is just about everything that I could have! Even without the V5, I am sure plod come across this all the time. If they check MID the car would be insured (would MID state keeper so plod could see it was company or lease owned?) and if you have that letter about details checked and agreed, then I am fairly confident they would be happy. I certainly wouldn't worry too much about it.

You are insured and therefore everything else is just a matter of a quick phone call or at worst a producer. TBH if plod have stopped you and are asking questions, it won't be about the insurance status of the car so you probably have other more pressing things to worry about

Edited to add, my Mrs is also able to drive my company car. I don't actually have anything on hand that states this, but she also had to provide copies of her driving license to the company - we use a third party driving license checking service which verifies and 'approves' them. I do have an email from them somewhere that says we are good to go.

As the poster below quite rightly states, if you have all the info you mentioned and are involved in an RTC, just about the only defence if it turns out you were not covered, is reasonable belief (such as the letter you have) that you were in fact insured.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 3rd February 10:38

[vikingaero]

Generally - for the PH tards - Having no insurance on a company car is about the only defence against driving without insurance if there is a reasonable expectation that you are insured (or the company hasn't paid the premiums).