3rd party insurance question
Discussion
My friend has an old Land Rover on his trader's policy which we use for green laning. I can legally drive it with 3rd party cover from my own car's comprehensive policy.
What I'm wondering is if I borrow the Landie for a while does the insurance somehow become invalid? Would the insurers or plod be able to say it was my car despite it being owned someone else?
I'm not worried about theft cover as live in a safe area and it's only worth a few hundred quid.
Thanks
What I'm wondering is if I borrow the Landie for a while does the insurance somehow become invalid? Would the insurers or plod be able to say it was my car despite it being owned someone else?
I'm not worried about theft cover as live in a safe area and it's only worth a few hundred quid.
Thanks
AFAIK it just comes down to permission, if you are borrowing the LR for a while, it might be worth getting written permission from the owner. I've checked my previous three insurance T&Cs (with different providers) and the 3rd party element on comprehensive doesn't appear to have a time limit.
Technically as long as you have the permission of the owner you're OK as long as you don't leave the vehicle unattended on a public road or road to which the public has access.
The only thing his insurer might not be too chuffed about is the fact that you are keeping the vehicle on a long-term basis, and therefore the registered keeper on the policy/V5 doesn't match with the actual keeper i.e. you; your insurer might not be too chuffed about you driving any wagon on your policy long-term (as the DoC provision is intended to provide for emergencies rather than an ongoing solution) and if they find out they may take it off you at renewal (which they are perfectly entitled to do) and no, you won't get a discount for not having that facility
Only if they find out, mind 
The only thing his insurer might not be too chuffed about is the fact that you are keeping the vehicle on a long-term basis, and therefore the registered keeper on the policy/V5 doesn't match with the actual keeper i.e. you; your insurer might not be too chuffed about you driving any wagon on your policy long-term (as the DoC provision is intended to provide for emergencies rather than an ongoing solution) and if they find out they may take it off you at renewal (which they are perfectly entitled to do) and no, you won't get a discount for not having that facility
Only if they find out, mind docevi1 said:
I know someone who bought a new Aston a few years back and couldn't/didn't want to afford the insurance so he put it on fire & theft, bought a knackered fiesta and stored it. Then insured the Fiesta Fully Comp and drove the Aston.
Stefan
Then as the owner of the Aston he was not insured. Even if the Aston had belonged to "someone else", he would have only been covered third party whilst driving it. While it was parked up the car would be uninsured. It also makes getting road tax a little tricky.
thanuk said:
Does this mean I can't park it in the street at all? I have a driveway so it's not a huge problem but I'm not sure I follow this part.
It means exactly that. If you leave the vehicle on a public road having driven it there then you are the person 'using' that vehicle until such time as someone else drives it. Thus there needs to be in force a policy of insurance relating to your use of that particular vehicle (s143(1)(a)Road Traffic Act 1988); as your policy only covers you whilst driving the vehicle, not using it, it is uninsured and you are committing an offence. Also, if the guy who owns the vehicle knows that you are driving it on DoC and leaving it on a public road, AIUI he is committing the offence of permitting you to use a vehicle while uninsured against third party risks in contravention of s143(1)(b) RTA 1988. Both offences carry 6-8 points and a means tested fine.
Just to clarify loafs post abit. If the vehicle is covered by a specific policy it can be left on the road. No matter who drove it last. If the vehicle is not covered then the last person to drive it (and possibly the owner) is committing an offence.
If your friends traders policy allows it to be parked on the road then you should be covered. Although I would check the small print. The last thing you need is to get done for this.
PS: his trader policy might also require the use of "trade plates"
If your friends traders policy allows it to be parked on the road then you should be covered. Although I would check the small print. The last thing you need is to get done for this.
PS: his trader policy might also require the use of "trade plates"
I have done a bit more research on this (went and had a chat with a claims manager 
) and it turns out that when you drive someone else's car on your own policy you CAN leave it on a public road, as your policy is still technically in force as you were the last user. Natch, no damage to, theft of or from the vehicle will be covered. 
) and it turns out that when you drive someone else's car on your own policy you CAN leave it on a public road, as your policy is still technically in force as you were the last user. Natch, no damage to, theft of or from the vehicle will be covered. Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff