Driving other cars - insurance
Discussion
I am wondering if any insurance bods on here can help me before I call to sit on hold for half an hour to find out from esure. I need a van for a day and have been offered a LWB Transit to borrow. My insurance covers me to drive others cars third party - does this extend to vans? Or is a van not a car? It isn't specifically excluded in the documents, it just says car.
SS2. said:
The definitive answer will be found in your policy documents.
If in doubt, make the call or arrange your own day insurance.
I've read through the policy documents, it just says I'm insured in other cars if they are not owned by me, has its own insurance policy etc etc. If in doubt, make the call or arrange your own day insurance.
Edited by SS2. on Tuesday 5th July 12:46
TheBALDpuma said:
SS2. said:
The definitive answer will be found in your policy documents.
I've read through the policy documents, it just says I'm insured in other cars if they are not owned by me, has its own insurance policy etc etc. esure on driving other cars said:
This cover only applies if:
• the car has been manufactured for the carriage of up to eight people which is designed solely for private use and has not been designed, constructed or modified to carry goods.
<..snip..>
• the car has been manufactured for the carriage of up to eight people which is designed solely for private use and has not been designed, constructed or modified to carry goods.
<..snip..>
It's a few years ago now, but I once called my insurance company (Admiral) to ask this same question and the answer was a resounding no.
A few months later a friend (who I unfortunately hadn't regaled with this story) actually got stopped driving a borrowed van and ended up with points and a fine for driving with no insurance as his "any vehicle" cover actually was "any car" in the same way.
A few months later a friend (who I unfortunately hadn't regaled with this story) actually got stopped driving a borrowed van and ended up with points and a fine for driving with no insurance as his "any vehicle" cover actually was "any car" in the same way.
SS2. said:
TheBALDpuma said:
SS2. said:
The definitive answer will be found in your policy documents.
I've read through the policy documents, it just says I'm insured in other cars if they are not owned by me, has its own insurance policy etc etc. esure on driving other cars said:
This cover only applies if:
• the car has been manufactured for the carriage of up to eight people which is designed solely for private use and has not been designed, constructed or modified to carry goods.
<..snip..>
• the car has been manufactured for the carriage of up to eight people which is designed solely for private use and has not been designed, constructed or modified to carry goods.
<..snip..>
TheBALDpuma said:
SS2. said:
TheBALDpuma said:
SS2. said:
The definitive answer will be found in your policy documents.
I've read through the policy documents, it just says I'm insured in other cars if they are not owned by me, has its own insurance policy etc etc. esure on driving other cars said:
This cover only applies if:
• the car has been manufactured for the carriage of up to eight people which is designed solely for private use and has not been designed, constructed or modified to carry goods.
<..snip..>
• the car has been manufactured for the carriage of up to eight people which is designed solely for private use and has not been designed, constructed or modified to carry goods.
<..snip..>
K50 DEL said:
It's a few years ago now, but I once called my insurance company (Admiral) to ask this same question and the answer was a resounding no.
A few months later a friend (who I unfortunately hadn't regaled with this story) actually got stopped driving a borrowed van and ended up with points and a fine for driving with no insurance as his "any vehicle" cover actually was "any car" in the same way.
Yeah I don't really want to take the risk!A few months later a friend (who I unfortunately hadn't regaled with this story) actually got stopped driving a borrowed van and ended up with points and a fine for driving with no insurance as his "any vehicle" cover actually was "any car" in the same way.
SS2 - Where are you getting your info from. It's just like mine except it specifically identifies commercial vehicles but what I'm reading doesn't.
It's not looking likely though
As everyone has said, it'll depend on the wording.
But in my experience, it'll be very unlikely you'll be covered, as van insurance is a separate product usually.
You'll only be covered on something deemed a car, ie a two axled vehicle, designed for the carriage of people, with no more than 9 seats, and not crossing the weight threshold (4 tonne iirc) to which makes it a PCV.
Likely no insurance cover for anything that is a goods vehicle, a bus/minibus, a motorcycle, a track laying vehicle, a construction vehicle, etc. May be exceptions to this, such as quadricycles, which seve the same purpose as a car, ie: G-Wiz, Renault Twizy etc.
But in my experience, it'll be very unlikely you'll be covered, as van insurance is a separate product usually.
You'll only be covered on something deemed a car, ie a two axled vehicle, designed for the carriage of people, with no more than 9 seats, and not crossing the weight threshold (4 tonne iirc) to which makes it a PCV.
Likely no insurance cover for anything that is a goods vehicle, a bus/minibus, a motorcycle, a track laying vehicle, a construction vehicle, etc. May be exceptions to this, such as quadricycles, which seve the same purpose as a car, ie: G-Wiz, Renault Twizy etc.
SS2. said:
Your policy docs
It looks like those are documents from 2015, so maybe they have changed their policy to allow light commerical vehicles on the drive other cars policy. As the wording has changed to "does not exceed a gross weight of 3.5 tonnes."I think I'm just going to have to call them to be sure.
SS2. said:
esure on driving other cars said:
This cover only applies if:
• the car has been manufactured for the carriage of up to eight people which is designed solely for private use and has not been designed, constructed or modified to carry goods.
<..snip..>
• the car has been manufactured for the carriage of up to eight people which is designed solely for private use and has not been designed, constructed or modified to carry goods.
<..snip..>
A vehicle designed to carry goods is . . . a van. ;-)
TheBALDpuma said:
Well maybe I should have just called straight away as that was quick and painless 
I am insured to drive a van third party with my policy, just like I would be a car
Did they explain why that contradicts the policy wording, which explicitly excludes goods vehicles? Hopefully the phone call will hold some weight if there are any issues... The problem is that many insurance companies have under-trained staff who make a lot of mistakes...I am insured to drive a van third party with my policy, just like I would be a car
Gareth79 said:
TheBALDpuma said:
Well maybe I should have just called straight away as that was quick and painless
I am insured to drive a van third party with my policy, just like I would be a car
Did they explain why that contradicts the policy wording, which explicitly excludes goods vehicles? Hopefully the phone call will hold some weight if there are any issues... The problem is that many insurance companies have under-trained staff who make a lot of mistakes...I am insured to drive a van third party with my policy, just like I would be a car
Must admit I would have lost had I been asked to bet on the question.
Gareth79 said:
Did they explain why that contradicts the policy wording, which explicitly excludes goods vehicles? Hopefully the phone call will hold some weight if there are any issues... The problem is that many insurance companies have under-trained staff who make a lot of mistakes...
you're confusing some of the screen grabs, that wording is not in OP's policy documents
The system here in Germany is so much easier. The owner insures the car and as long as someone qualified to drive has the owner's consent they are insured to drive it. For me it effectively means I can borrow my in-laws' cars whenever I want and we can lend them ours if needed, this is particularly handy as they have a campervan.
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