Motor Car definition for insurance purposes

[rewc]

My insurance certificate says "under the terms of section 2 of the policy - liability to 3rd parties - may subject to the owners express consent drive a Motor Car not belonging to the policyholder"

What is the definition of motor car for these purposes? Is it as defined in section 185(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988? http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/sectio...

[LoonR1]

It will be defined in the policy booklet

[davepoth]

I'd say it's probably that one. It's one of those "you won't know until a judge decides" type moments; a lawyer might well be along in a while with pre-existing case law.

[ging84]

does this thread have anything to do with campervans ?

[LoonR1]

Let's make this easy. OP who is your insurer and we'll define it precisely for you and highlight it in your policy booklet so that any other tangential discussion is theoretical.

[InitialDave]

Even easier: Ask your insurer to put it in writing what their definition is, and at the same time ask them whether they consider whatever weird and wonderful contraption it is you are intending to drive to fall under this definition.

[LoonR1]

InitialDave said:

Even easier: Ask your insurer to put it in writing what their definition is, and at the same time ask them whether they consider whatever weird and wonderful contraption it is you are intending to drive to fall under this definition.

You're right but they may be closed so we could do it my way. Of course the OP doesn't want this, he wants a longwinded irrelevant discussion to try to hide behind of he gets busted. Is is despite the discussion being no defence anyway.

[TVR1]

rewc said:

My insurance certificate says "under the terms of section 2 of the policy - liability to 3rd parties - may subject to the owners express consent drive a Motor Car not belonging to the policyholder"

What is the definition of motor car for these purposes? Is it as defined in section 185(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988? http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/sectio...

As with all of these type of threads (I know, I post up stuff sometimes that only a physycic could decipher) what you aren't telling us is more telling than what you are.

Should we assume, as the poster above me has intimated, that you drove what is clearly NOT a motor car i.e campervan/tracked vehicle/missile launcher? And now, having being stopped by 'da police' and reported for no insurance are trying to find an angle? Nothing wrong with that of course, but you won't help youreself if you don't help far more experienced people than me, on here, to help you without the full facts.

A good clue, irrespective of what your insurance policy says, is your driving licence. whilst not invalidating your 3rd party insurance if you choose to drive 'not in accordance with your licence' those pretty pictures indicate the definition-to me at least-of various forms of transport.

What's the real story?

[LoonR1]

DOC standard exclusions, are anything owned, hired or leased to the OP too. Some exclude those and anything owned, leased or hired to their spouse / partner too

Some, but not all, also require the other vehicle to be insured

So OP, come on tell us about the van you were driving.

[InitialDave]

LoonR1 said:

You're right but they may be closed so we could do it my way. Of course the OP doesn't want this, he wants a longwinded irrelevant discussion to try to hide behind of he gets busted. Is is despite the discussion being no defence anyway.

Yeah.

I had a similar question this time last night, my insurer's helpline was still open, so I called it.

Me: Am I insured for X?
Them: Yes sir, you are insured for X.
Me: Can I have that in writing please?
Them: Yes sir, it is on its way to you now.

Job jobbed, down the pub.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

If you have to wonder if it's a car or not, it isn't.

[LoonR1]

30 mins and the OP has vanished. No questions answered. Booooooo

[Aretnap]

Picking a couple of insurers at random, Admiral say (page 2) http://www.admiral.com/policyDocs/AD116%20_policyb...

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.

Whereas Aviva say (Page 17) http://www.aviva.co.uk/static/library/pdfs/motor/m...

For the purposes of this section only the definition of “car” includes a van under 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight, subject to the limitations of use as defined on the certificate of motor insurance.

So it depends on your insurer. It will take a long time to get to Zurich at this rate though, so give us a clue?

[rewc]

LoonR1 said:

You're right but they may be closed so we could do it my way. Of course the OP doesn't want this, he wants a longwinded irrelevant discussion to try to hide behind of he gets busted. Is is despite the discussion being no defence anyway.

Nobody has driven, or intends to drive, anything other that in accordance with their licence or insurance. Thanks though I will do as you suggest and read the policy document for their definition.

Edited by rewc on Thursday 10th July 20:09

[LoonR1]

Thanks for quoting just me, despite several posters suggesting the same, one or two before me too.

Putting that to one side, don't spoil our fun, just tell us who your insurer is and we can do it for you.

[TVR1]

rewc said:

LoonR1 said:

You're right but they may be closed so we could do it my way. Of course the OP doesn't want this, he wants a longwinded irrelevant discussion to try to hide behind of he gets busted. Is is despite the discussion being no defence anyway.

Nobody has driven, or intends to drive, anything other that in accordance with their licence or insurance. Thanks though I will do as you suggest and read the policy document for their definition.

Edited by rewc on Thursday 10th July 20:09

Why therefore, are you asking the definition of a motor car?

I appreciate you quoting me in response to LoonR1 ( ) but we're not all stupid. Why do you want to know?

[rewc]

TVR1 said:

Why therefore, are you asking the definition of a motor car?

I appreciate you quoting me in response to LoonR1 ( ) but we're not all stupid. Why do you want to know?

For interest. I did not realise until it was pointed out by another poster that different insurers allow different vehicles to be driven under the extension of cover e.g. Aviva a van up to 3500kg . I will do as suggested and find out from my insurer what their definition is of motor car as it applies to my policy. I don't think any of you are stupid.

[TVR1]

rewc said:

TVR1 said:

Why therefore, are you asking the definition of a motor car?

I appreciate you quoting me in response to LoonR1 ( ) but we're not all stupid. Why do you want to know?

For interest. I did not realise until it was pointed out by another poster that different insurers allow different vehicles to be driven under the extension of cover e.g. Aviva a van up to 3500kg . I will do as suggested and find out from my insurer what their definition is of motor car as it applies to my policy. I don't think any of you are stupid.

I didn't call everyone stupid. apologies if it seemed that way. It was in context of the OP leaving out some pertinent information.