Charged for insurance on "courtesy" car
Discussion
This morning I took my car in for service at the local main BMW dealer.
I'd booked it in about a month ago, the delay between the call and the appointed day being availability of courtesy cars.
When I pitched up this morning, once they'd taken a copy of the driving licence they took a copy of last time I took it in, I was informed that for the courtesy car I could go on their insurance and agree to a £2,500 excess, or pay £10 a day to go on and the excess would only be £500.
I explained that I was already covered under my own insurance, but was told they could only accept that if I was on a business fleet policy. I politely expressed my surprise, and also the fact that last time I brought the car in, my own insurance had been fine. I was then told that the garage had recently been taken over and that this was a policy of the new owners. I asked why I hadn't been told of this when booking the service, and was told it had only happened since I booked in. I asked why, regardless of that, no one had had the courtesy to call me to explain this new policy.
Considering I am already comprehensively insured for hire and loan cars, I am surprised that the garage feels it can demand I effectively take out another insurance policy. It's left a pretty sour taste in the mouth about the BMW customer care experience.
Has anyone else come across such an insurance requirement when having a "courtesy" car?
Many thanks,
I'd booked it in about a month ago, the delay between the call and the appointed day being availability of courtesy cars.
When I pitched up this morning, once they'd taken a copy of the driving licence they took a copy of last time I took it in, I was informed that for the courtesy car I could go on their insurance and agree to a £2,500 excess, or pay £10 a day to go on and the excess would only be £500.
I explained that I was already covered under my own insurance, but was told they could only accept that if I was on a business fleet policy. I politely expressed my surprise, and also the fact that last time I brought the car in, my own insurance had been fine. I was then told that the garage had recently been taken over and that this was a policy of the new owners. I asked why I hadn't been told of this when booking the service, and was told it had only happened since I booked in. I asked why, regardless of that, no one had had the courtesy to call me to explain this new policy.
Considering I am already comprehensively insured for hire and loan cars, I am surprised that the garage feels it can demand I effectively take out another insurance policy. It's left a pretty sour taste in the mouth about the BMW customer care experience.
Has anyone else come across such an insurance requirement when having a "courtesy" car?
Many thanks,
Luigi123 said:
You don't have to take up the offer of the lower excess, you're own ins will still cover you.
Exactly. Them saying they don't accept it doesn't make your cover invalid. Unless your cover only applies if no other insurance is in force on the loan car. If it says that, then the fact that there was cover in force, even with a silly excess, would mean your cover didn't apply.TwigtheWonderkid said:
Unless your cover only applies if no other insurance is in force on the loan car. If it says that, then the fact that there was cover in force, even with a silly excess, would mean your cover didn't apply.
Every loan and hire car is on the insurance data base. So if the OP has comprehensive cover for loan and hire cars he's covered.Jaguar charge £14 a day but I am always friendly with them and have got to know the desk staff so they now just waive the fee for me .
Mercedes charge more I think its £30 a day now which I find ridiculous considering how much they charge for a service. They also charge you £30 if you decide to wait in their customer seating area for the car !
Mercedes charge more I think its £30 a day now which I find ridiculous considering how much they charge for a service. They also charge you £30 if you decide to wait in their customer seating area for the car !
Dodsy said:
. They also charge you £30 if you decide to wait in their customer seating area for the car !
It could be worth it, if the receptionist is worth ogling and keeps you plied with coffee, bacon butties and danish pastries.Seriously though, how do they invoice this?
Edited by Luigi123 on Wednesday 14th January 15:04
Dodsy said:
Mercedes charge more I think its £30 a day now which I find ridiculous considering how much they charge for a service. They also charge you £30 if you decide to wait in their customer seating area for the car !
It's £50 for a courtesy car with Mercedes if you book through MyService.Like the OP, my insurance covers me anyway. Once when sorting out the bill I was asked if I'd like to pay the courtesy car fee. I said "no thank you" and the girl said "OK". Very bizarre.
Luigi123 said:
It could be worth it, if the receptionist is worth ogling and keeps you plied with coffee, bacon butties and danish pastries.
Seriously though, how do they invoice this?
It's pay per view, depending on how often you're caught looking at the receptionists tits. Seriously though, how do they invoice this?
In reality they charge a different amounts depending on whether you go for Drop & Go, Waiting, Courtesy Car or Collect & Deliver.
Luigi123 said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Unless your cover only applies if no other insurance is in force on the loan car. If it says that, then the fact that there was cover in force, even with a silly excess, would mean your cover didn't apply.
Every loan and hire car is on the insurance data base. So if the OP has comprehensive cover for loan and hire cars he's covered.The garage policy for courtesy cars could be for all customers except those with business fleet cover. If the OPs loan car extension excludes claims where he has cover with the garage lending the car, he's stuffed.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
If the OPs loan car extension excludes claims where he has cover with the garage lending the car, he's stuffed.
Does that clause exist?Courtesy cars are always insured - you're paying an excess waiver. Which actually doesn't waive it, it just reduces it.
My car insurance has £0 excess (I don't believe in excess's) so I'd rather use my cover.
Sheepshanks said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
If the OPs loan car extension excludes claims where he has cover with the garage lending the car, he's stuffed.
Does that clause exist?An excess waiver policy is something different. Doesn't cover vehicle damages or tp damage, just your excess. I have that cover on my annual travel insurance for cars I hire on holiday or when away on business.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Indeed it does. Many policies that cover other vehicles you may be driving exclude cover if you are covered by the insurer of the person/organisation whose car you are driving.
Hmmm...it is often a general condition of any insurance that it doesn't cover things more specifically insured elsewhere.I can see it being a bit of a can of worms if you took a courtesy car under cover of the garages insurance, with a £2500 excess, and then had a crash and tried to claim on your own insurance which, like mine, provides automatic cover for garage courtesy cars.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
An excess waiver policy is something different. Doesn't cover vehicle damages or tp damage, just your excess. I have that cover on my annual travel insurance for cars I hire on holiday or when away on business.
I know that, but generally with garage courtesy cars you're told they're insured anyway, but if you pay £10-15 they'll waive (in practice reduce) the excess.Sheepshanks said:
It's pay per view, depending on how often you're caught looking at the receptionists tits.
In reality they charge a different amounts depending on whether you go for Drop & Go, Waiting, Courtesy Car or Collect & Deliver.
I think I'd be inclined to opt for drop and go. Then just lurk around reception ogling for free like a cheapskate.In reality they charge a different amounts depending on whether you go for Drop & Go, Waiting, Courtesy Car or Collect & Deliver.
Luigi123 said:
Dodsy said:
. They also charge you £30 if you decide to wait in their customer seating area for the car !
It could be worth it, if the receptionist is worth ogling and keeps you plied with coffee, bacon butties and danish pastries.Seriously though, how do they invoice this?
Edited by Luigi123 on Wednesday 14th January 15:04
They invoice it by adding it to your service bill.
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