Car insurance invalid if carrying Bullets/Shotgun cartridges?
Car insurance invalid if carrying Bullets/Shotgun cartridges?
Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

84 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
There is currently a discussion blowing up on a shooting forum as a guy was allegedly told by a large and well known insurance broker that his car insurance would be invalid if he had boxes of rifle bullets or shotgun shells in his car as they are classed as explosives.

I've never heard this before and I seriously doubt that it is correct, however he is adamant that he is now having to look for alternative car insurance.

I realise that the only definitive answer here is to speak to your individual insurer to clarify, but is this something any of our resident insurance experts have ever heard about?

Foliage

3,861 posts

152 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
I wouldn't speak to someone and ask, it would be best to see what is written in the terms and conditions.

vinnie01

863 posts

149 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Ask LOONR1 on here he should theoretically know

Vaud

59,753 posts

185 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Foliage said:
see what is written in the terms and conditions.
^^^this.

SS2.

14,712 posts

268 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Agreed. Check the policy documents - nothing else matters.

TheEnd

15,370 posts

218 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
It appears not to be a legal thing, but a policy thing.

For example I have seen that Admiral weren't concerned as long as everything was being transported in line with guidelines by an FAC holder.


I'm sure I also came across something saying that shotgun cartridges could be transported by other non SGC holders, so the possession of the cartridges isn't a problem, only the buying of them.

I guess Admiral's viewpoint (which granted was a few years ago so might have changed) might need some clarification on what rules apply to shotguns and SGC holders.


madbadger

11,753 posts

274 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
TheEnd said:
It appears not to be a legal thing, but a policy thing.

For example I have seen that Admiral weren't concerned as long as everything was being transported in line with guidelines by an FAC holder.


I'm sure I also came across something saying that shotgun cartridges could be transported by other non SGC holders, so the possession of the cartridges isn't a problem, only the buying of them.

I guess Admiral's viewpoint (which granted was a few years ago so might have changed) might need some clarification on what rules apply to shotguns and SGC holders.
Don't think you even need a SGC to buy cartridges.

I have been to a clay shoot. Bought a box of cartridges and gone round a circuit with a group and borrowed a shotgun at each trap. The issue would be as a non certificate holder if I was on my own and was transporting a gun.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

207 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Unless it's specifically excluded then it's covered. End of. As many have said, simply check the policy docs as suggested and that'll resolve it. The suggestion that it "could be" is bks. It either is or it isn't.

Are you sure it's not a schoolkid playing games on that forum. There's plenty on here at this time of year.

bradjsmith88

117 posts

158 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
As Loon said check the exclusions, but also check what IS covered. Just because it isn't excluded doesnt mean its included.

The other consideration is why is said person carrying bullets?

Their policy might only cover Social Domestic and Pleasure use if they are covering them to run their business of e.g. pigeon shooting then they might not be covered, not because of bullets, but because of business use/commuting!

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

84 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Been involved in insurance for far too long and have never seen such an exclusion on a private motor policy.

Dicky Knee

1,100 posts

161 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
madbadger said:
Don't think you even need a SGC to buy cartridges.

I have been to a clay shoot. Bought a box of cartridges and gone round a circuit with a group and borrowed a shotgun at each trap. The issue would be as a non certificate holder if I was on my own and was transporting a gun.
You do need a SGC to buy cartridges but if you are accompanied by someone with a SGC you can borrow and use their gun under their supervision. I guess whoever sold you the carts just saved you the effort of passing the cash through the SGC holder to buy them. Where I buy my carts they have a register where they write down the SGC details and what I bought each time.

I carry carts in the car when using the gun and never thought it would be an issue with car insurance. I'll have to check now.

Edited by Dicky Knee on Tuesday 18th August 16:16

LoonR1

26,988 posts

207 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
bradjsmith88 said:
As Loon said check the exclusions, but also check what IS covered. Just because it isn't excluded doesnt mean its included.

The other consideration is why is said person carrying bullets?

Their policy might only cover Social Domestic and Pleasure use if they are covering them to run their business of e.g. pigeon shooting then they might not be covered, not because of bullets, but because of business use/commuting!
For get the first paragraph, that's wrong. Insurance docs do not list what is covered. Everything is covered (as required under the RTA) except for what is specifically stated as an exclusion.

55palfers

6,385 posts

194 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Never heard so much rubbish from insurance co.

Does that mean fireworks, BBQ propane, petrol, etc. cannot be carried too?

Under ADR Transport Regs., I suspect that the small quantity carried at any one time would be well below the threshold limits and not subject to the conditions of carriage. Other than use a bit of savvy.

bradjsmith88

117 posts

158 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
LoonR1 said:
For get the first paragraph, that's wrong. Insurance docs do not list what is covered. Everything is covered (as required under the RTA) except for what is specifically stated as an exclusion.
So if its not required under the RTA then its not covered... and not 'everything' is required under the RTA! Cover for damage to the vehicle you are driving isnt required by the RTA!

And I don't think the OP is asking about RTA liabilities here, is the insured party covered for loss/damage of their vehicle?

I didn't say he is or isn't i've simply given some reasons why an insurer may exclude the claim - of course the best answer is ring the insurer and ask them.

Don't get so defensive. I haven't got a gun/bullets/shotgun cartridges in my car!

Edited by bradjsmith88 on Tuesday 18th August 17:02

JM

3,170 posts

236 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
bradjsmith88 said:
LoonR1 said:
For get the first paragraph, that's wrong. Insurance docs do not list what is covered. Everything is covered (as required under the RTA) except for what is specifically stated as an exclusion.
So if its not required under the RTA then its not covered... and not 'everything' is required under the RTA! Cover for damage to the vehicle you are driving isnt required by the RTA!

And I don't think the OP is asking about RTA liabilities here, is the insured party covered for loss/damage of their vehicle?

I didn't say he is or isn't i've simply given some reasons why an insurer may exclude the claim - of course the best answer is ring the insurer and ask them.

Don't get so defensive. I haven't got a gun/bullets/shotgun cartridges in my car!

Edited by bradjsmith88 on Tuesday 18th August 17:02
I think what Loon is saying is that the RTA requires insurance docs to specify specific items that are excluded from cover. Everything else is considered to be covered. So your example of damage to your own vehicle would be included in a comprehensive policy, without saying so, but would be an exclusion in a TPFT only policy.



Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

285 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
55palfers said:
Never heard so much rubbish from insurance co.

Does that mean fireworks, BBQ propane, petrol, etc. cannot be carried too?
Yep, and the car can not be driven if there is petrol in the tank.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

207 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
bradjsmith88 said:
So if its not required under the RTA then its not covered... and not 'everything' is required under the RTA! Cover for damage to the vehicle you are driving isnt required by the RTA!

And I don't think the OP is asking about RTA liabilities here, is the insured party covered for loss/damage of their vehicle?

I didn't say he is or isn't i've simply given some reasons why an insurer may exclude the claim - of course the best answer is ring the insurer and ask them.

Don't get so defensive. I haven't got a gun/bullets/shotgun cartridges in my car!

Edited by bradjsmith88 on Tuesday 18th August 17:02
My policy doesn't say any of the following:
I am covered if I drive into a tree
I am covered if a tree falls onto my car
I am covered if a tree is used by a 13 year old child to damage my car

Are they not covered?

55palfers

6,385 posts

194 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Would the carriage of said ammo be the cause of any loss?

If the cartridges spontaneously combusted - maybe. (see previous post regarding fireworks, propane, petrol, etc.)

Hit by / hitting another road vehicle / pedestrian, probably not.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

207 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
55palfers said:
Would the carriage of said ammo be the cause of any loss?

If the cartridges spontaneously combusted - maybe. (see previous post regarding fireworks, propane, petrol, etc.)

Hit by / hitting another road vehicle / pedestrian, probably not.
Irrelevant. Unless the carriage of them is specifically excluded, then the vehicle is covered and the insuramce is valid.

this is being way overthought.

wibble cb

4,169 posts

237 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
A friend was told he couldn't store winter tyres in his parking spot as they were deemed a fire hazard,yes it was a policy exclusion, yet the 100+ cars also sat the very same carpark were not fire hazards with their highly flammable tyres attached ....