Third Party Insurance Legal Question
Discussion
Do all cars have to have an individual insurance certificate. I ask because, due to my own stupidity 
I tried to take my car wading- upshot water in engine - seizes engine. Car now booked into garage for investigation / engine rebuild. Distinct lack of transport!:irked Through a friend of mine I've been offered a cheap (raod legal) banger to run around in, its only going to cost £150 and its taxed and MOT'd till May. Now here's the question, I can drive any car on third party insurance provided that it doesn't belong to me or hired to me. So in theory I'm covered if I don't actually take ownership of the car. However the registered owner / keeper of the car no longer has Insurance on it. Is this legal. I only expect to be driving this for a few weeks but I don't want to get anyone into trouble. I don't want to transfer my insurance from the broken car as it won't then be covered for theft etc. I have also just had a quick look at a web insurance company and they want £291 to insure a car that only costs £150. So the idea of using the Third party element of my normal car insurance seems very attractive. Opinions please.
I tried to take my car wading- upshot water in engine - seizes engine. Car now booked into garage for investigation / engine rebuild. Distinct lack of transport!:irked Through a friend of mine I've been offered a cheap (raod legal) banger to run around in, its only going to cost £150 and its taxed and MOT'd till May. Now here's the question, I can drive any car on third party insurance provided that it doesn't belong to me or hired to me. So in theory I'm covered if I don't actually take ownership of the car. However the registered owner / keeper of the car no longer has Insurance on it. Is this legal. I only expect to be driving this for a few weeks but I don't want to get anyone into trouble. I don't want to transfer my insurance from the broken car as it won't then be covered for theft etc. I have also just had a quick look at a web insurance company and they want £291 to insure a car that only costs £150. So the idea of using the Third party element of my normal car insurance seems very attractive. Opinions please.
Legally if the policy document says nothing about the fact that your mates car has to be insured then thats it. He is not using it - you are. But it had often occurred to me to run around in a mates 2nd car while he runs around in my 2nd car, neither of us needing 2nd insurances for them because of this wording.
Brokers I have spoken to see that this is legal but not really 'satisfactory' as Insurance firms lose out on a chance of ploicy income and they on commission.
Any brokers with opinions here ?
Brokers I have spoken to see that this is legal but not really 'satisfactory' as Insurance firms lose out on a chance of ploicy income and they on commission.
Any brokers with opinions here ?
Your use of the vehicle is perfectly legal, providing that you have a policy that allows you to drive any vehicle not belonging to you and providing that the owner gives you permission.
Your mate, the owner, is committing the offence of "no insurance" if the vehicle is left unattended on any public highway, even if it is you that parks it.
>> Edited by PatHeald on Sunday 12th January 20:44
Your mate, the owner, is committing the offence of "no insurance" if the vehicle is left unattended on any public highway, even if it is you that parks it.
>> Edited by PatHeald on Sunday 12th January 20:44
As I understand it, you can only drive another vehicle under your own insurance if that vehicle has its own insurance policy (in addition to the other criteria of it not belonging to you, etc.)
So if the banger you intend to drive on your policy is not otherwise insured, then you won't be properly covered.
However, most insurers will give you cover for a "temporary additional vehicle" for up to 3 months usually. I know CarZee insured the 'S' on the Primula's policy for a while, and Cosmic & I insured the Lotus on the TVR's policy for a while.
In both cases we were even able to drive both cars as the same time.
I have no idea how much we're talking here, but it will be far less than the £291 you've been quoted. Even if it is that figure pro-rata'd to one month then its only going to be £25 for the month you'll need it.
So if the banger you intend to drive on your policy is not otherwise insured, then you won't be properly covered.
However, most insurers will give you cover for a "temporary additional vehicle" for up to 3 months usually. I know CarZee insured the 'S' on the Primula's policy for a while, and Cosmic & I insured the Lotus on the TVR's policy for a while.
In both cases we were even able to drive both cars as the same time.
I have no idea how much we're talking here, but it will be far less than the £291 you've been quoted. Even if it is that figure pro-rata'd to one month then its only going to be £25 for the month you'll need it.
As long as your Certificate of Motor Insurance states that you are entitled to drive any motor vehicle not owned or hired to you, with the owner's permission, you are entitled to drive it. Should you leave the vehicle on a public highway you would be committing an offence IF the owner had no insurance otherwise, and the owner could possibly be indicted for allowing the offence. You are also only covered for compulsory third party risks - i.e. £250k of liability to third parties for death, injury, or property damage; plus emergency treatment fees. NO damage to the car itself or any personal effects will be covered.
that'll teach me to read the whole thread before posting 
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