Insurance documents - why does it take so long to arrive?

[CobolMan]

I get a call from the dealership today telling me what the registration will be for my new car. Great, thinks I, so I arrange a time to collect and then ring up my insurers. I go through all of the changes to the policy, agree to the slight increase in premium and ask them to start the policy at 00:01 on Friday - then the chap on the other end comes out with "You will receive your documents in the next 7 days". OK, says I, how can I get the vehicle taxed? They said they will send a fax to the dealer confirming that the car will be insured. I've subsequently checked on the DVLA site and faxes aren't acceptable - it has to be a cover note or the actual certificate of insurance.

Why does it take so long for insurance documents to come out? If I don't receive the insurance by Friday, I guess I'll have to get the insurance company to extend the cover on my current car for a few days unless anyone has any ideas.

[miniman]

Depends on the company I guess. Admiral usually get them out within a couple of days but they are depending on the good old Royal Snail to get it to you.

However:

DVLA said:

Insurance certificates downloaded directly from the internet by the policy holder are acceptable from 30 April 2010 (this applies to GB only).

See here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

[chris1roll]

Get them to e-mail you the certificate/cover note. Print it out on decent paper and fold it as if it has been in an envelope.
Post office jobsworth won't know the difference.
Its ridiculous that e-mailed or faxed copies aren't acceptable anyway.

Edit - now it seems that the e-mailed versions are!

Edited by chris1roll on Tuesday 4th May 20:27

[grumbas]

chris1roll said:

Get them to e-mail you the certificate/cover note. Print it out on decent paper and fold it as if it has been in an envelope.
Post office jobsworth won't know the difference.
Its ridiculous that e-mailed or faxed copies aren't acceptable anyway.

Believe it or not we've had customers call us to complain as the post office wouldn't accept the certificate of insurance we'd sent them as it looked like it had been printed on a laser printer and wasn't in colour.

How do they think insurers other than the big players produce their certificates

OP, you'll probably find they're just quoting you a worst case scenario, especially as Royal Mail are involved!

[CobolMan]

Thanks for the comments folks - I went onto my insurance company's website and they don't have any option to print out the documentation. I've got my fingers crossed that I'll have the docs for Friday.

[petrolsniffer]

You could try tax your car online but you will have to wait untill its on the Insurance database http://www.askmid.com/ownvehicle/

[inman999]

Just print the insurance docs off and try a few post offices until you get one that will tax you.

I did this a few months ago, 3rd time lucky and that was with the confirmation of cover email.

[CobolMan]

inman999 said:

Just print the insurance docs off and try a few post offices until you get one that will tax you.

I did this a few months ago, 3rd time lucky and that was with the confirmation of cover email.

My insurance company doesn't have the ability to do that unfortunately.

[Nollub]

I take it you are buying a brand new car? If so some makes provide one week's insurance and tax the car with that. My wife bought a Honda Jazz last year and the car was taxed by the garage with the free insurance and in the last 6 months I have bought a Smart and an M3 for both of which the garages concerned provided 7 day insurance cover and taxed the cars using that cover. In all three cases we were able to keep cover on the old cars right up to the trade in and get that cover transferred as soon as the changes had taken place without problem.

[CobolMan]

Cheers Nollub, I'm going to try the Aviva Driveaway cover which should let me pick the car up on Friday.

[Ash From Flux]

Most place can e-mail them out these days and from april the 30th the post office and DVLA can accept printed off copies. I know most post offices were ok before but they have no excuses now.