Driving another car on my insurance

3rdDegree · 23-12-2013 04:58PM #1

My father has just announced something that I can't believe and didn't have much success Googling.

My mother's car is "broken down" (clutch gone and she can't manage to drive it). I proposed that my wife drive me out to mother's car, I take her car and drive it home while my wife drives back our car. Since I have 3rd Party insurance to drive other cars, I thought that would be fine.

But my father claims that if my car is on the road and being driven by someone else, I cannot drive another car using my 3rd Party. Is he raving (again)?

Thanks

Atlantic Dawn · 23-12-2013 05:04PM

You will be covered to drive the other car once it's written on your policy that you can drive other cars. Your own car will be covered by whatever cover your wife has to normally drive it.

whomitconcerns · 23-12-2013 05:16PM

Your father is correct. Of your wife is driving your car as a named driver, you can not also drive another car at same time. Your policy is only valid on one vehicle at a time.

SleeperService · 23-12-2013 05:27PM

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Your father is correct. Of your wife is driving your car as a named driver, you can not also drive another car at same time. Your policy is only valid on one vehicle at a time.

So unless you were to confine her to the kitchen whenever you left the house, you could never drive a friends car under third party extension? On the off chance she would use your car?
They should start providing manacles of some sort with these policies, god knows what sort of risks people are taking leaving women folk loose in cars unsupervised!

corktina · 23-12-2013 05:36PM

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Your father is correct. Of your wife is driving your car as a named driver, you can not also drive another car at same time. Your policy is only valid on one vehicle at a time.

no such clause in any policy I ever looked at. Should anything occur (short of husband and wife crashing into one another) how would they KNOW?

Anan1 · 23-12-2013 05:36PM

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Your father is correct. Of your wife is driving your car as a named driver, you can not also drive another car at same time. Your policy is only valid on one vehicle at a time.

Have you a link to anything confirming this? Because I've yet to see any such thing mentioned on an insurance policy.

visual · 23-12-2013 06:04PM

Had a similar debate on here no too long ago about someone else driving your car.

Insurance is sold in parts to make up package.

3rd party is insurance on the driver states in policy vehicles you can drive.

F&T and fully comp is on car listed in policy and isn't transfered automatically.

Generally you are covered to drive any vehicle loan to you if your the main driver on policy under 3rd party.

If your named driver on someone else's policy its highly unlikely your covered on any other car other than one in policy.

So you should be covered driving mothers car while your wife drives your car at same time.

I know my policy will allow this. But double check your own policy

oldyouth · 23-12-2013 09:00PM

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Your father is correct. Of your wife is driving your car as a named driver, you can not also drive another car at same time. Your policy is only valid on one vehicle at a time.

Nonsense

toyotaavensis · 23-12-2013 11:16PM

oldyouth wrote: »

Nonsense

+1

CiniO · 25-12-2013 11:27PM

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Your father is correct. Of your wife is driving your car as a named driver, you can not also drive another car at same time. Your policy is only valid on one vehicle at a time.

1. If you really think you are right, please provide even one example of insurance policy stating the above.

2. Even if you are right, and such limitation really exists (which you aren't) - it would be undetectable unless both OP and his wife crashed at exact the same moment.

The_Honeybadger · 25-12-2013 11:57PM

I think this was stated in an old policy I had, don't know if it's in the current one. As stated above it would be a totally meaningless clause in any case, how would the insurance provider prove the other car was being driven at the time.

As far as I know the third party cover for other cars also only applies if they are privately insured at the time, I.e. you can't drive cars that are off the road. This is a mistake I have seen people make in the past.

kermitpwee · 26-12-2013 02:08AM

mickeyk wrote: »

As far as I know the third party cover for other cars also only applies if they are privately insured at the time, I.e. you can't drive cars that are off the road. This is a mistake I have seen people make in the past.

Not true, axa cover 3rd party extension once the car is nct'd and taxed

SleeperService · 26-12-2013 05:38AM

mickeyk wrote: »

I think this was stated in an old policy I had, don't know if it's in the current one. As stated above it would be a totally meaningless clause in any case, how would the insurance provider prove the other car was being driven at the time.

As far as I know the third party cover for other cars also only applies if they are privately insured at the time, I.e. you can't drive cars that are off the road. This is a mistake I have seen people make in the past.

Again, please provide details of a modern policy that has this condition. I dont.think I have ever seen it. In a third-party claim situation (the only situation your third-party extension covers) what benefit would "extra/other" insurance offer anyone in third-party terms?

The_Honeybadger · 26-12-2013 10:40AM

SleeperService wrote: »

Again, please provide details of a modern policy that has this condition. I dont.think I have ever seen it. In a third-party claim situation (the only situation your third-party extension covers) what benefit would "extra/other" insurance offer anyone in third-party terms?

That was the impression I had, you could be right and I can't be bothered going off to prove different, if it was me and I was unfortunate enough to be involved in an incident though I'd be seriously nervous until my claim is settled. That is the real test of what is covered and what isn't.

djimi · 26-12-2013 10:49AM

With regards to the other car needing to be insured before third party extension applies, Im fairly certain that one of my first policies stipulated this (were talking 10-12 years ago), but certainly no policy that I have had or have seen in the past few years has required this.

Of course, as with anything in insurance, the only thing that matters is what is written in black and white in your policy, so if in doubt give it a read!

carefull now! · 26-12-2013 11:19AM

Insurance companies will find any reason they can not too pay out so just bear that in mind, I know of a case that wasn't paid out because a wife with her own policy that includes driving other cars, crashed in her husbands car which she was also a named driver on the policy. The claim was initially taken by the husbands insurance and sent an assessor and where agreeing figures when they found out the wife had her own policy they walked away refusing any liability. The wife's insurance also refused liability because they weren't contacted from the start and repairs had already begun!
No mater what you think your covered for, they will try to not pay out if they can!

corktina · 26-12-2013 11:47AM

that can easily be solved by reading the policy. I would have thought your own Insurance takes precedence in any claim and I bet the Policy said that

oldyouth · 26-12-2013 01:12PM

carefull now! wrote: »

Insurance companies will find any reason they can not too pay out so just bear that in mind, I know of a case that wasn't paid out because a wife with her own policy that includes driving other cars, crashed in her husbands car which she was also a named driver on the policy. The claim was initially taken by the husbands insurance and sent an assessor and where agreeing figures when they found out the wife had her own policy they walked away refusing any liability. The wife's insurance also refused liability because they weren't contacted from the start and repairs had already begun!
No mater what you think your covered for, they will try to not pay out if they can!

Standard rules apply to who has the most 'specific' cover when there is dual coverage for an accident.

As for refusing indemnity because repairs were carried out before insurers got to inspect the damage, well..................

timmy4u2 · 26-12-2013 01:43PM

Youvare all referring to the Insurance policy. The insurance policy comprises of the Insurance certificate and the policy document.
The Certificate satisfies the Requirements of the RTA. The Policy document needs to be read with the certificate.
I have never seen a stipulation that the "other" car has to be insured by someone else.
Neither have I seen a stipulation that the "other" car has to be taxed.

All policies are issued on ths basis that the vehicle is roadworthy and that it will be maintained in such a condition.
Nothwithstanding all of that an insurer may include any restrictive endorsement on any policy on an individual basis.
Named drivers may not drive other vehicles but some Insurers may allow it on an individual basis.
As an example Liberty Insurance have the following stipulations

Third Party Extension
Driving other cars

If your certificate of insurance says so, we will also cover you, the policyholder, for your liability to other people while you are driving any other private motor car which you do not own or have not hired or leased, as long as:

The vehicle is not owned by your employer or hired to them under a hire-purchase or lease agreement;
You currently hold a full European Union (EU) licence;
The use of the vehicle is covered in the certificate of insurance;
Cover is not provided by any other insurance;
You have the owner’s permission to drive the vehicle;
The vehicle is in a roadworthy condition; and
You still have your vehicle and it has not been damaged beyond cost-effective repair.
This extension applies while being driven within the territorial limits and only to private passenger vehicles. It does not include:

Vans;
Car-vans;
Jeep-type vehicles with no seats in the back; or
Vans adapted to carry passengers.

The_Honeybadger · 26-12-2013 02:11PM

A policy I had with Quinn direct in the past definately had the stipulation about third party cover for other privately insured motor cars only. That was some time ago, was my first policy and I read it cover to cover. It's quite possible that it doesn't apply on my current one. Best to check the exact wording and if in doubt check with the insurer directly.

oldyouth · 26-12-2013 02:34PM

timmy4u2 wrote: »

Youvare all referring to the Insurance policy. The insurance policy comprises of the Insurance certificate and the policy document.

You forgot to include policy schedule, which may contain endorsements that restrict or amend the standard covers offered in the policy document, for any any individual circumstances

timmy4u2 · 26-12-2013 03:47PM

oldyouth wrote: »

You forgot to include policy schedule, which may contain endorsements that restrict or amend the standard covers offered in the policy document, for any any individual circumstances

The schedule is basically the policy document with the aforesaid endorsements that personalise the policy to you and, as in the certificate outline the period of time the policy is in force. All are sesections of the policy document

mathepac · 26-12-2013 04:45PM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

You will be covered to drive the other car once it's written on your policy that you can drive other cars. Your own car will be covered by whatever cover your wife has to normally drive it.

Completely inaccurate. The same single-car policy cannot cover two cars being driven on public roads at the same time.

mathepac · 26-12-2013 04:50PM

corktina wrote: »

no such clause in any policy I ever looked at. Should anything occur (short of husband and wife crashing into one another) how would they KNOW?

That's hardly the point. One of the drivers is not covered by the single-car policy. I think its bad form to encourage people to take risks.

mathepac · 26-12-2013 04:53PM

CiniO wrote: »

...
2. Even if you are right, and such limitation really exists (which you aren't) - it would be undetectable unless both OP and his wife crashed at exact the same moment.

See my post above. Please give the exact wording in your policy that allows two drivers on a single-car policy to drive a car each at the same time.

Sobanek · 26-12-2013 04:55PM

CiniO, don't even get into discussion with mathepac. Everytime he visits the Motors forum he causes havoc.

djimi · 26-12-2013 05:08PM

mathepac wrote: »

See my post above. Please give the exact wording in your policy that allows two drivers on a single-car policy to drive a car each at the same time.

Please show the exact wording from ANY policy that prohibits it.

mathepac · 26-12-2013 05:11PM

djimi wrote: »

Please show the exact wording from ANY policy that prohibits it.

The fact that it's a single car policy prohibits it. Refer to your own single-car policy for confirmation.

mathepac · 26-12-2013 05:20PM

Sobanek wrote: »

CiniO, don't even get into discussion with mathepac. Everytime he visits the Motors forum he causes havoc.

djimi wrote: »

Please show the exact wording from ANY policy that prohibits it.

It seems to me from the tone of some posts (examples above) above some posters want a fight rather than to help the OP avoid trouble.

OP as a sensible person asking for insight before the event, can I suggest you read your policy and call your insurer (not the broker) for absolute clarity. Do not take the risks suggested as if it goes wrong the loss will be yours. With insurance I always err on the side of caution.

I'll be amazed (and suitably apologetic) if I'm proven wrong.

Scortho · 26-12-2013 05:37PM

My policy states that the policyholder if they have a full EU licence may also drive, with the permission of the owner, any private motor car that they do not own and have not hired or leased subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.

I've read my policy from cover to cover and no where does it state that my car can't be driven at the same time by another insured person.

It does say that my car can't be off the road for a mechanical reason and that the car I use must be in a roadworthy condition.

djimi · 26-12-2013 06:11PM

mathepac wrote: »

The fact that it's a single car policy prohibits it. Refer to your own single-car policy for confirmation.

mathepac wrote: »

It seems to me from the tone of some posts (examples above) above some posters want a fight rather than to help the OP avoid trouble.

OP as a sensible person asking for insight before the event, can I suggest you read your policy and call your insurer (not the broker) for absolute clarity. Do not take the risks suggested as if it goes wrong the loss will be yours. With insurance I always err on the side of caution.

I'll be amazed (and suitably apologetic) if I'm proven wrong.

My own policy states nothing of the sort.

Im not looking for a fight; Im just genuinely curious to see if you can quote from any policy that contains such a clause. I have never heard of a policy having such a stipulation, nor have I ever seen it in any policy that I have held, so Id be interested to know if such a clause exists and which insurers have it in their policies.

Driving another car on my insurance

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