Insurance

[WeDesign]

A Car driver has fully comprehensive insurance on their vehicle:

Point 1: Am I corrrect in saying that they can drive any other car not belonging to them at third party only?

Point 2: The car they intend to drive on their insurance does this vehicle have to have a current and valid insurance policy or does their third party cover them to drive it?

[ukanalyst]

The car has to have it's own valid insurance and yes you can drive third party ONLY IF your insurance specifically states you can ... a lot of insurance companies have now stopped this below certain ages and possibly some companies all together ... also I think (but could be wrong) for some professions (like taxi driver/motor trade etc).

In short check with the insurance company FIRST.

[mark1319]

Q1. Yes if it's stated in your policy. On my current one it's states that I can't.

Q2. I would have thought it needs to be insured so you/they can drive it, but not 100% on that one.

This is a major loophole that is trying to be closed by insurance cpy's/police as people insure bangers then drive around in porsches. Thats why I'm not 100% on the second question.

[Duncan]

It used to be the case that with comp cover you could drive any other car third party and that car didn't need to have an existing policy on it. Insurers realised that it was a way of people having a second car (usually an older banger) and putting the comp policy on that (therefore cheap) and then driving their nice newer car under the third party cover - therefore abusing the reason for the system in the first place i.e. to be able to drive another car if need be which you weren't named on. Bit risky obviously driving the nice car on third party cover, but that's what people did.

You'll find that these days pretty much every insurer has wording in the comp policies that state to be able to drive another car with the third party cover, that car has to have an existing separate policy in place on it.

[KieronGSI]

Depends on the insurance company and policy. For example direct line will not cover you third party on other vehicles with a fully comp policy on your own car untill your 25. On the second question its down to your own policy wether the car you drive has to have a policy of its own.

But be aware if you drive another vehicle on your own insurance third party and it doesnt have its own policy you cant leave it in a public place because as soon as you do its uninsured and can be seized.

[Duncan]

But be aware if you drive another vehicle on your own insurance third party and it doesnt have its own policy you cant leave it in a public place because as soon as you do its uninsured and can be seized.

Oh yeah, so it would be! - never thought about that!

[Johnsdutton]

As far as I am aware most companys only allow cover for emergency only, which pretty well means no you can not drive another car on your own fully comp policy.

[Duncan]

Yep, that was the whole reason for the third party cover on a comp policy, to be able to drive another car in an emergency kinda thing - some folks, as usual, then take the pee just a wee bit! lol

[m8internet]

As far as I am aware, all my current and previous policies have allowed the driving of any other car on fully comp policy, but that other car is only covered third party
Also to utilise this part of the policy the policy holder MUST contact the underwriter with details of that other car BEFORE they drive it and those details are then added to that policy for the time required, between 1 day and 1 month, anything over that and an additional premium normally applies

[ukanalyst]

Also to utilise this part of the policy the policy holder MUST contact the underwriter with details of that other car BEFORE they drive it and those details are then added to that policy for the time required, between 1 day and 1 month, anything over that and an additional premium normally applies

That isn't my understanding of policies I have previously held and currently hold ... I can drive another car third party WITHOUT contacting the insurance company however I can also add another car (ie a courtesy car) onto my policy on a temporary basis (for no fee if for a short time as you say on my current policy) and this will be covered Fully comp.


Dave