Chicken bald back

[The Dogmother]

Can you help solve a minor domestic disagreement....?

 

I am insured to drive my car 'fully comp', and The Boy is on there as a named driver as he often drives it too when he's visiting at weekends. I hardly drive his, but sometimes need to; he doesn't have me on his insurance, but says that 'because I am fully comp on mine, it means that I am covered to drive his car'.

 

I think this is a load of bilge, but am happy to be proved wrong by someone who knows what they are talking about.

 

I am not happy about driving his car unless I am a named driver on his insurance... it can't cost much to add me, surely; female driver, over 50, max no claims...........

[LolaLayla]

OH says you may be insured third party if it advises that on your own policy (you will need to check the small print). However probably wouldn't cost much to be added to his to make it fully comp

[merlina]

It used to be the case that every fully comp policy covered the policyholder to drive any other vehicle not owned or (commercially) hired by them. Nowadays, this is one of the things that's been cut from discount policies - so the only way to know if you're covered is check your policy document.

Do be aware that you are only covered for the barest legal minimum, so not adviseable if you're driving anything of any value at all.

 

It makes sense for him to add you. Very often adding someone (sensible!) to a policy can actually lead to a discount. Although if added midway through a policy that can be lost with the 'admin fees' to change the policy that so many insurers love so much these days

 

It's certainly worth ringing round at renewal time - adding you, with the right insurer could lop a fair bit off his price - that should be the incentive he needs!

[The Dogmother]

Thanks, that was more or less what I thought.

 

His car isn't of any value TBH, but I don't feel comfortable driving something that I might not be insured to drive.

 

I will pass that on Merlina.

[Chickabee]

The "driving other cars benefit" as it used to be known, is really only supposed to be used in an emergency, not as an every day occurrence. It covers you for third party only.

 

In my days before children, dogs, horses and chickens, I used to be an insurance broker (boring I know). OH still is sort of although officially retired.

[Olly]

I'd agree with the above - your policy may cover you to drive any other car, but it's usually only 'third party'. You'd have to check. On my policy it's any car, and not just in an emergency.

 

I have two friends on my policy, one in case she needs a car urgently as hers is a bit unreliable, the other because we often go away together and it's convenient to be able to share the driving. I've experimented getting quotes with and without them as named drivers, and it's actually been cheaper with some policies to have them on there than not.

[Purplemaniacs]

I agree with others. OH is insured to drive any vehicle third party and occasionally uses it to drive DD's car but it is only on the odd occasion. I think I maybe too but have never checked as I would not want to drive anyone else's car.

 

DD's boyfriend added her to his policy as it is easier to drive each others cars rather than swapping car seats all the time and it lowered his insurance premium.

 

But I agree about admin costs for changing policy DD has moved and had to change hers she was not amused at the cost to change it.

 

Chrissie

[The Dogmother]

Thanks, it's as I thought then.

 

I need to make a change to my policy soon, so I will ask them whether I am covered to drive The Boy's car, and to what extent.

[Geoid]

It will say on your certificate of insurance something like insured to drive any car with the owners consent (or words to that effect).

Top tip, don't assume that if you are fully comp you can drive any car. Pulled a driver over, said she was fully comp and could drive any car. On checking her policy turns out she was only insured for her car. 6 points, £300 fine and car seized.

Edited February 2, 2014 by Guest

[The Dogmother]

OOo, get you Fred!

 

Thanks.

[Chickendoodle]

I work in insurance, for my sins. The driving other cars extension has only ever been for third party cover as giving comprehensive cover for cars that you don't own would mean that you could insure your Corsa and jump in your friends £100,000 Ferrari and be fully insured. Never going to happen ! It is one of the most common confusions in motor insurance and a question that we get asked all the time.

 

You may well find that your son's premium will go down a bit if he adds you on as a named driver as adding an older driver to a young persons policy sometimes has that effect.

[The Dogmother]

You may well find that your son's premium will go down a bit if he adds you on as a named driver as adding an older driver to a young persons policy sometimes has that effect.

 

sorry, I should explain 'The Boy' is my other half, and is 4 years older than me. Easy mistake if you don' know me, as I always refer to him as The Boy'... my apologies.

[CatieB]

Please be aware it's not just budget or cheap insurance that limit your cover anymore. Hubby has net bought a new new car and I organised the insurance for it. For various reasons I ended up with the insurance of the car manufacturer - they pointed out to me that neither of us would be covered to drive other cars on any basis not even third party!

[Kirstine]

I recently heard a horror story about this - friend borrowed car, both were insured fully comp, friend's insurance covered 3rd party driving any car with owner's permission. The car was stolen while in possession of the friend, and turned out to be covered on neither policy.