Car insurance small print that can catch you out...

[Pete.]

So this is the second time I almost got caught out by car insurance small print. Was anyone else aware....

... The clause that lets you drive other peoples car only applies to the main policy holder. So for example, if you're only on your wife's policy as a second driver then you can't drive other cars.

And one that almost caught us out just now.... my wife's insurance policy lets her drive other peoples cars EXCEPT for her spouses car, literally it says that. I checked my policy and it doesn't have that exclusion, so I can drive her car but she can't drive mine. Don't know how common this exclusion is, but it's easy to miss.

The first one has always been the case (well, going back at least the 30yrs I can remember).

The second is a new one on me but I can remember when policies often included 'policyholder's spouse' under persons insured to drive.

 

[brightspark]

i was swanning around in daughters car thinking i was 3d party covered for any other vehicle for about 8 years as my insurance was fully comp . guess what i wasnt aparently comercial insurance does not cover that just private

 

[solastor]

I have quite a few classics, at one time, pre current situation, I could have up to 5 of my motorcycles covered when in a local museum, any five, so I could rotate them, and I had one of my classic cars covered if in the drive as I used it as a daily driver, if you ask or tell them they can be ok with unusual situations,

Yes i agree, you can ask them according to your situation and they might come up with a solution for your coverage.

 

[Chillitt]

I had forgotten about rider policies.. Just priced up insuring a Triumph Sprint, £92 and a ZX6R £103. a multi bike policy is £281... I imagine its a bit tricky to get a rider policy to work with ANPR..

 

[fizzy]

In some European countries such as Portugal it is the car insured not the driver!
Many holiday rentals have an old banger insured for any guests to use. Much better system I reckon. If it works over there why not here?