Question on insurance on 2 vehicles

clint_silver

Ive a car and a van at home for which I have separate insurance. I asked my broker and he said I had to get separate so I never questioned it.

However, I just got a quote on 123.ie that said I can get a comprehensive policy on my car that "allows me to drive other vehicles".

If I get this on the car, does this mean I dont have to insure the van separately? Or does "allow to drive other vehicles" mean Im covered on the main policy on the van if there is one.

Maybe a commercial vehicle is different, even though I dont use it for commerical purposes.

kermitpwee

You can drive other vehicles once those other vehicles are not registered in your name. Also you cannot drive a commercial vehicle using a private insurance policy. DONT DRIVE THE VAN until you check with the insurance company. What I have said is generally the way insurance policys work.

Bebo stunnah

From what I recall, you can't insure 2 cars at the same time, but my understanding is that you can insure a car and a van, but Yould have 2 separate policies. I have open insurance, like you describe, but I'm only allowed to drive other peoples CARS that are insured. I wouldn't be insured to drive a commercial vehicle, or another car I owned (without transferring particulars)

clint_silver

Bebo stunnah wrote: »

From what I recall, you can't insure 2 cars at the same time, but my understanding is that you can insure a car and a van, but Yould have 2 separate policies. I have open insurance, like you describe, but I'm only allowed to drive other peoples CARS that are insured. I wouldn't be insured to drive a commercial vehicle, or another car I owned (without transferring particulars)

Yes this was my understanding too, I have the 2 policies a number of years, just never thought about this until the "other vehicles" thing caught my eye this morning on the quote. I'll confirm with broker.

Al Capwned

clint_silver wrote: »

Ive a car and a van at home for which I have separate insurance. I asked my broker and he said I had to get separate so I never questioned it.

However, I just got a quote on 123.ie that said I can get a comprehensive policy on my car that "allows me to drive other vehicles".

If I get this on the car, does this mean I dont have to insure the van separately? Or does "allow to drive other vehicles" mean Im covered on the main policy on the van if there is one.

Maybe a commercial vehicle is different, even though I dont use it for commerical purposes.

The 'driving other vehicles' only applies to vehicles that have a current policy in place. For instance, you could drive my car.

But if i didn't have insurance on my car, you could not drive it.

langdang

alproctor wrote: »

The 'driving other vehicles' only applies to vehicles that have a current policy in place. For instance, you could drive my car.

But if i didn't have insurance on my car, you could not drive it.

I could 100% drive your car and be covered third party (by my insurance) if I had your permission, whether you had it insured or not.

I would not, however, be displaying a valid insurance disc so there might be a fine for that if I was caught, but I would not be "driving uninsured" so my moral and legal obligations to society would be covered. Separate offences, one legally wrong, one legally and morally wrong.

The standard way any insurance policy (that I've seen in Ireland in this century) works is as described by kermit peewee. The "only applies if other car is insured" would appear to be very outdated or just superstition and pub talk.

Al Capwned

langdang wrote: »

I could 100% drive your car and be covered third party (by my insurance) if I had your permission, whether you had it insured or not.

I would not, however, be displaying a valid insurance disc so there might be a fine for that if I was caught, but I would not be "driving uninsured" so my moral and legal obligations to society would be covered. Separate offences, one legally wrong, one legally and morally wrong.

The standard way any insurance policy (that I've seen in Ireland in this century) works is as described by kermit peewee. The "only applies if other car is insured" would appear to be very outdated or just superstition and pub talk.

Whether it's outdated or superstition or pub talk, I can't say, but that was the advice I was given by my a girl in my insurance company office when I asked a similar question to the OP.

My advice - ring broker and ask - no point claiming that "some guy on an internet forum thought......"

langdang

alproctor wrote: »

Whether it's outdated or superstition or pub talk, I can't say, but that was the advice I was given by my a girl in my insurance company office when I asked a similar question to the OP.

My advice - ring broker and ask - no point claiming that "some guy on an internet forum thought......"

Well that applies to your policy, not to my policy. Telling other people that their own insurance that they have paid for themselves is bound by the conditions of your policy is what creates this issue. His insurance is, in fact, bound by the conditions of his insurance.

There are policies that don't cover driving other peoples cars at all.
There are policies that do. I've never seen one that required the other car to be insured. It makes no sense - it's third party insurance - how could the owner of the car be expected to see his insurance hit by a third party claim for someone elses driving?

clint_silver

langdang wrote: »

It makes no sense - it's third party insurance - how could the owner of the car be expected to see his insurance hit by a third party claim for someone elses driving?

this is the main reason I asked the question. It makes no sense to me to have the other vehicle insured if youre insured on your own policy on vehicle A with the ability to drive any other vehicle.

langdang

clint_silver wrote: »

this is the main reason I asked the question. It makes no sense to me to have the other vehicle insured if youre insured on your own policy on vehicle A with the ability to drive any other vehicle.

Ah well, you are the owner of both so you are responsible for both. In this case it's not so much an occasional third party extensions that you are trying to do, it's more a "two for one" on your original policy that you are try to achieve. Not straightforward in Ireland.

The caveat in the third party extensions is usually as Kermitpeewee said - the "other" vehicle must not be in your name. (being in your spouses name is often also excluded)

The big problem for multiple policies/vehicles here is the hassle of trying to mirror NCBs in Ireland.

tinofapples

OP did you get around this since ? I've read on an older thread than Setanta Insurance will mirror your NCB.