Substitute or courtesy car query

lipso

If a car needs a fairly big engine repair and car is off the road for a week or so does insurance provide a substitute or courtesy car?

Nody

Depends on your insurance and circumstances; your car got hit by another and your car is getting fixed on their insurance? More likely. Your engine need replacement because it died while you were driving; more unlikely.

magicbastarder

Car insurance does not cover mechanical issues, does it?

Eggs For Dinner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123488342#Comment_123488342

No it doesn't. Insurance will not provide a courtesy vehicle for a mechanical repair

GerardKeating

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058411527/substitute-or-courtesy-car-query

Any insurance I had ever had, provides a replacement car (up to seven days) when you have an accident, fire, or theft only , but not for a mechnical breakdown. Some offer to get you home for a breakdown.

So unless the "big engine repair" is required because of an accident, fire etc, you won't get anything.

Big Bag of Chips

The garage you use they may provide you with a courtesy car. You would temporarily transfer your insurance policy to the courtesy car.

beachhead

And pay the rental costs for as long as you use their car

Big Bag of Chips

I've never had to pay for a "courtesy" car. The clue is in the name. The price paid was the price quoted for the work whether I needed a replacement car or not. I've had a car for a day or two on occasion at no cost other than swapping my insurance.

But it will depend on whether or not a car is available. If not then you'll need to hire a car yourself. No harm contacting your insurance and asking them if it's something they cover.

coylemj

OP, ask the garage doing the repair if they can supply a 'replacement car'. That's the term they use in the trade for a car loaned by the garage to someone in your situation. Unlike a typical rental, a replacement car comes with no insurance so you transfer your policy to it for the duration. For a major repair, it's something you should ask for and get included in the price, especially if it's an insurance job.

magicbastarder

do you need to transfer insurance if your policy covers you to drive other cars, and it's just for a week or so?

Eggs For Dinner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123489645#Comment_123489645

Its likely to be 3rd party only on the driving of other cars extension

coylemj

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123489645#Comment_123489645

Even if it's free so you're not technically renting the car i.e. it's a 'loaner', a garage typically will not take your word for it when you tell them that you have 'driving other cars' cover. My experience is that they will ask you to hand your insurance cert. to their receptionist. Who will phone your insurance company and ask them to transfer your policy to the replacement car.

If they allowed you to drive the car without validating your cover and it turned out that you didn't have the level of cover that you claimed to have, they could be prosecuted (as the owner) for permitting an uninsured driver to drive it. They would also be liable if you were in a crash and/or knocked someone down and there was a claim.