Insurance warning on driving other people's vehicles
Wednesday, 23rd February 2011.
Suffolk Police are warning motorists who are driving a vehicle not belonging to them, using their own fully comprehensive insurance, they may no longer be covered to do so.
Despite the assumption by many that a fully comprehensive insurance policy would cover drivers to use another person's vehicle with their permission, there has recently been a change in a lot of insurance policies and this often no longer comes as standard.
One issue that officers specifically want motorists to check is in relation to driving another person’s vehicle with the owner’s permission when the vehicle does not have an insurance policy in place.
With recent changes the majority of insurers now stipulate that the vehicle being driven must at least have third party cover.
If a person is stopped in a vehicle that is not their own and is unsure if their policy covers them to drive another vehicle, officers will have to complete a check.
If it is discovered that the driver is not correctly covered it could result in a fixed penalty notice fine of £200 and six penalty points or a day at magistrates court. The vehicle will also be seized.
Insp Julian Ditcham, of the roads policing unit, said: “Stopping vehicles and checking insurance policies will take up the time of the members of public and of our officers.
"This information will appear either on the front of your certificate or in the small print, so it is the driver’s responsibility to make sure they are covered.
“We do realise that there is a lack of awareness of this policy change so this is a polite reminder to all motorists to have a double check.
"However, we are also aware that there will be people out there who are deliberately offending and therefore appropriate action will be used wherever necessary.”
Despite the assumption by many that a fully comprehensive insurance policy would cover drivers to use another person's vehicle with their permission, there has recently been a change in a lot of insurance policies and this often no longer comes as standard.
One issue that officers specifically want motorists to check is in relation to driving another person’s vehicle with the owner’s permission when the vehicle does not have an insurance policy in place.
With recent changes the majority of insurers now stipulate that the vehicle being driven must at least have third party cover.
If a person is stopped in a vehicle that is not their own and is unsure if their policy covers them to drive another vehicle, officers will have to complete a check.
If it is discovered that the driver is not correctly covered it could result in a fixed penalty notice fine of £200 and six penalty points or a day at magistrates court. The vehicle will also be seized.
Insp Julian Ditcham, of the roads policing unit, said: “Stopping vehicles and checking insurance policies will take up the time of the members of public and of our officers.
"This information will appear either on the front of your certificate or in the small print, so it is the driver’s responsibility to make sure they are covered.
“We do realise that there is a lack of awareness of this policy change so this is a polite reminder to all motorists to have a double check.
"However, we are also aware that there will be people out there who are deliberately offending and therefore appropriate action will be used wherever necessary.”
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