Been out for the evening, just back in.
Its called the DOC extension. Thats driving other cars, not some invention by a certain Dr Chartham which used to be popular with some male members....
All the following refers to a public road, that being a road to which the public have access, whether on payment or otherwise, not just a road which is repairable at public expense.
The registered keeper is not required to be the owner. Check the smallish print on your V5.
If Mrs the Boy owns the car but its registered in Mr TheBoys name, thats OK so far.
If Mr The Boy has insurance and it states that he can also drive other cars, not owned by him nor hired to him under a hire purchase agreement, then he would, on the face of things, be covered. Most times, however, only Fully Comp policies have this DOC extension, most 3rd party only or TPF&T do not.
There is a substantial caveat, however.
He is only insured whilst in the drivers seat. Not the passenger seat, not the back, not whilst under the bonnet, in the boot or going to pay for petrol at a garage or whatever. Therefore its not insured if it rolls backwards and crushes a pedestrian or dents someones brand new Rolls Canardly when he is not in the drivers seat. At such other times, car is uninsured and, as Mrs The Boy is the owner, she is liable for penalty points and the fine that goes with causing or permitting the use of a vehicle whilst uninsured. Mr TheBoy also catches similar points and prizes as he was actually using it at the time. Can be a fixed penalty ticket for 6 points and £200 or a summary appearance at a Court with the risk of a higher fine. For either or both Mr and Mrs. And the repair costs of the Rolls or the civil suit for the multi million squids cash payout to the family of the injured party who now lives in an iron lung or a wheelchair......
The DOC extension was designed to cover eventualities such as the regular driver becoming unwell of an evening and a fellow passenger who has his own insurance for his own car jumping into the drivers seat and then get the entire party home.
I know we check such situations out hereabouts and the use, as described, is technically OK. Remember that a vehicle must be insured whilst on a public road and when used as above, is only insured
whilst being driven . I would not like, however, to put such an arrangement as described to the acid test of a claim for a serious road crash with insurance company's battling it out to see who is going to pay what.
If its simply a case of moving the car from one side of town to the other versus insuring a 2CV and then driving a 3.2 MV6 to regularly travel to work, if the latter, I think I would be looking for short term insurance, just in case.
Ultimately, its your call but it may not stand upto extended scrutiny....
HtH
Broocie
