uninsured car; driver has DOC - legal?

davidtan · 8 Oct 2007 at 22:27

If I've got a car that is garaged, taxed and MOTed, but not insured in my name, is it legal for another driver who has a comprehensive policy with DOC to drive the car?

I can't seem to find any info on the DVLA website about this, and his policy providers haven't got any requirement on the schedule that the car need to be insured.

ste_bla · 8 Oct 2007 at 22:29

davidtan said:
If I've got a car that is garaged, taxed and MOTed, but not insured in my name, is it legal for another driver who has a comprehensive policy with DOC to drive the car?

I can't seem to find any info on the DVLA website about this, and his policy providers haven't got any requirement on the schedule that the car need to be insured.

Yes

Aslong as he doesnt leave it on the highway as DOC only covers it while the person is in the car. Also take the insurance policy with him in the car is theres a high chance of being pulled and makes it a lot easier to do it at the roadside than go down the cop shop later.

s0ck · 8 Oct 2007 at 23:19

davidtan said:
If I've got a car that is garaged, taxed and MOTed, but not insured in my name, is it legal for another driver who has a comprehensive policy with DOC to drive the car?

I can't seem to find any info on the DVLA website about this, and his policy providers haven't got any requirement on the schedule that the car need to be insured.

It is insured by *someone* though, yeh?
It was my understanding it had to be insured somewhere first...

Burned_Alive · 8 Oct 2007 at 23:27

Indeed, pretty sure the car needs to be directly insured by someone, for doc for someone else to be valid.

andi · 8 Oct 2007 at 23:28

Yeah, the small print will say the car must not belong to you, and must be insured.

[TW]Fox · 8 Oct 2007 at 23:33

andi said:
Yeah, the small print will say the car must not belong to you, and must be insured.

Except for when it wont say that, you mean?

It's a myth thats widely perpetuated

andi · 8 Oct 2007 at 23:38

Fair enough then. It'll probably say in the small print. Which companies don't say that?

Wouldn't fancy driving a vehicle with no insurance policy on it for too long though, ANPR and taxing it may pose a problem.

davidtan · 8 Oct 2007 at 23:53

I've checked the Bell policy (the DOC driver has full comp with them) document, which can be found here: http://www.bell.co.uk/PolicyBooks/BELL.pdf (page 10) and there's absolutely nothing about the other car needing to be insured..?

s0ck · 9 Oct 2007 at 00:14

cool

Muncher · 9 Oct 2007 at 00:26

ste_bla said:
Aslong as he doesnt leave it on the highway as DOC only covers it while the person is in the car.

Sorry, you're wrong.

Burnsy2023 · 9 Oct 2007 at 00:27

It's amazing how many misconceptions there is about DOC cover. Does anyone read their policies?

Burnsy

davidtan · 9 Oct 2007 at 00:44

After all the replies, I now have absolutely no idea what the situation is at all..!

BigglesPiP · 9 Oct 2007 at 00:57

Right, how about we sod all the fine points, have the OP tell us in what manor the guy will be driving the car (ie, is it just to move it from one place to another once?), and we'll tell you if the insurance covers it, rather than drawing up a list of what he can and cannot do right the way down to track days?

Mackass · 9 Oct 2007 at 02:18

I'm with Bell, and the doc car doesn't need to be insured, they'll still cover me to drive someone elses car with doc.

ste_bla · 9 Oct 2007 at 04:22

Muncher said:
Sorry, you're wrong.

In what way?

v0n · 9 Oct 2007 at 09:37

davidtan said:
After all the replies, I now have absolutely no idea what the situation is at all..!

The situation is as described in second post. You can drive uninsured car on DOC, unless DOC itself prohibits you from driving uninsured cars (and most don't). However, the moment you close the door behind you while popping out to the chippy you effectively forfeit any relation between that policy and vehicle thus leaving the car on public road in illegal status. Car parked, standing or left on public road must be insured. And that is just law, separate from terms and conditions of any insurer.

panthro · 9 Oct 2007 at 09:58

My policy states that DOC is only valid if the car does not belong to me, and that it is already insured fully comp by the 3rd party.

Muncher · 9 Oct 2007 at 10:32

ste_bla said:
In what way?

Cover continues while it can be reasonably said that you are still the driver and in charge of the vehicle. You do not stop being the driver merely by parking it.

Trojan · 9 Oct 2007 at 11:16

This issue always generates a wide range of opinions on the matter. Do the sensible thing - ring the insurance company and check

davidtan · 9 Oct 2007 at 11:17

Just to clarify the situation, the insurance on my car has currently run out, and as it's garaged, and I don't need to drive it in the next fortnight, I'm shopping around for the best deal. In the mean time, if my friend wants to use the car, would that be legal. Ultimately, it doesn't matter whether he's driving it once or twice - if it's illegal, it won't happen (although it turns out it should be fine).

He spoke to Bell this morning and they said they definitely didn't require that the car be insured for DOC on his policy to be valid. I'll speak to the DVLA to see what the situation would be, say, if he parked the car in a supermarket.