Does my car have to be insured at all times?

laissez-faire · 11 May 2006 at 13:25

I am going to be up in Edinburgh for the first couple of weeks of June, and my insurance is due for renewal on the 30th of May. If I set my next insurance to start 14th of June the car will be uninsured for 2 weeks. If nobody is driving it is that OK? I mean there is very very little chance of a car being stolen from my house.

Sam

tedaC · 11 May 2006 at 13:27

as far as i know and i maybe wrong - If it is parked on public property ( i.e a street etc .. ) then you need insurance - if you park on private property ( i.e your drive ) you dont need insurance.

As i say this is as far as i know and i maybe wwrong

TinkerBell · 11 May 2006 at 13:27

I think its ok as long as it isnt been driven and off road

olv · 11 May 2006 at 13:48

I'd imagine you'd have to declare it SORN if you do not wish to have insurance.

How big a difference is 2 weeks really going to make though? and imagine if it was nicked, you would be up poo creek without a paddle

Firestar_3x · 11 May 2006 at 13:49

olv said:
I'd imagine you'd have to declare it SORN if you do not wish to have insurance.

Don't see why this is the case myself, nowt to do with the tax.

olv · 11 May 2006 at 14:04

just a guess. as insurance is a legal requirement whether or not you are using your car, i would assume the only way you would not pay insurance if it was declared off the road?

[TW]Fox · 11 May 2006 at 14:08

olv said:
just a guess. as insurance is a legal requirement whether or not you are using your car

Only if kept on a road to which the public have access.

olv · 11 May 2006 at 14:31

does that include a driveway? surely the public have access to your driveway unless you have gates.

Type_R · 11 May 2006 at 14:44

much as they have access to my garage armed with a crowbar

POB · 11 May 2006 at 14:52

Also if you car is on finance most agreements require constant insurnace.

Von Smallhausen · 11 May 2006 at 16:25

olv said:
does that include a driveway? surely the public have access to your driveway unless you have gates.

Thats classed as private property and does not class as a road to which the public have access to as defined by the Road Traffic Act.

Road Traffic Act 1988 said:
"Road", in relation to England and Wales, means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes

You don't need insurance all of the time when a vehicle is off the road, as long as it is stored privately, say a driveway or garage of a house. You would need it if parked on the street, even if not used.

olv · 11 May 2006 at 16:40

ahh cool, thanks for clearing that up

Rich1988 · 11 May 2006 at 16:41

olv said:
does that include a driveway? surely the public have access to your driveway unless you have gates.

no because they shouldnt be on there since its private property