Buying a MK1: UK insurance and the ride home?

Im new to the UK and might be purchasing an 83 GTi 1.8, the only problem is its over 160miles away, so going to look at it, going home, and having to get insurance and go back and buy it would be a bit much. So I was wondering if the insurance that is on the car currently would cover me for the ride home, until i get my own policy. Any answers much appreciated.
   –Mike

my insurance doesnt cover me to drive other cars, but i think (dont quote me) if your over 25yrs old your insurance usualy covers you to drive other vehicles on third party only! the best thing to do is check with your own insurance.

if you have fully com insurance your insured to drive any over motor vehicle not registered to you but it will be 3 party only.

however since you be buying the car the old keeper must fill in the log book and send it off leaving you with the green part, so if you get pulled !!

Get a friend who insured fully com to drive it back for you, or phone an insurance company up and get cover over the phone. just make its tax . if not get the old owner to tax it for you proir to buying.

im fully comp but cant drive all cars…
you have to be over 25 im sure it may be older…
just make sure dont just realie on what people are saying.

im insured fully comp and cannot drive any other cars. best thing to do is check your own insurance.

What I usually do when going to buy a car is to get all the details beforehand off the owner and then ring round to get the best quote. Keep a record of the quote reference and confirm that you can take the cover out over the phone once the sale is confirmed on the day.

Then on the day you go to look at / buy the car, if you go ahead with the purchase then you can ring the insurance company up on the spot and they will start the cover for you there and then as they have already got the details from the initial quote.

If you decide not to buy the car then no problem, just don't take out the policy.

Most policies sold over the phone / online have to allow you a "cooling off" period anyway, so I think you can cancel within 14 days provided you don't claim and still get a  full refund on the policy. I think thats statutory UK law that relates to distance selling (i.e. you weren't there in person for the sale).

Cheers,

Chris

ChrisB said

What I usually do when going to buy a car is to get all the details beforehand off the owner and then ring round to get the best quote. Keep a record of the quote reference and confirm that you can take the cover out over the phone once the sale is confirmed on the day.

Then on the day you go to look at / buy the car, if you go ahead with the purchase then you can ring the insurance company up on the spot and they will start the cover for you there and then as they have already got the details from the initial quote.

If you decide not to buy the car then no problem, just don't take out the policy.

Most policies sold over the phone / online have to allow you a "cooling off" period anyway, so I think you can cancel within 14 days provided you don't claim and still get a  full refund on the policy. I think thats statutory UK law that relates to distance selling (i.e. you weren't there in person for the sale).

Cheers,

Chris

What perfect sense, well done ChrisB.  

My insurance would cover me 3rd party on another car as long as it is also INSURED!!!! beware :wink:  ChrisB's suggestion is spot on.

Rob  

;-).

Might also be worth taking a similar approach with the breakdown cover as well - get a quote upfront , but only take it out if you buy the car on the day.

Also check the policy - quite a few classic policies these days offer free breakdown cover (Footman James used to - not sure if they still do?).

As Robb says if you read the small print on most other fully comp policies they only offer you 3rd party cover IF the car you plan to drive is already properly insured.

Look at it this way, is it worth the risk?

You are most likely going to be driving a car you are completely unfamiliar with, and most likely don't know its foibles (like the fact that it cuts out when hot approaching roundabouts), or that the indicators only work when going left  :wink:

Should anything unexpected happen you don't want the stress of finding out you are not adequately covered!

Chris

stokie_babe said

my insurance doesnt cover me to drive other cars, but i think (dont quote me) if your over 25yrs old your insurance usualy covers you to drive other vehicles on third party only! the best thing to do is check with your own insurance.

yes but this would need to be a car registered to someone else and also insured by that person so your insurance would cover you.
It won't count on another car owned by yourself and not insured by anyone.

Most major insurance companies will cover an addtional car for a short period, i.e hire cars and friends cars etc. so you could ask them and find out?

Yep, I hae a mate who got pulled driving home from buying a car who thought he could use his 3rd party cover off his fully comp. policy - they kindly gave him points and a fine - went ot caught and almost got banned from memory!! 8O

Yep, Chris advise is good, I did that when I bought my Campaign, just meant a quick call on the day and I was covered for the drive home - easy! :wink:

i was a wee bit naughty and insured it on the way home on the m5 lol!  
(i do not condone this behaviour!)