If i have insurance can i drive an uninsured car

Insurance for Parked Cars

Unfortunately, as of June 2011 no person can own a car without it being insured, even if you’re not driving it. This applies for cars that are kept on a public road, in the driveway or in your garage. This is due to legislation called Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) which aims to reduce the number of uninsured drivers on the road. There is even a fine of up to £1,000 if you’re found without a policy on your vehicle.

However, there is a way to avoid prosecution if you aren’t currently behind the wheel of your uninsured car. Simply contact the DVLA and register a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) for no cost. In fact, if there is any remaining tax on the vehicle this will be refunded to you. Don’t forget to re-tax it when you’re ready to drive again.

Car Insurance for Young Drivers

Insuring your first car can be a pain, especially when you’re under twenty-five. Choosing to apply through a broker might not occur to a younger generation, but did you know that you could save money when you use Sagar Insurances?

Our team work to find you the best possible deal and will go through policies with you to ensure you’re happy with your premium. You don’t have to wait to insure your car and leave your wheels feeling sad on your driveway!

You cannot legally drive in any state without demonstrating financial responsibility for damages or liability in the event of an accident. In most states auto insurance is mandatory as proof of this responsibility.

All states have financial responsibility laws so, in states where there is no liability insurance requirement, you need to have proof of sufficient assets to pay damages, medical bills and more if you cause an accident.

Without this proof of assets, you face legal penalties (like a suspended drivers license and car registration). Worse, in case of an accident, your responsibilities could wipe out your financial future.

Auto insurance exists to protect your assets

If you've financed your car, your lender may require comprehensive and collision insurance as part of the loan agreement. In other words, they'll want insurance to protect their financial asset—the automobile.

You'll want to protect yourself and your assets with car insurance, as well. The insurance industry and consumer groups generally recommend a minimum of $100,000 of bodily injury protection per person and $300,000 per accident, since accidents may cost far more than the minimum limits mandated by most states.

Next steps: Understand what is covered by a basic auto insurance policy.

Every once in a while you may need to drive someone else's car. It might be an emergency or you may have permission from the car owner, but that doesn't mean it's legal. Unless you're a 'named driver' on their car insurance, you almost certainly won't be insured. And both the driver and car owner can run into trouble if caught without the necessary cover.

Does comprehensive car insurance cover me to drive other cars?

In the past, most comprehensive car insurance policies included driving other cars (DOC), giving drivers third party policy protection when driving other people's cars with their permission. This meant it was legal to drive another car without being a named driver, but that you could be liable for the full cost of any damage to the vehicle.

DOC was always intended to be used for emergency situations. And while that continues to be the case, it can be used for a range of other circumstances. But it's important to check your policy to make sure you are covered because it isn't an automatic privilege. For instance, people aged under 25 are unlikely to have DOC cover.

Similarly, those with driving convictions or who have made claims on their own policy may also be excluded. And some insurers may not offer it at all.

If you have DOC cover, you would be very unwise to regularly drive someone else's car because as we have explained, it only gives third party cover. In such a case it would be better if you were a named driver on their policy.

Call your insurer if you're not sure about whether you have DOC cover.

What's the punishment for DOC uninsured?

A driver who is involved in an accident or caught without DOC insurance, even if the car they are driving is insured by the owner, will be dealt with severely by the law. They will be heavily fined with up to 8 licence penalty points, and could be banned from driving.

What's more, the owner would also face prosecution for allowing an uninsured person to drive their car. The owner's insurer will have to meet any third party damage and injury costs but would almost certainly cancel the policy. They may then take legal action to recover their costs from the owner, who would also be liable for the cost of repairing their own car.

Insurance companies take convictions for driving without insurance very seriously. Both the owner and the driver will find it very difficult to obtain affordable car insurance in the future. This could be a very good way of losing a friend!

Getting temporary car insurance

Temporary, short-term car insurance is available if you need to drive another vehicle for a few days. The cover can be provided for anywhere between one and 28 days.

Some short-term policies cover drivers aged over 21 but usually a driver will have to be 25 or over due to the risks that come with insuring young drivers.

It can be hard to get short-term insurance if you have penalty points attached to your licence. Temporary cover also often has more conditions compared to standard policies.

Insurance for test driving cars from private sellers

If you're taking a test drive with a dealer, you'll be covered by their motor trader policy. But if you're buying a car from a private seller, this type of cover isn't available so you'll have to be sure that you're covered to test drive a car under your policy.

If your existing policy includes DOC then you're probably covered, but do check for any exclusions. If you're not, then take out a temporary insurance policy for the day you're test driving, or check that the vendor has extended their cover specifically to allow potential buyers to have a test drive.

If you're looking for comprehensive car insurance that allows you to drive other cars (with the owner's permission), we might be able to help.