Third party insurance cover for other cars....but not vans!

[lulu]

Here's a question for you all. We all know that our insurance policies allow us to drive other cars with third party cover (something I discovered I got automatically when I became 21!). Does your insurance allow you to drive a van? Mine doesn't, and I nearly need made a mistake today with the intention of borrowing a friend's van thinking it does. It won't even cover car derived vans. I'm sure years ago my various inurance policies used to cover others' cars, vans and even motorcycles. Let me know if yours does, and who they are. (For the record my insurer is Privilege)

 

[television]

I know that the part on your license was taken away when it is renewed,,I could drive a 7½ ton truck when I left England and came back, the small vans is a surprise

 

[lulu]

That's a very good point Malcolm. The DVLA definition of a 'car' is quite broad and would include what most of us would describe as a van up to 3.5 tonnes.
I think I was thrown by the fact that previously the word 'van' appeared on my insurance as something that I could drive with third party cover but, is now no longer included.
I wonder how that would pan out if an incident arose.
(3.5 tonnes to 7.5 tonnes are described as 'medium sized vehicles'. The word 'van' doesn't appear anywhere in the DVLA definitions!)

 

[roofless]

it would 10yrs ago but now you must have commercial vehicle insurance for vans ect in the past i would swap a van on to my insurance no probs but now it's a no no

 

[Xtractorfan]

You should be very careful when using other vehicles, lots of familys have two or more cars, and whilst you may be insured 3rd party to drive other family vehicles for social and domestic and pleasure purposes many of the policies do not cover you if you are using the other car to go to work..worth checking up on..

 

[D1gger5]

Also, the car you are using with the owners consent still requires them to insure it. Just like company pool cars, etc that are covered by the company car insurance.

 

[Juddian]

The same works in reverse.
The commercial vehicle policy on my pick up doesn't allow me to drive anyone else's vehicle at all.

 

[Cnics]

The commercial policy on my van DOES allow me to drive other vans AND cars 3rd party, of course, providing the vehicle is road legal and the owner has an insurance policy.

My traders policy (separate company) allows me to drive them fully comp of course, but not relevant here.

 

[carloss]

noticed on my fullcomp car policy that although i am covered to drive other vehicles on a third party basis it does not cover me if it is in anyway connected with the motor trade