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Borrowing Minibus or MPV - Insurance question
Mr G - 2/8/12 at 06:54 PM

Evening gents,

Need to get 9 people 200 miles away for 3 days. Maybe be able to borrow a friends 17 seater but want to obviously make sure I've got seperate insurance cover on it. Got the option of ringing up my own insurance company that the tintop is with to get it added for the 3 days but when you read the small print they want to charge you admin and other fees left right and centre. Other option looks like some of these specialist insurance places on the web that deal with minibus's etc for partys and school events etc.

Anybody had any experience with this situation? To just rent a 17 seater locally (no 9 seaters available) from a proper rental firm with unlimited miles and insurance will be £245 so I'm trying to weigh up the best option.

Thanks in advance

G

Slimy38 - 2/8/12 at 07:21 PM

When you say 17 seats, does that include the driver? A standard driving licence only covers vehicles with up to 16 passenger seats (cat D1), any more and you need a PCV licence (cat D).

[Edited on 2/8/12 by Slimy38]

JoelP - 2/8/12 at 07:21 PM

Last time i tried adding a car on for a day, they wanted £50 for a single days insurance. Told them to stuff it.

Does your friend have the minibus insured themselves? Would your own insurance not cover you in another vehicle?

You probably know, but you need a pre97 license for automatic minibus entitlement.

Slimy38 - 2/8/12 at 07:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
Would your own insurance not cover you in another vehicle?


Third party only though in most cases?

Mr G - 2/8/12 at 07:39 PM

17 seats all in and I passed my test when 'turtle power' was number one in the uk charts so no worries about being able to drive it legally Joel - That was the one thing that I thought might end up being expensive and making me just rent a vehicle properly for 3 days with the insurance cover thrown in with it.

My policy lets me drive other vehicles not owned/registered to me on third party cover as long as they have insurance already in place on them.

I havn't rented anything in ages and sniffing around various companies I can't believe the hike in prices!

Cheers for all the input

austin man - 2/8/12 at 08:09 PM

could you not be added to the owners policy or is your fear you could affect his policy if a claim was made

Mr G - 2/8/12 at 08:11 PM

I think he has it on his traders policy.

JoelP - 2/8/12 at 08:21 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
Would your own insurance not cover you in another vehicle?


Third party only though in most cases?


Yep, your own insurance would pay out to other parties and your friend would have to claim for the bus. But, accidents are rare, complying with the law is the main issue here. Would have to be a good friend i guess! I borrowed a mates new range rover sport for a day on that basis.

Moot point i suppose if he only has it on a trade policy!

He needs to be an even better friend, and let you pretend to be him

ReMan - 2/8/12 at 09:03 PM

But. And I'm not adverse to bending the rules a lot, this is 9 bodies, not just your own, I'm just thinking if something happened
I must be getting old!

[Edited on 2/8/12 by ReMan]

Simon - 2/8/12 at 09:11 PM

9 of you sharing the £245 (+ fuel costs I assume) will be £35 ish each (400 miles at 25 mpg at £6/gallon for any pedants on here). Damn site cheaper than the train I reckon

ATB

Simon

JoelP - 2/8/12 at 09:13 PM

Two cars would be cheaper.

britishtrident - 3/8/12 at 08:02 AM

quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
Last time i tried adding a car on for a day, they wanted £50 for a single days insurance. Told them to stuff it.

Does your friend have the minibus insured themselves? Would your own insurance not cover you in another vehicle?

You probably know, but you need a pre97 license for automatic minibus entitlement.



With Daysure 3 days short term usually costs me about £20 to £30 I use it when I buy a car at auction to give me a couple of days to check it out to decide if i keep it.

britishtrident - 3/8/12 at 08:04 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
Would your own insurance not cover you in another vehicle?


Third party only though in most cases?



Not any more most insurance now has zero cover for driving other cars.