Cancelled car insurance but car now returned

Cancelled car insurance but car now returned

Author
Discussion

jtmk

Original Poster:

2 posts

54 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
Hi all, hoping for some advice regarding car insurance. My son sold his first car to a friend of a friend and cancelled his car insurance accordingly whilst he was looking for another car. The friend of a friend returned the car within 2 days due to a change of circumstances and my son refunded him. Can he reinsure the car even though the log book wasn't changed over?

Edited by jtmk on Monday 13th May 11:01

Sebring440

2,307 posts

103 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
jtmk said:
Hi all, hoping for some advice regarding car insurance. My son sold his first car to a friend of a friend and cancelled his car insurance accordingly whilst he was looking for another car. The friend of a friend returned the car within 2 days due to a change of circumstances and my son refunded him. Can he reinsure the car even though the log book wasn't changed over?
Presumably the change of keeper was recorded on vehicle handover, so that the "friend of a friend" could tax it and drive it home?

Won't affect the insurance, he can insure the car whenever he wants, though it may be an idea to to that quickly, before they twig it's uninsured.

martinbiz

3,369 posts

152 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
Sebring440 said:
jtmk said:
Hi all, hoping for some advice regarding car insurance. My son sold his first car to a friend of a friend and cancelled his car insurance accordingly whilst he was looking for another car. The friend of a friend returned the car within 2 days due to a change of circumstances and my son refunded him. Can he reinsure the car even though the log book wasn't changed over?
Presumably the change of keeper was recorded on vehicle handover, so that the "friend of a friend" could tax it and drive it home?

Won't affect the insurance, he can insure the car whenever he wants, though it may be an idea to to that quickly, before they twig it's uninsured.
OP says keeper change has not been made, so VED would still be valid for friend to drive home. But agree he now needs to get it reinsured pronto so as not to infringe CIE

MitchT

16,224 posts

216 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
Surely it's as simple as phoning the insurance company to see if you can reinstate the cancelled policy or, failing that, buying a new policy.

CanAm

10,041 posts

279 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
MitchT said:
Surely it's as simple as phoning the insurance company to see if you can reinstate the cancelled policy or, failing that, buying a new policy.
Once there is a gap cover, it must remain there, and I doubt if their insurance system could cope with that. So they will have to issue a new policy, and the OP's son will miss out on earning a NCD for the last incomplete year of insurance.
Rule No.1 Transfer the Registration the minute ownership changes.
Rule No.2 Keep Insurance in force while vehicle is registered to you

Edited by CanAm on Monday 13th May 12:07

OutInTheShed

9,324 posts

33 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
CanAm said:
Once there is a gap cover, it must remain there, and I doubt if their insurance system could cope with that. So they will have to issue a new policy, and the OP's son will miss out on earning a NCD for the last incomplete year of insurance.
Rule No.1 Transfer the Registration the minute ownership changes.
Rule No.2 Keep Insurance in force while vehicle is registered to you

Edited by CanAm on Monday 13th May 12:07
Rule two should be 'inform insurer the minute you're no longer responsible for the car'.

Dothe 'new keeper' thing online, you should get acknowledgement in minutes by eamil.

You can often have a policy in limbo for a few days or a week, but generally if you are car-less for longer than that they will insist on cancelling the policy.

What's done is done.
Speak to insurer, take it from there.

hidetheelephants

27,807 posts

200 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
jtmk said:
my son refunded him.
That's where the problem is.

martinbiz

3,369 posts

152 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
hidetheelephants said:
jtmk said:
my son refunded him.
That's where the problem is.
Care to elaborate on that?

CanAm

10,041 posts

279 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
OutInTheShed said:
Rule two should be 'inform insurer the minute you're no longer responsible for the car'.

Dothe 'new keeper' thing online, you should get acknowledgement in minutes by eamil.

You can often have a policy in limbo for a few days or a week, but generally if you are car-less for longer than that they will insist on cancelling the policy.

What's done is done.
Speak to insurer, take it from there.
Whoops forgot Rule 2a!

During a recent change if vehicle, I asked my insurers to suspend cover temporarily, but they just cancelled it. If the computer doesn't have the facility, tough luck.

hidetheelephants

27,807 posts

200 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
martinbiz said:
hidetheelephants said:
jtmk said:
my son refunded him.
That's where the problem is.
Care to elaborate on that?
Once you've bought it you don't get to take it back for a refund 2 days later; if that's a requirement buy from a dealer.

119

9,504 posts

43 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
hidetheelephants said:
martinbiz said:
hidetheelephants said:
jtmk said:
my son refunded him.
That's where the problem is.
Care to elaborate on that?
Once you've bought it you don't get to take it back for a refund 2 days later; if that's a requirement buy from a dealer.
Try reading the OP again.

Jimjimhim

1,507 posts

7 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
[redacted]

pingu393

9,043 posts

212 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
OutInTheShed said:
CanAm said:
Once there is a gap cover, it must remain there, and I doubt if their insurance system could cope with that. So they will have to issue a new policy, and the OP's son will miss out on earning a NCD for the last incomplete year of insurance.
Rule No.1 Transfer the Registration the minute ownership changes.
Rule No.2 Keep Insurance in force while vehicle is registered to you

Edited by CanAm on Monday 13th May 12:07
Rule two should be 'inform insurer the minute you're no longer responsible for the car'.

Dothe 'new keeper' thing online, you should get acknowledgement in minutes by eamil.

You can often have a policy in limbo for a few days or a week, but generally if you are car-less for longer than that they will insist on cancelling the policy.

What's done is done.
Speak to insurer, take it from there.
Why?

I sold a car for scrap (it still had an MOT) and it would cost £60 to cancel the insurance, so it's still insured.

What risks am I running?

The only risk that I can think of is that it is stiil insured on MiD and the new owner could run the car without cover, but still pass all the ANPR checks.

119

9,504 posts

43 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
[redacted]

jtmk

Original Poster:

2 posts

54 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
Thank you for the help everyone...much obliged!

Starfighter

5,064 posts

185 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
pingu393 said:
Why?

I sold a car for scrap (it still had an MOT) and it would cost £60 to cancel the insurance, so it's still insured.

What risks am I running?

The only risk that I can think of is that it is stiil insured on MiD and the new owner could run the car without cover, but still pass all the ANPR checks.
If the vehicle is involved in a crash then the insurance in force will pay out for 3rd party costs and the insured then has the claim against them. They would not be able to claim for the comprehensive part of the policy as they have no financial interest in the car after selling it.

OverSteery

3,667 posts

238 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
pingu393 said:
Why?

I sold a car for scrap (it still had an MOT) and it would cost £60 to cancel the insurance, so it's still insured.

What risks am I running?

The only risk that I can think of is that it is stiil insured on MiD and the new owner could run the car without cover, but still pass all the ANPR checks.
The risk has a small chance of happening, but a potentially massive cost.

If a driver were to take your scrapped car, drive it and have an accident hurting a 3rd party, then the insurance on the car would be used for the claim.

You have failed in your contractual commitment to the insurance company to notify them. Therefore they can recover the cost of the claim from you personally.

I don't know how often this has happen, but there was one well reported case of a sold second hand bike then crashed and the seller sued by the insurers.


OutInTheShed

9,324 posts

33 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
pingu393 said:
OutInTheShed said:
CanAm said:
Once there is a gap cover, it must remain there, and I doubt if their insurance system could cope with that. So they will have to issue a new policy, and the OP's son will miss out on earning a NCD for the last incomplete year of insurance.
Rule No.1 Transfer the Registration the minute ownership changes.
Rule No.2 Keep Insurance in force while vehicle is registered to you

Edited by CanAm on Monday 13th May 12:07
Rule two should be 'inform insurer the minute you're no longer responsible for the car'.

Dothe 'new keeper' thing online, you should get acknowledgement in minutes by eamil.

You can often have a policy in limbo for a few days or a week, but generally if you are car-less for longer than that they will insist on cancelling the policy.

What's done is done.
Speak to insurer, take it from there.
Why?

I sold a car for scrap (it still had an MOT) and it would cost £60 to cancel the insurance, so it's still insured.

What risks am I running?

The only risk that I can think of is that it is stiil insured on MiD and the new owner could run the car without cover, but still pass all the ANPR checks.
AIUI, your insurer is still liable for 3rd party claims on the car, but the risk has changed, from you driving it, to some oik who hasn't bothered to insure it himself. You've changed the risk without telling the insurer.
OK, if you sold it for scrap, then possibly there is no risk. But did you personally see it crushed? Do you know the plates won't appear on a ringed car?

It's a breach of your contract with your insurer, which offers them the chance to cause you ongoing pain.
Your £60 is big charge, but should be offset by some return of premium.
These days I take such charges into account when choosing a policy.

Jimjimhim

1,507 posts

7 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
[redacted]

OutInTheShed

9,324 posts

33 months

Monday 13th May
quotequote all
Jimjimhim said:
The problem started by taking back a car that was sold, a bit of an odd thing to do.
It's not that weird a concept.

The seller was happy to cancel the insurance and not have the car.
So maybe now he could SORN the car?

Or if he intends to buy another car, get new insurance taking care to buy a policy with cheap/zero fees for changing car, and competitive premiums for whatever cars he might have next.

This kind of irritation is just part of the joy of changing cars, along with generally losing a month of tax.

Depending on circumstances, the friend who bought/didn't buy the car might contribute to the costs.