car insurance-passengers

[sophie_1003]

I'm at uni and am going on a trip where I am driving and giving a lift to a girl also on my course. Our lecturer has sent an email to all the people who are driving saying 'thanks' and to check your insurance covers you for carrying passengers. Last year I was asked to give a lift to a girl to the school where we were on placement together but when I filled in the form with this sort of info it said about insurance covering passengers there too. I only have third party, fire and theft so I assumed that I wasn't covered but the uni said I was. Can anyone clarify the situation for me please?

[Panic Button]

I have never heard of insurance that doesn't let you carry passengers.

Surely if they are injured they are the 'third party' that your insurance has to cover?

[sophie_1003]

Ta, I was just confused that it ever got brought up as, like you, thought they would be the 'third party' but because it was mentioned as if some insurances don't cover for passengers could only imagine that they weren't included in that category!

[Panic Button]

To be sure, check your insurance schedule in the section 'what we dont cover'

[sophie_1003]

will do, thanks for your help!

[Buenchico]

It seems that your lecturer has become a little confused (possibily by the advice that his own union might have given him regarding giving lifts to students).

Here's an example which might provide an explanation:
School teachers are often advised by their unions that they should not take a sick child home in their own car unless they've got 'business' insurance. That's got nothing to do with having a passenger in the car; it's simply that the teacher will be acting 'in loco parentis' and therefore effectively 'on business'. Your lecturer seems to have got hold of a rather garbled version of this information.

The 'third party' element of your insurance is there to pay out if anyone (including a passenger) is injured through your negligence, so you're covered. However you should still check (irrespective of whether you carry any passengers) whether your insurance covers driving to a course organised by the university. If, for example, it's just 'social, domestic and leisure' cover, it won't.

Chris

[sophie_1003]

I think it's actually advice the uni gives out as when I filled in a form to tell them what travel arrangements I have for placements it asked "Are you willing to carry passengers? (check insurance)" so am assuming thats where the lecturers got it from, no idea where the uni have got it from, probably just covering their own backs. My insurance covers for commuting so am assuming the drive to and from the trip will be covered by that aspect. Will dig out my insurance policy and have a proper look in a bit, nice bit of bedtime reading!

[Buenchico]

Please do check carefully. 'Commuting' is defined in my policy as travelling to or from a REGULAR place of work or study. I doubt that it would cover attending a course at a different location but it's likely that the cover could be temporarily extended to do so (probably without any charge) simply by making a phone call.

[sophie_1003]

okie doke, thanks for the help!

[Pigletion]

I would contact your insurance company as it depends how your exact policy is worded, it may or may not cover passengers in your car. It doesn't cover you or your car, just others you may injure, but passengers in your car may not be included (although passengers in other car would be). One would assume they would be, but it's best to check the small print.

For example
Aviva specifically says it covers passengers
http://www.aviva.co.u...party-fire-theft.html

but this says not
http://www.moneysuper...nce/third-party-only/

and the AA says "usually"!

It's worth getting it in writing as this will only be needed in terms of a legal situation so you need to know what is correct and that your passengers are indeed covered. There also may be small print clauses about passengers not being covered if you are benefiting from driving them, i.e. a taxi, so it's worth clarifying what is meant by benefiting - it's obvious in the case of a taxi, but could you be legally seen as benefiting if this was in court? (remember insurance companies do not want to pay out, so will know all the legal loopholes that mean they can (lawfully) avoid it).

Just get it all in writing then you can have fun on your trip.

[sophie_1003]

I'm with the AA so will check the fine print, they can be very tricksy sometimes! Thanks again for all the help, wish it was as simple as just buying the policy then not thinking about it for another year!

[woozer]

Hi Sophie
Your insurance policy should be written in "plain english" but I know how confusing all the ifs and buts can make it.
Commuting only covers you for travelling to and from one regular place of work - if you travel to different sites for the same work you need class 1 business use - this is sometimes free or added at minimal cost.
Carrying passengers should be covered (but phone and check)other than for "reward "- helping a fellow student get to a college course/placement should not be a problem - if you take any form of reward (yes even contribution to the petrol) then check specifically with your insurer - some will be OK with it others will charge you or decline cover. When you speak to your insurer make sure that they note your conversation and their advice on their records and that you get the name of the person you speak to plus a call reference if possible.

My advice to anyone with a particular query on their cover is ask the insurance company concerned and make sure you get a name and/or a reference plus the necessary documentation noting any changes - and although it may seem obvious READ the docments you get to make sure they provide the cover you wanted Enjoy your placement.

[Pigletion]

I was also most concerned about the particular wording surroung "reward" as Woozer just pointed out.

If it is possible that any monies you receive can be deemed as a reward in terms of the law then you need to know, as this could make your policy invalid in this situation and therefore the insurance company will not pay.

Just make sure you have clarification, as you are checking in case of a worse case scenario, which is often something we would never think of!

Have a good trip

[Dodger666]

Don't forget that if the person you are giving a lift to is a young or vunerable person you may require a CRB check as well. What is this country coming to?

http://www.cabinetoff...ories/080604_crb.aspx

[sophie_1003]

Thanks all, do actually have a CRB check as am studying education and have to undertake school placements!
Checked my policy and all seems fine, am insured for social, leisure and business (rather than commuting) passengers are covered and can get petrol money off them without it invalidating my insurance! Hurrah for the AA! And as it happens the trip has been cancelled but is due to be rearranged for another time! Thanks again everyone!

[dartsfan]

Hi I have just went to buy car insurance and been told I would have to pay extra to carry passengers I have never heard of this before but you have to check the small print of your insurance policy. If you have an accident and injure your passengers they would have to sue you, not the insurance company. Please check your policy carefully or ask before you buy it.

[dartsfan]

beware i have just went to buy car insurance and was informed it was extra to carry passengers i had never heard this before but some insurers don't cover passengers. Please check your policy or ask before buying, if you have an accident and injure your passenger and have no passenger insurance they would have to sue YOU for the damages PLEASE CHECK YOUR POLICY

[mrshreks11]

mmm, just this morning my wife had to break hard to avoid a car pulling out on her. In the backseat we had our daughter and her 13yr old mate. At the time nothing was said by the girl, who was not wearing a seatbelt, but my missus got a text from her mum saying she had to leave school and be taken to the hospital by her as she was in great pain! Its a joke, but now we are scared of the next course of action, can anyone help!! thanks, paul.