How short term car insurance could have saved a lot of heartache

A friend of mine, John, is a very trusting man, which has been his downfall on a number of occasions. We have tried to get him out of this habit, without success, the several years but I think that he has finally learned his lesson.

He owns a rather old Rover 420 which has been breaking down for years, and a few months ago it was back in the garage for repairs to the windscreen wiper mechanism, which is broken down every three months or so for the last five years that I know of! This breakdown coincided with a meeting he had arranged with a business colleague which meant a drive of approximately 2 hours down the M6, but there was no problem because his wife's car was sat on the drive whilst she was at work during the day, so he asked her permission to borrow it, and she was happy to oblige.

Now we come to the trusting bit. He vaguely remembered that his car insurance policy covered him for driving any vehicle that did not belong to him, but he was not absolutely sure so he rang his insurance broker who confirmed that, yes, he was not covered. John of course trusted him so he jumped into his wife's car, drove off down the motorway; and just after the Knutsford service centre and other car overtook him at high speed, cut in front of him, clipping his wing, forcing him to swerve off onto the hard shoulder and then on to the embankment, where his car turned over. Fortunately he was not badly hurt and a number of other motorists stopped to help him out of the car and call the police and ambulance, but while all this was going on the other vehicle disappeared completely and has not been seen since.

The policeman who was arrived was very sympathetic, but as a matter of routine he had to ask John to produce his licence and insurance details. Needless to say John did not have the with him, but he arranged to produce them at his local police station the following day. In the meanwhile a pickup truck arrived to tow his wrecked car away, and the ambulance took him to the local hospital where a checkup revealed no physical problems. His other problems were just about to begin.

The next day John went down to present his insurance documents and driving licence at the police station. He was met by an extremely efficient young police officer who examined the insurance certificate and then asked him who the car belonged to John replied that it belonged to his wife, at which the officer went rather quiet from moment, and said that the document clearly states that he is covered for any vehicle not belonging to him, except for one belonging to his spouse! He had therefore driven without insurance, and that the matter would be reported to the prosecution authorities and he may well have to attend court. If this wasn't bad enough, another police officer later interviewed his wife, and told her that she was going to be prosecuted as well, this time for allowing a vehicle to be on the road without insurance!

They both attended court six weeks later, and were both duly convicted, each receiving a fine of £200 +6 penalty points on their licences. John now also has a bill not only for the repairs to his wife's car, but also the costs of having it towed away off the motorway.

John was aware that it was possible to buy short term car insurance from here at a very reasonable price, and it could have bought cover for just a single day, with fully comprehensive cover. This would have saved him and his wife a great deal of money, criminal convictions, and an enormous amount of mental stress.

Copyright 2006