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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel uncomfortable - additional parking permit

128 replies

ParkingPermitWoes · 13/05/2014 14:07

Name changed for this and it could out me!

DBIL is in the process of buying a campervan and has said that we can use it whenever we want to. Lovely, except that I dont think well use it a huge amount as we're not great campers (and we've just had a new baby) but great to have the offer there of course.

DBIL came over last night and talk turns to where it will be kept. It transpires that he is looking at keeping it in storage for around four months of the year in storage and then outside our house for the rest of the year (including during summer time).

There are practical reasons why he can't keep it outside his place and he lives about 30 minutes from us.

It's been stressed that he would pay for all the running costs and that we wouldnt have to contribute at all, just petrol etc when we used it. We are in the middle of town so have parking restrictions and so it would need a permit. It was casually thrown in that this would mean that it needed to be registered in our names. If we do that then we have to be the registered owners and then the insurance, MOT, tax etc will all be in our names. I dont really want to do that to be honest if he has an accident in it then while we wont lose our no-claims bonus if I'm right then I think our premiums could be affected?

Also, I just dont want to be responsible for another vehicle and it will be our fault if its not taxed or insured etc. I suspect DBIL is just as disorganised as my DP when it comes to paperwork so yet another thing for me to be responsible for and worry about.

I feel really uncomfortable with it. But I dont know though whether Im being unfair and should just go ahead with it or say no. If we say no then for other reasons I don't want to go into it will be difficult for him to get it and keep it.

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 13/05/2014 16:16

We are in the middle of town so have parking restrictions and so it would need a permit. It was casually thrown in that this would mean that it needed to be registered in our names. If we do that then we have to be the registered owners and then the insurance, MOT, tax etc will all be in our names.

No. Way. Full marks for trying BIL but no.

wowfudge · 13/05/2014 16:21

I haven't read the whole thread, but if it's in storage for 4 months, on your street the rest of the year and you can use whenever you want, why is he buying it? Seriously, for the cost and aggro involved he'd be better off hiring something when he actually wants to use it.

YoghurtRaisins · 13/05/2014 16:26

In our road, we're allowed one parking permit for "free" and we're only able to buy one other permit - each household is only allowed 2 permits maximum. Are there similar restrictions in your road? How many vehicles do you own already?

It really depends on how close you (and your DH) are with your DBIL, whether he would mind you casually using the camper van during the weekends for example, or only on arrangement etc. And of course it doesn't sound as though you want the extra admin (don't blame you)...

Agree with DH that it's too much to take on esp with a new baby! and say no to DBIL. Good luck.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 13/05/2014 16:27

Why can't he keep it outside his house?

flowery · 13/05/2014 16:27

Well if you come to a decision between you and your DP then represents it to his family as being nothing to do with him, he is being disloyal IMO.

Plus what wowfudge said, why on earth is DBIL actually bothering. Just hire one when he wants to, surely!

MissMilbanke · 13/05/2014 16:28

Totally bizarre behaviour IMO.

Absolutely fine if you were thinking if buying a campervan

But otherwise no, just no.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 13/05/2014 16:32

There's too much potential for things to go wrong OP. And the trouble is it will go wrong for you, not your BIL.

If it's your own car, well you take that risk.

foolishpeach · 13/05/2014 16:41

Tbh, if you're going to be doing all the admin for this because your H and BIL are disorganised, then you get final say.

Your H should be showing a united front to his family and not putting all the blame on you for saying no.

ContentedSidewinder · 13/05/2014 16:50

Honestly, just hire one. My sister does because the cost of maintaining them can be astronomical, plus storage, insurance etc etc.

Have a look on the camping thread, I know that previously ownership and the cost of owning a campervan has been discussed at length and the general gist of it was don't do it.

Hiring one is much better, my sister has done it for several holidays. In peak season they hire from around £700 per week, in low season £350 per week. That is for a modern but classic looking VW campervan (1970's style) that is from a company ooop Norf.

There is NO WAY I would do this for a family member, these things always goes tits up.

SilverShadows · 13/05/2014 16:54

Also, if the insurance is in your name, how does that affect your own vehicle? You can only use your no claims once and if you insured this van and an accident happened while he was driving that is your no claims gone, as the claim would be in your name.

Just thinking of other reasons to give to DH.

Original poster
ParkingPermitWoes · 13/05/2014 20:53

I've just spoken with DP and he's fine about the neighbours. He doesn't think we'll have a problem with that.

I've also pointed out that it needs to be registered in our name and he said "yes, DBIL is aware of that" and then went on to state about tax, insurance, speeding fines, effect on our insurance etc...and the penny dropped. So DP doesn't seem too happy about it either now!

Thanks all!

OP posts:
honestpointofview · 13/05/2014 21:28

Hi Parking

This link is worth looking at.

www.actionfraud.police.uk/fraud-az-fronting

windchime · 13/05/2014 21:40

Cheeky sod.

Pipbin · 13/05/2014 22:13

No way at all. Aside from all the legal things mentioned I would also be thinking about the parking situation for me.

I used to live in a permit parking street. It was OK during the day but a pain in the evenings when everyone was home. I would be very pissed off to come home and find that I couldn't park my own car anywhere but my BIL's camper van was right outside my house.

Original poster
ParkingPermitWoes · 13/05/2014 22:14

Great thanks honest. I thought that you could take out insurance and name someone else as the main driver?

Dp now saying I am being pessimistic and everything will be fine! The final say will be whether it will impact our current insurance so will need to do some work there. I am guessing bil cant use our address for insurance unless it is in our name? And that will affect our premiums if there is an accident?. Arrggghhh.

OP posts:
Inertia · 13/05/2014 22:25

I think I would be a step ahead of them and contact the insurance company - tell them that you need to check the rules because you don't think this plan is lefal and you want to make absolutely sure that neither you nor DP fall foul of the law.

DP will surely not be stupid enough to attempt to proceed once he knows the refusal is voming from the insurers not you.

maddy68 · 13/05/2014 22:29

Just search for caravan storage. Find one nearer and then say problem solved !

Original poster
ParkingPermitWoes · 13/05/2014 22:36

But what will not be legal? If the damn thing is in my name and I take out the insurance but name Dbil as the main driver isn't all that above board?

OP posts:
inabeautifulplace · 13/05/2014 23:53

Did you bother to read the link above? It's fraud to claim that you are the main driver when you are not. Ownership isn't central to this position, since otherwise loads of people would simply buy a car, add dc to the insurance and then never use it.

Seriously, this plan isn't sensible.

BackforGood · 14/05/2014 00:04

I was all ready to post the famous "No is a complete sentence" when you were just talking about parking it outside your house for 8 months of the year LONG before you got onto the whole fraudulent stuff about using your name and address to insure it, etc.

VodkaJelly · 14/05/2014 00:12

OP why cant you just say no? If it has to be in your name there isnt much your DH or DBIL can do if you refuse.

slithytove · 14/05/2014 00:16

The insurance thing isn't fraudulent. My mum is the registered owner and keeper or a car, it is registered to my address where it lives, and she pays the insurance with me as the main driver and her as a named driver. Totally honest, legal, and costs more than if she were the main driver.

But you still shouldn't do the camper van thing Grin

caroldecker · 14/05/2014 00:16

No issue with you owning it, him as main driver and your address as 'home; location. Will cost more normally and may impact on your insurance - I would check with a broker for information.
If he is the main driver can you get a resident parking permit? I don't know where you live, but if you are not the main user you cannot get a permit in many places here

would check your rules, then an easy way to say no.

slithytove · 14/05/2014 00:17

beautiful place did you read OPs several posts stating that she wouldn't be saying she was the main driver?

Dumpylump · 14/05/2014 00:21

I know I might be being really thick here, but why does it have to be in your name to get a parking permit for your street?
Where I live, the council issue one permit per household, but you can buy another one (pay an annual amount) for visitors parking. Then you can give it to whoever is at your house to display in their windscreen. It doesn't matter who they are or where their vehicle is registered...as long as it's roadworthy and taxed and has the visitors pass on show, then its fine.
I assume that's not how it works where you are?

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