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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want DP's friend to drive my car?

110 replies

MummySparkle · 21/04/2016 22:35

DP and his friend are going on a sporting weekend and leaving tomorrow. They are taking my car as it's much more practical for a 5hr drive each way. Last time they went on a day trip in my car DP let his friend drive for a little bit.

Friend is insured through his work as a mechanic, however does not have his own car insurance policy. He is also too young to be covered as 3rd party on any car as part of an insurance policy. He is a perfectly competent driver though.

I am the registered keeper of my car and the insurance policy holder. DP is also fully comp on the car.

Where do I stand if DP allows his friend to drive and they have an accident? Would it all come back to me?

WIBU to completely put my foot down about this?

OP posts:
Inertia · 21/04/2016 22:37

Of course YANBU!

If your DP is the only one insured and can't handle the driving, then he can take his own car and add his friend to the insurance.

Jojoriley · 21/04/2016 22:38

If he is insured for any vehicle you're covered- also you're making your DP drive for ten hours- not nice or safe??

donajimena · 21/04/2016 22:41

Ring your insurer in the morning to clarify

SouthWesterlyWinds · 21/04/2016 22:42

YANBU - work insurance is that. For work. This isn't work. It's a jolly. He isn't insured and will not have the permission of the owner. If your DP can't handle doing all the driving, then he needs to find another solution or pay for his friend to be insured on his car. If your DP lets him drive knowing this, then he'll be done if they are caught as well.

Littleorangecat · 21/04/2016 22:42

How do you know if your dh's friend is insured through his job? Please don't make any assumptions. If it is a policy for work he may only be insured for business purposes. You wouldn't actually be able to say without seeing the policy documents. I wouldn't risk it.

Osolea · 21/04/2016 22:42

Call your insurance company and find out. I've had people put on my insurance just for a weekend, it's only cost £15 or so. Don't know if his age will make a difference, but worth asking.

DoreenLethal · 21/04/2016 22:43

Insured through work surely means vehicles at work, not all vehicles? You need a copy of the insurance cover note to be sure.

TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 21/04/2016 22:44

i would not think his work insurance would cover him for a jaunt!

and quite a lot of policies that cover people to drive other people's car are only third party so that's another thing to check.

Original poster
MummySparkle · 21/04/2016 22:46

He's not insured for any vehicle. I think he is insured by his work for work purposes, but I know it doesn't cover him on his partners car.

It's completely my DPs choice to attend this sporting thing! It's a 5hr journey there tomorrow and then back again on Monday. I'm sure they will stop for food en route. It's not a huge ask.

Just had a quick look and it's £60 to cover him on my car for 4 days. I'm almost tempted to pay it anyway just in case.

OP posts:
rollonthesummer · 21/04/2016 22:46

Why don't they take their own cars?!

I wouldn't do this on any terms. Your car could be written off! Can you afford to replace it when the insurance doesn't pay out??

Lilmisskittykat · 21/04/2016 22:47

If he has have an accident it will go one of two ways...

He's uninsured.. He gets prosecuted for no insurance and you also get prosecuted under use/cause/permit legislation because you have permitted someone to drive your car knowing they were uninsured... Or ...

You can go down the path of I didn't know X was going to let him use my car as I only gave permission for X to drive it.. Then x's friend gets done for no insurance and taking a vehicle without consent

Lilmisskittykat · 21/04/2016 22:48

Sorry for X reference .. I'm using the app and couldn't check who was allowed (dp)

Ameliablue · 21/04/2016 22:48

Yanbu

Kr1stina · 21/04/2016 22:49

Don't put him on your insurance . If he has an accident , you will have to pay the excess and lose your no claims bonus.

Let your DP take his own car and add his friend on his insurance . He should have sorted this out when he booked the weekend away . If he can't do it in time , he will need to do all the driving himself. It's fine as long as he takes enough breaks .

JarethTheGoblinKing · 21/04/2016 22:51

The responsibility for making sure that you're insured is yours. Ring your insurance company and ask, but I wouldn't let him

MyKingdomForBrie · 21/04/2016 22:53

Pay the £60 for sure. He's going to share driving anyway so you might as well be covered. If he's a perfectly competent driver it will likely be fine.

Kr1stina · 21/04/2016 22:56

I absolutely would not do this .

I've had three cars written off because I let other people drive them and I will never do it again.

Original poster
MummySparkle · 21/04/2016 23:00

Have just asked DP if he was going to do all of the driving. His response: "most of it"

I've tried to point out that if anything happens we will not be covered etc. And I don't want it to cause friction between us and them as all of our family get on well with all of their family.

I don't want to put him on my insurance, but if I have his details then I can go through day insure can't I?

We could not afford to replace the car, it's only a year old.

I hoped DP would take his car, but it is old and slow and cumbersome. Not to mention it would cost triple the amount in fuel. Also means I get to borrow DPs mum's car for the weekend as the DCs can't go in his. I love MIL's car!

OP posts:
Letseatgrandma · 21/04/2016 23:01

Blimey- you really don't seem bothered, do you?!

Good luck with this one.

SouthWesterlyWinds · 21/04/2016 23:06

Right. If they get stopped, it will be noted by your insurers that you have made an enquiry. So either your DP needs to pay or you do, but he needs to go on the insurance. Not I can call on the weekend and I prefer my MIL's car. Either put him in insurance or tell your DP to suck it up and he has to do all the driving. If you don't think he'll stick to that, then don't lend him the car. Simples.

But I agree with LetsEat - you seem very blaisé about this, so I'm out.

rollonthesummer · 21/04/2016 23:07

Why doesn't he take MIL's car?

Original poster
MummySparkle · 21/04/2016 23:09

Excuse me letseatgrandma ?

I am bothered by this. Bothered enough to be highly likely to spend £60 that I don't have so that I don't have to worry about my car written off.

My issue with the friction would be if something happens whilst friend was driving the car, the car got written off and then we would be down a car and they wouldn't be able to pay us - they can't.

I am very bothered by this

OP posts:
AugustaFinkNottle · 21/04/2016 23:13

But why should you spend the £60? Why can't your DH?

bloodyteenagers · 21/04/2016 23:13

The extra insurance and fuel, it would have probably been cheaper to book tickets with megabus.

makingmiracles · 21/04/2016 23:14

Sorry to be blunt but he needs to man up. I've collected my nieces from the other side of the country all in one day before, so 4.5hrs there and the same back with a coulpe of short service breaks. I also used to do a daily commute to uni- 120miles each way. 5 hrs is nothing tbh and I think personally he's making a meal out of this.

I would not agree to it, or at least if you are to get him covered on your car fully comp as above poster said most cover all policies mean your only third party in someone else's vehicle.