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Parents of adult children

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Original poster

Son just wrote my car off, and I’m not mad

89 replies

Fisifoofoo · 17/09/2022 17:24

So, my 18 year old passed his test about a month ago, and I stuck him on my insurance so he could drive to work and back, he works on a country hotel so has late finishes.

On his way to work at a new location today he lost it on a very tight bend on an unfamiliar country road, went through a wall and rolled it twice down a hill into some trees

Luckily no one else was involved, and some bikers stopped and phoned the emergency services, but apart from a few scrapes him and his mate are fine. It took a long time to find his house keys that had flown out of the car when it rolled, he said at one point his arm flew out of the window and back in again, it frightens me to think what could’ve happened.

I am not in the least bit mad. The car is a write off, and any future insurance I might get will be extortionate but I don’t care.

I couldn’t care less about that car. It was mine, I loved it, it took me ages to find it, but it’s nothing.

The fact that the two of them walked away with just scrapes is miraculous, I feel like putting a lottery ticket on.

OP posts:
Gronkle · 18/09/2022 00:12

I wrote off my dads car and the parked car I crashed into too at 18. He wasn't mad but I've heard about it at least once a year for the past 37 years... as families do 🤣

Tippexy · 18/09/2022 00:16

Rafting2022 · 17/09/2022 19:40

Why would she need business insurance for driving to and from a place of work?

Show quote history

Because he was driving to a ‘new location’ ergo not his usual place of work.

Tippexy · 18/09/2022 00:19

Reallyreallyborednow · 17/09/2022 23:56

Rafting2022 · Today 23:06
Not relevant - you’re covered to travel to one place of work in a day.
Show quote history
Not true for most insurerS

eh? Business insurance is when you use you car for business, so driving from workplace to workplace, transporting goods etc.

commuting is just that, driving to work, parking up, driving home. Exactly what her son was doing.

so as long as commuting is covered. Car wasn’t being used for business so that isn’t necessary.

It’s a bit scary thinking how many people are driving around uninsured if this is what people think. Commuting cover is for travelling to a single, specified place of work. If you travel to other bases during the day, or, crucially in this case, commute to a different base or site, then business use insurance is needed.

SD1978 · 18/09/2022 00:22

I nderstand you feel lucky and great full- as the two boys both should too, but being angry too is ok- he drove too fast, down country lanes, with another young lad in the car, and by luck only they aren't seriously injured. That to me needs to also be highlighted as your son was responsible. With his own and someone else's life, and also the car.

Reallyreallyborednow · 18/09/2022 00:48

t’s a bit scary thinking how many people are driving around uninsured if this is what people think. Commuting cover is for travelling to a single, specified place of work. If you travel to other bases during the day, or, crucially in this case, commute to a different base or site, then business use insurance is needed

but her son is commuting to a single, specified place of work. He is not travelling to other bases, or commuting to a different base or site…

please explain why business insurance is needed for those who don’t use their car for business, just commuting.

Tippexy · 18/09/2022 01:07

Reallyreallyborednow · 18/09/2022 00:48

t’s a bit scary thinking how many people are driving around uninsured if this is what people think. Commuting cover is for travelling to a single, specified place of work. If you travel to other bases during the day, or, crucially in this case, commute to a different base or site, then business use insurance is needed

but her son is commuting to a single, specified place of work. He is not travelling to other bases, or commuting to a different base or site…

please explain why business insurance is needed for those who don’t use their car for business, just commuting.

It’s already been explained.

  1. You need business insurance if you commute to more than one place of work.

  2. In the OP, it says her son was “on his way to work at a new location,” which was “unfamiliar.”

  3. We can therefore surmise that this “new location” is not his usual place of work.

  4. Therefore, as he is commuting to more than one place of work, business insurance is required.

As I say, scary!

blockpavingismynightmare · 18/09/2022 01:40

It's a car. He is OK. He has learned a lesson no driving school could teach him and knows now what happens when you drive too fast and lose control.

He is lucky he did not kill anyone.
He now has to save up for his next car. Do not make it easy for him.

BadNomad · 18/09/2022 02:32

I'd be fuming. After passing his test just a month ago he went speeding along an unfamiliar road with someone else in the car...

By all means do shit that could get yourself killed if you want, but don't involve others in your idiotic reckless behaviour.

Reallyreallyborednow · 18/09/2022 10:48

Therefore, as he is commuting to more than one place of work, business insurance is required

I’ve spoken to my insurance about this because occasionally I am required to work from a different site. Because it is still one specified location, and I am not driving between locations in one day, they have told me commuting is fine.

you have me worried now, could you point to t’s and c’s somewhere which day driving to a different place of work for one day requires business insurance?

lljkk · 18/09/2022 10:58

OP doesn't have to be angry. Why would OP being angry make this situation better? I'm so impressed at the emotional power of MNers, they merely need to have a stern talking to their offspring for all mistakes/bad behaviour to stop. I never had that super power.

There are plenty of natural consequences that can (should) happen. Like the lad should help his mum out for her financial loss. OP mentioned her future premiums will go up. It won't help the lad become a more responsible person to be absolved of his part in making that happen.

OP: how is he getting to work in near future?

lljkk · 18/09/2022 11:01

ps: yeah commuting to one place for the day is fine with my insurer too (directline), even if location varies. It's driving between workplaces on a regular basis (eg., several times a day, like a home-carer does) that they would consider as business driving.

MissingNashville · 18/09/2022 11:10

So he was driving too fast for the road, what an idiot. Thankfully he didn’t kill someone who was driving responsibly.

happinessischocolate · 18/09/2022 11:53

MrsMorton · 17/09/2022 18:27

You should be mad. Next time he might not be so lucky.

He'll either learn a lesson from it or we won't.

Whether his parent is angry at him or not won't change that.

OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide · 18/09/2022 12:20

Reallyreallyborednow · 18/09/2022 10:48

Therefore, as he is commuting to more than one place of work, business insurance is required

I’ve spoken to my insurance about this because occasionally I am required to work from a different site. Because it is still one specified location, and I am not driving between locations in one day, they have told me commuting is fine.

you have me worried now, could you point to t’s and c’s somewhere which day driving to a different place of work for one day requires business insurance?

www.lv.com/car-insurance/am-i-insured-to-drive-my-car-for-business-use

OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide · 18/09/2022 12:24

www.mustard.co.uk/car-insurance/guides/insurance-classes-of-use-explained/

OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide · 18/09/2022 12:27

www.aviva.co.uk/faq/answer/motor/3088/

OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide · 18/09/2022 12:29

www.hastingsdirect.com/car-insurance/business-car-insurance.shtml

OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide · 18/09/2022 12:29

Is that enough yet because there are loads more.

serenghetti2011 · 18/09/2022 12:32

I have business insurance as I travel between bases & use my car for work
no way would my 18 year old newly qualified driver be driving my car late at night especially as I require my car for work.
its great he was ok, but he’d not be driving a car of mine again if after 1 month of driving he wasn’t intelligent enough to slow down and take his time in the dark on an unknown country road, with a passenger.

And I’d have been angry with him for being so reckless and irresponsible tbh but yes thankfully by sheer luck he was ok
but you do you.

OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide · 18/09/2022 12:47

Business cover is usually a requirement to being able to claim mileage.

lljkk · 18/09/2022 14:33

I asked my insurer specifically about the scenario of driving to a different location for a meeting and back to usual office, or even driving to a conference location (one off events) for work-related reasons. All completely covered under usual ordinary commuting definition (which is also covered under the default policy at no additional cost). I do very much like my insurer & never shop around :).

OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide · 18/09/2022 14:43

Not all insurers are the same.

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