Classic car insurance - read the small print!

Jul 02, 2010 4 Replies

HI Folks



Just a cautionary tale....



When I reinsured my '64 Moggie Traveller back in May, I knew that I was going to sell her soon - but, as Tesco had suddenly changed their Insurance company, I ended up with Carole Nash, who gave a competitive quote of 213 euro for the year.



Today the car sold, so I rang up the insurers, imagining that, (like every other insurer I've dealt with in the last 35 years I've been driving), they'd refund me the outstanding 10 months on the policy.



Turns out that they won't. In the small print in the T's & C's (a glossy



24-page booklet) it says

"Your insurance policy has been arranged for a period of 12 months, and you are required to pay the full premium. If you cancel the insurance before the expiry date, other than in accordance with the (conditions) above, no premium will be returned"



Bother!



I guess this is a warning to read all of the Terms & Conditions in the



24-page booklet, when you take out your insurance - but how many of us do this ? Kind of a moot point, really, as the docs only turn up _after_ you've parted with the cash via your credit card...

It's bad enough having to part with the beloved Mog - but to get fleeced for 200 euro of insurance I'm not going to use - well - that's adding insult to injury!



Adrian


I can't be bothered to look it up, but I am fairly certain Footman James have a similar clause. I didn't get anything back when I got rid of one of the two Triumphs on my policy, but then it only had 5 weeks to renewal so I didn't worry about it.

Jim

: Kind of a moot point, really, as the docs only turn up _after_ you've : parted with the cash via your credit card... :

Not at all moot ITYWF, distance selling and payment via credit card are the operatives here - the "Cooling off" period, although you only have a limited time to read the small (and not so small) print [1], which you need to do anyway to know exactly what your insurance actually covers...

[1] also most if not all insurance companies have their small print on their websites anyway -- Regards, Jerry.

Yes I'm pretty sure they do. However, if you're changing to another classic car, you won't lose out as much as they'll either allow you to change the cover to a different vehicle or add it to the policy for a small(ish) fee.

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