3.5T lorry - driving on car insurance

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Jasper151

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As I am currently on hold to my insurers (and have been for a while :rolleyes:) thought I would ask on here...

A friend has very kindly offered me use of her 3.5T lorry to use as and when I would like. As I am insured to drive other vehicles (third party cover only) on my car insurance (Tesco), would that include the lorry? As far as I can see in my t&cs it doesn't have any limitation to the other vehicle as long as I'm not hiring it. With other insurers I did have some issues as they wouldn't include my partners pick up truck as they classified it as commercial, but Tesco didn't have the exclusion.

I don't envisage using it very often so would like to avoid having to take out another policy, but obviously will if it is required.

Thanks
 
No, car insurance is for cars, not vans or commercials. Believe you me, we've tried this & it doesn't work (at least not for any insurance companies I and also husband have called)
Can friend add you to insurance?
I have my box any driver over 25 - mainly due to fact I go everywhere on my own most of the time.
 
I did think as much, however, my partner did insure his pick up (classed as van) through them on a normal car policy, so there is a very very slight glimmer of hope!

Still on hold, fingers crossed they answer before my lunch break is up :)

I will get her to check what her insurance is and see if I can be added rather than take out a different policy.
 
Jasper151 said:
I did think as much, however, my partner did insure his pick up (classed as van) through them on a normal car policy, so there is a very very slight glimmer of hope!

Still on hold, fingers crossed they answer before my lunch break is up :)

I will get her to check what her insurance is and see if I can be added rather than take out a different policy.
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See what is cheaper - South Essex and KBIS both (as do others) do an 'any driver over 21 or 25' which may well be cheaper than adding a named driver. Worth friend checking both options x
 
Really? I would have thought that a Category B licence would do for a vehicle up to 3,500kg.

Cars
Category B - if you passed your test before 1 January 1997

You’re usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). View your driving licence information to check.

You’re also allowed to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM.
Category B - if you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997

You can drive vehicles up to 3,500kg MAM with up to 8 passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750kg).

You can also tow heavier trailers if the total MAM of the vehicle and trailer isn’t more than 3,500kg.

You can drive motor tricycles with a power output higher than 15kW if you are over 21 years old.

Physically disabled drivers with provisional category B entitlement will also have provisional entitlement to ride category A1 or A motor tricycles.
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I would have expected the insurance policy categories to be aligned with licence categories.

I've driven plenty of hire vans, up to 20 cubic metre capacity, on my category B licence.
 
Jasper151 said:
Finally spoke to someone, and they have said that I am covered to drive it using my car policy. Was rather surprised!
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Will your friend be happy you only have 3rd party cover though? Definitely worth checking the level of cover she has for the box. If you will be using regularly, it would be worth adding you to the policy (if not already any driver over 25) for the additional cover. Also worth looking into breakdown cover.
 
AandK said:
Will your friend be happy you only have 3rd party cover though? Definitely worth checking the level of cover she has for the box. If you will be using regularly, it would be worth adding you to the policy (if not already any driver over 25) for the additional cover. Also worth looking into breakdown cover.
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Exactly . be very aware that you are only covered for the legal minimum required to drive ie damage to other road users and any third party liability . The vehicle you are driving will not be covered for its damage and neither will the owners insurance pay unless you are named on the policy or they have an any driver policy ,in which case you would have been covered anyhow. Many have found out to their cost that this can go horribly wrong. I would not drive it until you get it in writing from Tescos as I believe the person on the phone has misinformed you as I know of no car policy that covers drivers to drive a commercial vehicle even third party. Indeed also the other way around.
 
Keith_Beef said:
Really? I would have thought that a Category B licence would do for a vehicle up to 3,500kg.

https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories#cars

I would have expected the insurance policy categories to be aligned with licence categories.

I've driven plenty of hire vans, up to 20 cubic metre capacity, on my category B licence.
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Licence does . insurance doesnt ! they are different policies to car insurance.
 
Instinct on that would be no buuuut speak to your friend about her insurance as it may be that she has an "any driver over 25" policy in which case as long as you're over 25 then you'll be covered on that fully comp
 
I will ask for it in writing before I use it, I have also noted down the date/time and who I spoke to as they do record all of their calls. I was very specific in that it was a transit lorry designed and being used to transport horses and he informed me that as long as it was not over 3.5T then I was covered.

On her policy, any other drivers (including named) is only covered third party. She is happy for this as it is an old lorry with not a lot of value.

Will definitely think about it carefully before driving it.
 
Keith_Beef said:
Does the policy also define what a CAR is, though?

It's been a very long time since I had car insurance in the UK, and whenever I've driven a van it has been a hire vehicle, so coverage from the hire company.
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It will be defined by the V5 (log book) class of vehicle .
 
Jasper151 said:
I will ask for it in writing before I use it, I have also noted down the date/time and who I spoke to as they do record all of their calls. I was very specific in that it was a transit lorry designed and being used to transport horses and he informed me that as long as it was not over 3.5T then I was covered.

On her policy, any other drivers (including named) is only covered third party. She is happy for this as it is an old lorry with not a lot of value.

Will definitely think about it carefully before driving it.
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Whats the problem then as your insurance will not add to that.
 
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