Any horsebox insurance experts able to advise please?

[Expo]

My friend has a nice 3.5ton box which she rarely uses. She is happy for me to use it on the odd occasion i would want to take my horse out somewhere - may 6 times per year. It has sufficient payload to carry my horse as a single “passenger”. No money would change hands but I have told her I will pay half the annual service costs and road tax, and, of course, mend any damage in the event any occurs. This would still work out much cheaper than buying my own vehicle.

I am prepared to insure it separately in my name for my use. Would this arrangement be legal? Has anyone entered into a similar agreement and what issues arose? I am more keen to preserve the friendship than use the horsebox so don’t want to get into any sort of possible conflict with my friend.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Pitfalls, You cannot insure a vehicle that is already insured.
Who pays for any mechanical issues, however small or large.

I've seen the very best of friends fall out about use of trailer and horseboxes, let alone horses, livery places etc.
We all say it won't happen, but it does, unfortunately.

You'll find it more cost effective to hire 6 times a year, plus you'll keep your friendship intact.
Sorry if that's not what you want to hear, and it's just my opinion.

 

[tda]

Tricky, I have also had friends get into a pickle with a shared horsebox.
However, I have included my friends daughter on my 3.5t insurance, I trust her and she uses it maybe a dozen times a year. She will also drive me somewhere with the pony if I need

 

[Polos Mum]

I don't think you can separately insure - but you could pay the increase in premium for your friend to add you as a named driver - which keeps everything clear.

I think if you are paying her - she will have to tell them that she is receiving money from you (no matter what the basis of calculating what that money is) so hire and reward insurance is likely to kick in.

The niggles arise when there is debate over what is wear and tear vs. obvious damage. If your horse kicks a hole in it - that is easy - you have to repair.
What if you're parked at a show and someone scrapes it and drives off - just cosmetic but those still cost £hundreds to fix. Is that you ?
What if it breaksdown when you are driving? your fault or your friends ?
Who replaces tyres, who fixes the floor if it rots (or the ramp if the floor is metal)

How do you manage diesel - perhaps easy as you can fill it up each time you use it _ IF it's full when you pick it up.

What happens if your horse is lame half way through the year and you've only used it twice - but you've already paid 50% of the service cost?


You can usually hire a box for £100-£150 a day - so for six times a year that is maybe £800-£900, which is probably not dissimilar to what you would have to pay to your friend - and there is no risk of niggles.

 

[Shadowmere]

Work in motor insurance: you technically can take out your own policy on a vehicle you use, even if you don't own it.
If you're involved in an accident while driving, you need to make it VERY clear to the third party who was driving and who insures you if it's different from the owner's policy (insurers will first check MID to see who insures the vehicle based on registration - if it's dual insured, giving your name and insurance details make things a hell of a lot easier for us lowly claims handlers).

Regarding payment for use of the vehicle, this could essentially amount to "hire and reward" which needs to be declared to the insurer - with an additional premium usually. But only if the owner profits from the agreement. If you're only covering fuel/wear and tear expenses, then this doesn't apply.

Alternatively, you could ask to be added as a named driver on the policy already in place. This will likely increase the premium, but again, if your friend isn't profiting from your using the vehicle, this shouldn't be an issue for the insurer - though definitely have a chat with them to discuss options.

As stated above, if you only use the vehicle very occasionally, box hire may be a better option regardless.

 

[Boulty]

Not an expert but insurance wise there are policies available that will cover anyone over the lower age limit to drive although I think your friend would still need to give them your details or alternatively you could be a named driver on the policy. (I had my arse saved by an any driver policy when I got heat stroke in flipping Scotland of all places & another competitor who was there with husband kindly drove my box most of way home for me which was totally fine under the terms of the policy)

As for the money changing hands that’s a tricky one and would need discussing. I don’t THINK it would stray into hire & reward but I could be wrong.

You’d definitely need to have a discussion about who pays for what repairs wise inc things that are technically wear & tear.

 

[Red-1]

If your horse is insured, would that not cover the horse damaging the box?

My box is on an any driver over 25 policy. It needs examining though, as the any driver isn't exactly true, if people have a speeding fine or have had accidents etc, it needs special permission.

I think looking into your own policy may be a good idea, in that it won't affect your friend's no claims if you have an accident. Nothing like spoiling a friendship if you were to have a scrape and then she has to admit to a claim on her policy for the next 5 years! That said, the policy for my little used, 2014, van type horsebox is double to cost of a frequently used 2017 Audi TT!!! Doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Fieldlife]

I think it is worth doing. Horses boxes do much better used regularly, and in that sense you are doing your friend a favour.

Agree you will put right any damage done, and establish what matters to your friend (I am not bothered about cosmetic damage to my lorry, but highly bothered about any functional damage).

I think you would have to accept responsibility for anything that broke whilst you were using it, even if it was tired and close to end of life.

In terms of borrowing the older and scruffier the better IMO. Find out what is important to your friend. IME all lorries going down small lanes will get some hedge side scratches, pretty unavoidable. But if your friend is very precious about paintwork, might be trickier.

In terms of insurance - find out if friend has any driver over 25 on her policy, if not find out how much costs to add / add as a named driver.

I would also offer upfront to pay the premium increases, if there is an accident with you driving, for next five years.

Paying half of all associated costs, and always leaving it clean and full of fuel. And maybe cleaning it inside and outside a few times a year, seems a pretty good deal. And maybe offering to groom at any of your friend's occasional outings?

You could also offer to help with dropping it off / picking it up from the mechanic for servicing etc. (I find this very tricky, as I dont live near yard, and mechanic doesnt live near either).

 

[Expo]

Thank you all for the comments and knowledgeable replies. I’ll have a further chat with her to see if we can work out a suitable plan. Clearly we need to also have a discussion with her insurance company, and I will explore local options to hire something before we enter into any sort of arrangement.