Hi guys, Looking at buying a new used car. I'm covered for driving a car not belonging to me, so test drive not a problem. But what do I if the car is untaxed? and what would be the procedure if I bought a car and want to drive home. I imagine a phone call to my insurance company would sort the insurance, but what about the road tax - confused.
buying a used car, tax and insurance
- Thread starter mwatsonxx
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Once you buy it. You can insure it and then tax it immediately online but it will be backdated to the beginning of the month.
Simple answer is you can't if not taxed but it only becomes 'untaxed' when being changed into your name. No problem if a dealer because they should have trade plated which will cover you. If buying private, check online to see the current tax status: https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax
Bear in mind though that most insurances only cover you to drive other vehicles if they are also insured.
Bear in mind though that most insurances only cover you to drive other vehicles if they are also insured.
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Also its only 3rd party usually, so bend it and you buy it.
My Mrs fell foul to this, being fully comp always allowed you to drive another car with that cars owners permission but only 3rd party.........uh - not anymore, of course the first she knew was during a routine stop driving her parent's bmw while they on holiday, copper asked the question who's car is it.......parents, oh are you insured........of course, I'm fully comp on my own car, ok I'll just check with your insurer..........bad news love you don't have that entitlement unless you specify it, 6 points and a £200 fine plus car impounded plus costs and an IN10 on her licence for 5 years
It's not even if you specify the cover these days, insurers just don't want to give the cover to people who insure (say) a Fiesta and then drive around in someone else's powerful car. Having said that, I've had the cover with Saga Insurance for years.
When we were with saga, they also allowed my wife who was a second driver on the policy, to drive other cars too, PLUS anyone with a licence could drive the car 'in a medical emergency' as long as one of us were also in the car. Lost count of the times we both had 'blurred vision' and allowed the kids up to drive us home when we were, ahem, well blurred! 
Did a test drive with one of leading car trader. Just asked for license, didn't question about insurance although they noted down the license in their system.
During test drive they put a red numbered plate (trade plate) and allowed me to test drive.
Road tax - You can buy it online as soon as you know the 11 digit reference number from V5C.
How would you have ever found out? If there had been an accident when someone else was driving whilst I was pi55ed, as a passenger I wouldn't be breathalysed and when it came to completing the accident form I could claim any number of 'medical emergencies' that would have been impossible to disprove.
What do they expect you to do in a 'medical emergency' such as a migraine, loss of glasses, nausea etc etc - call a doctor out and get a sick note?
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It's been a long time since I had that job but I'm sure they'd ask for your permission to contact your doctor to see if you had a pre-existing condition or sought medical attention afterwards. Trust me , this cover is not for self induced cover like drunkenness. For your quoted conditions, I'd suggest a taxi !
It was a long time since we had the insurance too. The kids are in their 30's now and their own insurance covers them to drive us in our car under any circumstances. If only they didn't live so bloody far away!
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