Third party insurance in transit

[shetland]

I wonder if anybody can help me with a problem i have at the moment.

I am intending to move my boat from its present location by road to another marina nearer home, and will be using a hired vehicle to move it but the hire company will not cover my boat and trailer against third party risks nor will my boat insurance company.

Does any one know if there is an insurance company who will insure the boat and trailer while in transit and being towed by a hired vehicle

 

[gonfishing]

Tow your own boat on your own vehicle.
The only other route is to engage a boat transport company, as they have specialised insurance, which is not cheap!! so expect to pay somewhere between £1.00 pm on a trailer or £2.00 per mile on a low loader, there or there abouts and usually plus VAT really does depend on the mileage, and if local.

 

[sailorbob]

I work in the general insurance industry and have never heard of a vehicle policy that does not offer liability whilst in transit.

I suspect that the hire company have mis-understood your question or do not fully understand their policy. Re-iterate to them that you do not want cover for damage to the boat and trailer, just the third party liability cover to other road users.

Failing that, contact another hire company who do understand your needs.

 

[shetland]

I have talked to the hire company and they have assured me that their insurance does not cover third party risks for any thing that is towed with their vehicles.

Sound crazy to me and ilegal.

 

[Its_Only_Money]

The Road Traffic Act section 145 seems to indicate that minimum 3rd party cover for the towing vehicle must cover any attached trailer:


"145.—(1) In order to comply with the requirements of this Part of this Act, a policy of insurance must satisfy the following conditions....

(b) must insure him or them in respect of any liability which may be incurred by him or them in respect of the use of the vehicle and of any trailer" (my italics)

Also assuming the hiring company fitted towing equipment I would have thought they would have ensured they were protected from 3rd party liabilities by having the cover in any case...their position seems somewhat hard to understand. It may be a job too far to persuade them their position is both illegal and non-sensical though, maybe easier as suggested before to move to a different hiring company???? Good luck in any case!

 

[gonfishing]

Having exhausted this same argument with My insurers the upshot is this as far as I understand.

The vehicle and trailer are insured whilst being towed, the boat is insured as per norm.
However if the trailer or boat parts company with the towing vehicle, then a seperate insurance is required, as this is a seperate risk and not covered by the normal vehicle insurance. Which is where your problem occurs as you are using a hire vehicle
However all this is null if you use your own vehicle to tow your own boat, there are no other legal exceptions, if there was I would have saved myself over £3500.00 in insurance to take the alternative route.

Julian

For a full and definitive answer call Bristol Channel Marine Insurance and ask to speak to Tony Burriss he will explain all, make sure you have a cup of tea and a biscuit to hand !!!!!!!!!!!!!