Sorned Car

[ronk]

Chris Knott came back with the reply that I didn’t want to hear:-

Further to our conversation in connection with the above policy and sorning the vehicle over the winter months. Your insurer Highway have come back advising, they normally don’t cover SORN or laid up vehicles. One of the reasons is they are giving comprehensive cover when this is not needed. Cover should be downgraded to something like accidental damage + fire and theft , fire and theft cover only or a laid up policy, unfortunately they don’t have these cover types available.

They have agreed to continue cover up until your renewal date on the 10/03/2021 at that point the policy will expire. We will at that point need to look for a new provider for you.

I should add that Chris Knott came back with an answer the very next day. I think it’s bonkers, I wasn’t looking for a lower premium.

The car won’t be out on dark , cold wet slippery nights for anyone to slide into me . It’ll be in a warm locked alarmed garage!

I’m confused (no insurance pun intended)

[Scubaregs]

I’m confused (no insurance pun intended)

I'm More Than Confused, pun intended.

[pvr]

“They are giving comprehensive cover when not required”. Why do they care if that is what the customer wants? I always SORN two cars over winter, just for the tax reasons only.

[ronk]

My car is only sorned because I don’t want to use it in the cold winter months - the other car is more suitable and we can manage a one car household these days

Do they want me to use car, bend it then hike premiums for the next five years or more. That’s me being cynical?

I thought I was buying Comprehensive insurance to protect my asset in all eventualities. Because I’m looking after it and reducing risk I’m being penalised

The insurance company will allow cover this policy - perhaps I should just cancel?

[Mr Tidy]

I'm pretty disappointed by the response you got from Chris Knott ronk as my M is insured through them, albeit with Aegeas rather than Highway.

Don't they realise a car laid-up off the road is far less likely to be subject to a claim? And there is no potential for any expensive Third Party claim if you don't use the car!

[enuff_zed]

I'm impressed that a thread on an owners forum which basically exists for the advantage of the insurance company, has not generated a single comment from them in 3 days.

[Argyll Andy]

I'm impressed that a thread on an owners forum which basically exists for the advantage of the insurance company, has not generated a single comment from them in 3 days.

Me too, I’d be astonished if they didn’t search their name on here daily incase there’s any business coming from it.

I also must say I’m very surprised at the stance of some insurance companies. I’d personally have thought in a circumstance like the OP’s where they have a £30k liability that their risk would be dramatically reduced when that asset is sitting in a locked, heated and alarmed garage for half the policy term than taxed and then their liability is a 340 bhp car flying about in rain/ice/snow, just doesn’t make sense to me.

[ronk]

I’m going to check my insurance documents when I get home on Tuesday.
If indeed it does show I am not insured while sorned, I think a letter to the insurance company is in order.

To be fair, Chris Knott asked the underwriters and it was them who said no.

I do think tho that the Nature if there business represents an
enthusiast base - the cars are looked after/cosseted and often sorned for a multitude of reasons.

[Pondrew]

None of this makes any sense. Surely any policy should just automatically 'downgrade' to fire and theft if a vehicle is SORNed?
If you drove a vehicle on the road which is SORNed, that would only be illegal from a road tax point of view, not insurance.
So these insurers are saying that if you SORN your car, you should cancel your existing policy and get a new one for fire and theft? Then when you tax it again, you cancel that policy and get another one? Sorry but that is f*cking stupid. Sounds like another money making scam by the insurers, again!

[Pondrew]

I'm impressed that a thread on an owners forum which basically exists for the advantage of the insurance company, has not generated a single comment from them in 3 days.

Maybe because there's no money in it for them? And they would get a grilling in public?

[Scubaregs]

If you plan on sorning your car and your insurance is up for renewal, worth checking with your preferred insurer before purchasing.
Totally agree it's mental, but it does happen with some insurers.

[Nanu]

I don't know how much insurance you are paying but would it be cost effective to continue with the fully comp insurance, lay up your car for the winter but don't SORN it?

Have you checked your house insurance especially if the car is garaged and the garage is attached to the house. As I have previously suggested, most insurers won't cover risk if it is already covered by another policy. In this case it won't be covered by your motor insurer so may be by you house contents insurer. Worth asking them.

[ronk]

I certainly hadn’t expected this result!
I’m going to have a good read of the small print of motor and house polices when I get home on mon/Tuesday.

[pvr]

5 months of tax savings pays for the entire year insurance for both cars that I sorn

[ChrisKnottIns]

I have my 35is insured thro a policy with Chris Knott

Will my car remain fully insured while it’s sorned and tucked away in my garage over winter?

Hi,

Apologies for the late reply.

If you would like us to check your policy to ensure that the cover you require is in place, please call us on 0800 9172274 or email us at [email protected].

Thanks

Simon Clark
Chris Knott Insurance