Continuous
Insurance Enforcement (CIE) caution
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our Information Gateway on Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE). More
Information
Gateway to checking on the DVLA and insurance status of your classic MG. More
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Federation
of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC). More
Posted: 131203
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Continuous
Insurance caution
Chris Hunt Cooke contributed a note in the latest
FBHVC newsletter concerning the need to think about complying with the Continuous
Insurance Enforcement (CIE) requirements if your car is with a restorer for a
moderate or an extended period of time. Here he explains an unfortunate experience
of a member which has lead Chris to remind everyone of a potential misunderstanding
about Continuous Insurance.
It is not unusual for enthusiasts to leave
their vehicles with restorers and maintainers for lengthy periods. It may be that
the vehicle is safely on a restorer's premises when the annual insurance renewal
comes up. There might be a temptation to assume the vehicle is covered by the
restorer's trade insurance and not to renew. Don't do that!
Under current
legislation, which is of course designed to prevent vehicles being used on the
roads without insurance, to the benefit of all of us, the DVLA vehicle records
are regularly compared to the Motor Insurers Database and the registered keeper
of any vehicle which is neither insured nor subject to SORN will receive an 'insurance
advisory letter'. If that is ignored, the next step is a fixed penalty of £100
(reduced to £50 for early payment) and after that the matter goes to court.
There are few exceptions. The relevant legislation is the Road Traffic Act 1988
S144A.
If a vehicle which is under repair or restoration is made subject
to SORN, it cannot be used or left on the highway, which would mean it cannot
be road tested while the SORN is in force, unless the restorer has a trade licence.
As most cherished vehicles are on historic vehicle policies, you might possibly
be able to negotiate with your insurer a deal which recognises that the vehicle
is largely going to be off the road for a while, perhaps by agreeing a very low
mileage limit on the policy, but you must keep a valid policy in place to remain
legal. You can check that your vehicle is correctly shown on the Motor Insurers
Database by entering its registration number on the askMID.com
website.
Footnote: It's likely this caution
could also apply where you have a classic car for sale with a specialist trader
on a commission sale basis. If the car is with the trader when the motor insurance
cover runs out, do not assume the trader's business policy will cover you and
in any case if you do opt not to renew the motor insurance cover then you will
have to SORN the car. Then if the trader wishes to take your car on the public
road for demonstration or other purposes it would have to do so on trade plates
otherwise you could be in breach of the SORN. | |
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