Best way to get a car home?

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Fri 7 Jan 2005 17:11
Best way to get a car home? - GICarey
Hi Folks,

I recently changed my car from an N Reg Clio to a T reg 406, the Clio (MOT till June 05, Tax till Dec 04) I loaned to my brother, who insured it and has been using it since.

Until, the tax ran out.

He's going through "troubled timed" (read as "being a pain in the ass") and has decided that, as he's abandoned his job (this is different to resigning ;)) he cant afford to tax the car for now.

It's declared SORN and on my parents driveway, but can't stay there long term. It's currently covered by his insurance, but I can't see this staying the case, if he cant afford to tax the motor, he's not going to cover his DD next month.

So, i'll need to get the car 150 miles back to my house & into the garage, where it was before loaning it to him.

My question is, how best to do this?

If his insurance is still in force in a couple of weeks when I can do this, the best way it occurs to me is:

* Get a train to my parents house, tax the car, drive it to my house (using my own insurance to cover me TP on the clio), put it in the garage, send the tax back and declare it SORN again. Cost of fuel plus one months tax. Total cost £60.

But, if his insurance ins't in force, what should I do?

I don't have a tow-bar on the 406, so can't collect it on a trailer. Guesing getting one fitted and rental of a trailer would be quite expensive?

Would my insurance company be likely to agree to switch my insurance to the Clio for 1 day? I've e-mailed them to ask this but didn't know if anyone here would have the answer?

Could I buy insurance for 1 day from another firm anywhere?

Are there firms which specialise in moving cars around? and how much do they charge?

Other option is just to sell the Clio here in Kent and call it quits.

Thoughts / comments greatly appreciated!

Gav.
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Fri 7 Jan 2005 17:24
Best way to get a car home? - patently
Many insurers wil cover a "temporary additional vehicle" - usually for test drives, courtesy cars etc from stingy garages that won't cover you on their own insurance.

They will issue a cover note so you could then tax it.

Alternative is to tell your brother that the loan is up, kindly return the car...
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Fri 7 Jan 2005 18:22
Best way to get a car home? - frostbite
I would go with patently's last suggestion.

On the insurance side, you may find your co. will give you (free) short term cover if you stress it's your old car for which you 'need short cover'.

They will probably assume it is to demonstrate it to a potential buyer.
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Fri 7 Jan 2005 18:59
Best way to get a car home? - Badger
As I understand it, both cars belong to you. Presumably though your own insurance no longer covers you for the Clio, since the third party cover for driving other vehicles normally applies only to a vehicle not belonging to you, or not hired to you, etc. You would need to have someone else, not being the Clio's owner, drive it on their insurance.
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Fri 7 Jan 2005 19:07
Best way to get a car home? - martint123
ISTR transport folk advertising on ebay - search for car transport or similar. 80p a mile seesm to be a common cost.
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Fri 7 Jan 2005 19:31
Best way to get a car home? - Vansboy
Your local car auction, will have a few numbers of trade plate drivers, who'll drive it for you.

No worries of insurance/tax, that way. Plus you'll have someone find out, just how fast, an old Clio can go!!

VB
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Sun 9 Jan 2005 19:16
Best way to get a car home? - GICarey
Thanks guys,

I googled car transports, and after a few mails, best quote is 90 quid provided there's no pickup/delivery time restrictions, which there wouldn't be.

Although, I may have found a friend who has somewhere secure the car can be stored off road longish term which would be quite handy.

Picked the car up from bothers this weekend, full of rubbish, left unlocked, needed coolant, etc. Needless to say, he shant get the option of borrowing it again!

As for how fast an old Clio can go, until 2 months ago, it used to do sterling service at around 90/95 on my usual run between cambridge and kent, but there isn't much noise insulation, it gets to feeling like you're right inside that diesel engine.

Cheers!

Gav.
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Sun 9 Jan 2005 19:20
Best way to get a car home? - patently
Picked the car up from bothers


If that was a typo then it was very fortuitous!
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