‘My temporary car insurance failed in France’

I took out temporary car insurance with Aviva so a friend could drive my car on a trip to France. I didn’t need him to drive until we’d reached France, so I arranged for cover to start from then. On the trip, a loose stone caused some minor damage to the car, but Aviva declined to pay out as the journey didn’t start in the UK. Surely this is unfair?Clive from Essex

'You proved why it's worth reading the smallprint'

Bill Wilkinson-Hoy, Which? Money expert, says...

Temporary car insurance can cover borrowing a friend or family member’s car, them using yours, or when you’re picking up a new vehicle. 

When you contacted us, we feared you’d been caught out by the line ‘journeys must start and finish in the UK’. 

This was true – but only for you, not your friend, to whom the cover applied.

You argued that the line was unclear and what Aviva meant (but, crucially, didn’t put in its terms and conditions) was ‘your vehicle must be in the UK at the start and finish of the cover period’.

The FOS agreed with your interpretation, that Aviva’s stance wasn’t reflected in its terms. Aviva has now accepted the claim and repairs are underway – albeit several months after your trip.

Your experience goes to prove why it’s worth taking disputes all the way to the FOS, which is free to use – you don’t need to go through a claims management company.

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source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/my-temporary-car-insurance-failed-in-france-aTtoZ9u51mGy