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courtesy car insurance
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 9:11 pm
by DJ
The Mrs car is going back to the dealer to fix a fault under warranty tomorrow. I haven't had a courtesy car for about 10 years so maybe things have changed, but been told I will need to insure it myself. Is that the norm nowadays? Never used to be....
cheers.
Re: courtesy car insurance
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 9:50 pm
by Karen
DJ wrote:The Mrs car is going back to the dealer to fix a fault under warranty tomorrow. I haven't had a courtesy car for about 10 years so maybe things have changed, but been told I will need to insure it myself. Is that the norm nowadays? Never used to be....
cheers.
I currently have a courtesy car through BMW assist and they have taken care of the insurance for me.
Re: courtesy car insurance
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 10:01 pm
by Dark
Some dealers will cover the insurance, other won't. Call it cost saving.
My insurance certificate from Aviva states that cover for loan cars from the garage are included in the policy.
However I'm sure some other companies charge an 'admin fee' to add a loan car for a day or two.
Anyone noticed that some insurers now change an additional excess if you don't use their approved body shop for repairs?
Re: courtesy car insurance
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 10:14 pm
by DJ
My policy is a bit wooly when I read it. I'm the policyholder and car is insured for policyholder + spouse. Says policyholder is insured for any car borrowed or used temporarily ( or words to that effect). So not the Mrs I guess? And doesn't say either but I'm guessing probably only tpf&t. And yep, £40 admin charge before I do any sort of change or add the actual insurance charge. Wonder if it is to put folk off taking a courtesy car if they really didn't need it. Worth a moan tomorrow morning to try and get them to cover it, like BMW seem to do.
Re: courtesy car insurance
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 10:17 pm
by j2 lot
Last time we had to cover a courtesy car I was mugged for £18 admin fee by Admiral

Re: courtesy car insurance
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 10:46 pm
by Stevoraith
DJ wrote:Worth a moan tomorrow morning to try and get them to cover it, like BMW seem to do.
In my experience BMW don't do it as a matter of course for servicing (warranty might be different of course).
Both Grassicks and Harry fairbairn in Kirkcaldy organise courtesy cars through the BMW hire scheme and charge a fixed fee of £15 for insurance.
Definitely worth a moan though as I recently got free cover from Harry fairbairn as a goodwill gesture (although having to experience their shockingly bad customer service was not worth the saving of £15!).
On the other hand west end Skoda provide a totally free car and don't even ask you to replace the fuel you use. I did have to drive a Roomster for a day the last time the Octavia was in though.....

Re: courtesy car insurance
Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 4:37 am
by sendmyusername
Have you looked at temp cover. Com
Or similar ?
If it's only for one day, it might work out cheaper and less hassle than going through your own Insurance ?
I got a quote for £30 for the day fully comp for an exige when I was test driving (was a few years ago now) seemed like a decent price. Depends how long you will have the car for.
Personally, if it was for a service I wouldn't expect a courtesy car, but for warranty work I would expect not only the car, but insurance and an appology for the inconvenience. (the garage can probably claim their costs back anyway)
If you don't get anywhere with that garage, write to the manufacturer, state your greivence, cost, etc be firm but polite, most will refund rather than get into an arguement.
Re: courtesy car insurance
Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 1:27 pm
by DJ
Well two words can explain the charge; Arnold Clark. Apparently they took over around half a dozen Merc garages from the Weir Group about 9 months ago. Receptionist said they never used to charge but it is standard now they are part of the Arnold Clark chain

. Wonder if I should also prepare myself for 'that part isn't actually under warranty sir' discussions
