Does your insurance cover greenlaning?

[WLJayne]

Hi guys,

Mine says they won't, but as they are technically highways it's a bit funny. Does yours? If not are you comfortable greenlaning when your insurance wouldn't cover you in the event of a claim? Just trying to get a sense of whether this is practical .

Will.

 

[mundungus]

If it is a proper byway you are on I don't see how they can refute a claim. Byways are roads after all.

To answer your question though, yes. My insurance actively encourages that I join a club and go off roading and all sorts. It is a second vehicle though and limited mileage to 5k a year.

 

[OxonLandy]

if you're worried about making a claim when your laning then you're either driving like a mentalist or you should keep your shiny on the open road

 

[gazdav]

if you're worried about making a claim when your laning then you're either driving like a mentalist or you should keep your shiny on the open road

I had a shiny once. But the good news is it is shiny again.

 

[WLJayne]

if you're worried about making a claim when your laning then you're either driving like a mentalist or you should keep your shiny on the open road

And what happens if a passing horse throws it's rider and the bugger breaks his back and sues me? I don't care about damage to my motor I can deal with that myself. I'm trying to asses the risk as it were, no easy task. Unlike some, I respect the green lanes and the other people who use them and I want to make sure that I'm enjoying them within the law .

 

[gazdav]

In short you should be coverd as you are on a byway which is a public road you would still need tax and an MOT to drive it.

 

[WLJayne]

In short you should be coverd as you are on a byway which is a public road you would still need tax and an MOT to drive it.

I would have thought so but I talked to Insure the Box (the least **** takey quote I've had this year) and they said their underwriter wouldn't cover it. Not sure what to make of that.

If I can get the caash together I'll just go for my renewal from Admiral as it's the cheapest lump sum quote I've had and they can't track your whereabouts like Insure the Box can and does.

 

[The Mad Hat Man]

have you explained that it is a public highway and, as such, why are they not covering it?

 

[WLJayne]

have you explained that it is a public highway and, as such, why are they not covering it?

I guess I should spell that out to them. But at the end of the day he who holds the gold makes the rules.

I wish I hadn't asked them about it now.

 

[1spin]

what a load of crap, even a public carpark is classed as a highway , so the police told me ...

 

[WLJayne]

what a load of crap, even a public carpark is classed as a highway , so the police told me ...

You had a spot of bother with a claim ?

 

[blue beasty]

Your insurers will have to cover you if you are driving in a legal vehicle on a public highway unless it something the policy specifically does not cover.

 

[WLJayne]

Your insurers will have to cover you if you are driving in a legal vehicle on a public highway unless it something the policy specifically does not cover.

That would be good. It's possible that the nice girl on the end of the phone didn't know that green lanes are public highways. I'll need to really spell it out for them when they call back about my water pump mod....

 

[Ryder]

Hi guys,

Mine says they won't, but as they are technically highways it's a bit funny. Does yours? If not are you comfortable greenlaning when your insurance wouldn't cover you in the event of a claim? Just trying to get a sense of whether this is practical .

Will.

In theory... since the byway is a public ROW then insuring the vehicle on that road is not optional. In order to make that work the insurer would need to define each and every road that is, or is not insured... not possible.

If, on the other hand, you accept that you are not insured while driving on your perfectly legal right of way... then you are breaking the law by driving it since there would be no insurance in place on the vehicle at that time.

Irrespective of your point of view... even if there is no "fully comp" cover... I am sure that the insurer is obliged to offer the minimum cover (3rd party only)

However, as we all know.. the insurance industry is a law unto itself!

 

[WLJayne]

I imagine that if you're going with responsible laners it's very safe anyway. I.e. negotioting obstacles one at a time, stopping for pedestrians and horses etc. Just don't want to get shafted should the worst happen!

 

[Ryder]

I imagine that if you're going with responsible laners it's very safe anyway. I.e. negotioting obstacles one at a time, stopping for pedestrians and horses etc. Just don't want to get shafted should the worst happen!

What you are saying is a misnomer.

Green laning is, by definition, a different ball game to driving sedately down the high street. Pedestrians will pass closer to your vehicle... horses can come close to the motor and get spooked.... the lanes can sometimes throw up unexpected obstacles that are not expected even by the most experienced drivers.

Of course you minimise the risk but if you are out in the lanes often there is a good chance that some damage will occur eventually.

I have been out with some very experienced chappies from the Herts fred... and seen some serious damage to the vehicles, either when rescuing or being recovered. I could go on but I am sure you see what I am getting at

 

[Ryder]

That would be good. It's possible that the nice girl on the end of the phone didn't know that green lanes are public highways. I'll need to really spell it out for them when they call back about my water pump mod....

I wouldn't mention the lanes as such... I would just ask for clarification I am insured for all roads and routes that are open to motor vehicles.

 

[WLJayne]

Urgh I'm just going to work a few more freelance hours this month and try to renew my exisiting policy. It would be so much simpler.

 

[Ryder]

Urgh I'm just going to work a few more freelance hours this month and try to renew my exisiting policy. It would be so much simpler.

What do you freelance at?

 

[blue beasty]

What you are saying is a misnomer.

Green laning is, by definition, a different ball game to driving sedately down the high street. Pedestrians will pass closer to your vehicle... horses can come close to the motor and get spooked.... the lanes can sometimes throw up unexpected obstacles that are not expected even by the most experienced drivers.

Of course you minimise the risk but if you are out in the lanes often there is a good chance that some damage will occur eventually.

I have been out with some very experienced chappies from the Herts fred... and seen some serious damage to the vehicles, either when rescuing or being recovered. I could go on but I am sure you see what I am getting at

I know what you're getting at but it has to be up to the insurers to specify exclusions to the policy else you'll get into the situation of asking...''What if a bee flys in the window and the baby's crying and me Doris sneezes as I approach a junction......am I still covered''
They'll just do what insurers always do when faced with something that they can't compute....drop you or bump your premium.

Having said that if you try and claim for a new paint job after driving a scratchy lane you'll deserve everything you get (or rather NOT get)