Hello All.

I'm hopefully collecting a new car this week (2nd hand 10 reg octavia vrs tdi). It's a bit of a nightmare due to a cherished plate transfer in the mix.

I'm trading in my old car which has a cherish plate and the dealer has sorted out the plate transfer to the new car.

I got 7 days skoda insurance to allow the dealer to get it taxed which they have done.

I'm awaiting a call this week from the dealer for collection, once the DVLA have sent out the forms to allow the new car to have my cherished number on it.

My question is about Insurance.

I've never traded in a car before. If I have a fully comp policy and say I wanted to collect the car on Saturday,

1) can I just change my policy to have the new car details?

2) can this be done in advance? or do I have to ring up on the garage forecourt after I've driven to the garage with my old car, just before I want to drive my new one away?

3) will the insurance companies typically offer an overlap? I need to be able to drive to garage on the day, hand over the keys and of course need to be insured on the new car?

4) don't you need to have the actual cert of motor insurance in your hand when you drive away a new car, if so, then don't you need this changed in advance?

I find it all so confusing. Nowhere is it clear in any insurance FAQs online.

Any thoughts or advice, would be welcomed. I'm keen to ensure it all goes smoothly.

I'm certainly looking forward to my first vrs.

Edited 6 February, 201115 yr by Elliptical

I think you just need to agree a time with the dealer - e.g noon & ask your insurance to swap the vehicles over at that time (that's what I did). I'd like to think there will be some flex if required, but stand to be corrected. Enjoy the new wheels !

Octavia VRS pickup??

lol my apologies. The headline is misleading (not intentional). Collection would have been more accurate.

I'm amazed that there isn't much online about this scenario at all i.e. how you ensure there's no loss of cover upon collection of new vehicle, whether you need actual ins cert in hand on collection, in case police pull you over driving back (for whatever reason).

7 day insurance means you are covered by the garage. With me I brought the car home and then phoned the insurance and sorted it for the next day.

The 7 day helped for me as I was doing the exact same thing with a cherished plate

lol my apologies. The headline is misleading (not intentional). Collection would have been more accurate.

I'm amazed that there isn't much online about this scenario at all i.e. how you ensure there's no loss of cover upon collection of new vehicle, whether you need actual ins cert in hand on collection, in case police pull you over driving back (for whatever reason).

An Octavia VRS pickup would be hilarious though :p

@zeffania

The skoda garage requested that I got 7 day cover a week or two ago and get it with my cherished number plate on the policy for the new car, so that they could tax the new car under the new reg.

By the time the dvla inform the garage to finally transfer the plates to the new car, that 7 day insurance will have run out unfortunately.

Been through this several times now.

1) can I just change my policy to have the new car details?

Yes, though there maybe an additional premium and an admin charge.

2) can this be done in advance? or do I have to ring up on the garage forecourt after I've driven to the garage with my old car, just before I want to drive my new one away?

Yes. once you have agreed the date then call your insurance co. and they can sort this in advance and send you a new certificate.

3) will the insurance companies typically offer an overlap? I need to be able to drive to garage on the day, hand over the keys and of course need to be insured on the new car?

In my experience there will be an overlap offered or provided. Anything from 24 hours to 1 week.

4) don't you need to have the actual cert of motor insurance in your hand when you drive away a new car, if so, then don't you need this changed in advance?

Think its only needed to tax the vehicle. Other than that , its down to the buyer to ensure they have adequate insurance.

@squidgy

Many thanks for your response. Seems good to me. I shall inform them in advance when the dealer gives me a call this week with the date.

Thanks everyone for the advice.