RH Renewal's

[andrew34ruby]

Emma, you never seem to have resolved this issue where organisers of events ask us to sign to say we have Public Liability Insurance. RH do not include this cover apparently. Hagerty tell me they do. My renewal is due in 4 days.

Hi Andrew,

I have been speaking to Pete Barrett, General Manager of the Birch Court office which provides the day-to-day servicing of the RH account and a number of other classic car brands - owned by the Howden Group.  

There is often confusion over public liability vs third party liability and this topic has been raised on numerous occasions by various clubs and individuals over the years.  

Pete has previously confirmed that motor insurance policies do not give Public Liability cover, which is in line with the standard approach throughout the motor insurance industry. 

Comprehensive motor insurance policies give third party liability cover which provides cover for the policyholder whilst on private property.   This could be pulling onto your drive, driving in a supermarket car park, or at a show/event - with the exception in most cases where the vehicle is airside or on a motor racing circuit.  

This means that, in the event you are driving your vehicle and you collide with a third party (that could be property, people or another vehicle), then you have cover in place to avoid paying for the resultant damage out of your own pocket.  

In addition, if your vehicle was parked on a hill and the handbrake failed causing it to roll into another person's vehicle, this is also an insurable event.  

Section 1 of RH's policy wording does, cover 'liability to others'.  For example, if the insured's actions had led to someone tripping over their stationary vehicle whilst attending an event.

Aside from ERS, exclusive insurer for the RH scheme, Pete also works with a panel of insurers - one of them being Hagerty.  

Pete confirmed reviewing Hagerty's current policy wording, Section 9 - third party liability cover, that it contains similar wording to the RH policy wording (provided by ERS) and there is no reference in Hagerty's wording to public liability cover which is in line with the rest of the motor insurance industry.

I can confirm, on behalf of RH, that you are covered for attending events in terms of third party liability to others.

Event organisers should have public liability cover in place for themselves as potentially an accident at the event (trip or fall) could render them liable for resultant injury or damage claims.  

Pete would be happy to discuss with you if you have any further queries and can be contacted at: peter.barrett@aplan.co.uk. 

Kind regards,

Emma

Emma, you might well be correct in everything you say here, but when various organisers of events insist that we sign to say that we have Public Liability insurance, it gets awkward when you say we do not have that insurance.