www.jec.org.uk

Hi All,

I’m very happy to say I’m now the (joint) owner of a 2002 XJ8 Executive 3.2. It’s a Japanese import and has no rust issues and only 30,000 miles so hoping for some easy driving!

I’ve bought with a friend. He’s going to make trips to Ireland. We’re going to France and Switzerland. We agreed whoever drives it abroad is responsible recovery and repairs if it breaks down or if we’re in an accident. What do you suggest we do to get covered?

Separate policy for each owner?
Cover for a 17 year old car?
Recommendations for a provider?
Any stories of actual breakdowns abroad?
Thoughts about joint ownership?

Thanks in advance

Alec,

A number of the classic insurance companies offer European breakdown policies. I'm guessing that you're going to be making a few trips each year so an annual policy rather than individual trip policies would seem to make more sense. I'm assuming that you're taking out insurance in one of your names with the other nominated as a named driver? So if you're taking out breakdown cover, maybe just check that it will also cover the named driver when the policyholder is absent. I have a policy with Adrian Flux on one of my jaguars and also had the European breakdown that they offered. Fortunately, I've never had the need to call upon it.

As regards shared ownership, it's really easy to find sample shared car ownership contracts on the internet. You could just amend one of those to write a clause about European breakdown and accident costs being borne by each person.

Good luck

Paul

Thanks Paul,

Yes. I'm looking for an annual policy. I wondering if we could avoid getting two policies for the same car. I'll try your idea of asking if the breakdown cover also covers a named driver (even though they are not at the same address). I think Euro cover is generally for the car, not the owner or driver.

Alec