Driving in Tenerife: Borrowing a car

[NAH]

Following on from Nova's 'Driving in Tenerife: Car Stuff' Thread I wonder is some one could add some clarity to the following please?

I was recently told that it is actually the car which is insured in Tenerife and not the driver.

Does this mean that assuming I have a full licence I could borrow someone's car (with their permission) and drive it legally? I'm specifically not talking about hire cars but a car belonging to a resident / friend.

[Perikles]

Does this mean that assuming I have a full licence I could borrow someone's car (with their permission) and drive it legally? I'm specifically not talking about hire cars but a car belonging to a resident / friend.

Yes you can. If a car is not insured, it is the owner of the car who is in trouble, not the driver. This is why when you sell a car it is essential to ensure that the paperwork is changed to the name of the new owner. Otherwise he can drive around without insurance, and you get the fine (€1500) if he is stopped. Been there, done that.

This is by the way one example of how the Spanish fine system uses the principle that the fine is imposed on the person most likely to be able to pay, not the person who is actually doing something causing an illegallity. So the car owner (who at least owns a car) can probably afford the fine, and the driver might not. Likewise, if you employ someone without a work contract, then although the worker is acting illegally, it is the employer who gets the fine (€6000 in the first instance) because it is more likely that he can pay. Cynical or what?

[Nova]

Most policies seem to automatically cover the vehicle with any driver (as long as they are over 25 and hold a valid driving licence), with one notable exception being Liberty Seguros.  I'm with Liberty and my policy clearly states that I am the only authorised driver and I have to notify them and pay an additional premium for any additional drivers.  My previous policy with Linea Directa didn't care who drove the car, which was really useful when I had my arms in plaster since I was able to recruit a Dutch tourist to drive my Ka home from Costa Adeje where I had fallen and when my sister visited from the UK she was able to drive us to Las Chafiras to do the shopping.  That seems to be fairly typical of most car insurance policies.  But I think it's fairly important to check in case it's an exception like my current policy.

[Perikles]

Most policies seem to automatically cover the vehicle with any driver (as long as they are over 25 and hold a valid driving licence),

Yes, but it is the owner who is in the doodoo if there is a restriction and still lends it to a friend.

[Delderek]

Many policies allow the holder to drive any car, or any driver to drive your car in an emergency, but, the cover may only be the minimum required by the law, and may not be the "Comprehensive" cover that you would normally be entitled to receive.

[Perikles]

Many policies allow the holder to drive any car, or any driver to drive your car in an emergency, but, the cover may only be the minimum required by the law, and may not be the "Comprehensive" cover that you would normally be entitled to receive.

Not sure that applies in Tenerife. But even then, if you wreck the car, again it's the owner's problem

[Nova]

I think "friend" is the keyword here.  If I borrowed your car, for example, I'd want to make sure that your insurance policy covered me for doing so.  I wouldn't just go "Blegh, if anything happens it's all on you - haha".......

[Delderek]

I think "friend" is the keyword here.  If I borrowed your car, for example, I'd want to make sure that your insurance policy covered me for doing so.  I wouldn't just go "Blegh, if anything happens it's all on you - haha".......

I wouldn't let you anywhere near my Audi,,,friend or not!

[Nova]

Isn't Audi a posh name for Volkswagen?   

[Janet]

thought that was Porsche .... 

you can borrow my car any time ... provided I can borrow yours ...