Do You Need Car Insurance for Lawnmowers or Mobility Scooters?
The new EU law that could mean all ‘vehicles’ must be covered by ‘car’ insurance even if they’re only ever used on private land.
Given their cost, you probably already insure your sit-on mower against theft or damage. But did you know you might soon have to insure it as a motor vehicle too, even if it is only used on private land?
At the moment, under UK law there is no requirement to insure vehicles like sit-on mowers if they are only used on private land. But that could be about to change following a new EU directive.
What the current UK law says about compulsory motor insurance
- The UK’s Road Traffic Act 1988 requires third party motor insurance to cover:
- Only mechanically-propelled vehicles intended for use on roads
- Only when those vehicles are on roads or other public places
Changes under consultation
Ministers in the Department for Transport are currently consulting on potential changes triggered by the EU directive that would see a compulsory requirement for a minimum of third party insurance on all motorised vehicles even if they are solely used on private land. With the consultation due to end this month, it’s a tense time for owners of these vehicles, who could face having to fork out for cover they may never need.
What vehicles may soon need motor insurance?
Under the EU directive “Vehicle means any motor vehicle intended for travel on land and propelled by mechanical power, but not running on rails, and any trailer, whether coupled or not coupled”. That includes:
- Sit-on lawnmowers
- Quad bikes
- Mobility scooters
- Golf buggies
- Dodgem cars
- Hoverboards
- Motorised children’s cars
- Segways
- Electrically assisted pedal cycles
- Dumper trucks
- Forklifts
- Agricultural vehicles
What has caused this consultation?
In 2014, the European Union Court of Justice ruled that any motor vehicle in normal use must be covered by motor insurance, in any location, including on private land.
The case was brought after a Slovenian man called Damijan Vnuk was injured in 2007 in an accident involving a tractor. Insurers refused to cover the claim because it took place on private land, not on a road.
As a member state of the European Union, the UK has to ensure that the UK-legislation reflects that of the EU directive.
What about Brexit? Do we still have to do what Europe says?
Any EU directives have to be followed by Britain until we officially leave the European Union. The Department for Transport is currently consulting on the proposed changes to insurance in the light of this EU ruling. Even after leaving the European Union, the UK could still decide to keep this rule unless a ‘sunset clause’ is written into the ruling, which would allow the new rules to be abolished when we do leave the EU.
Could this proposed new insurance could be a good thing?
Whilst none of us may want to part with extra cash to pay for cover that it may seem will be unlikely to be needed, accidents can and do happen. By covering your motorised vehicles that you use on private land with motor insurance, any accident victim will have an easier route to compensation, and you’ll be saved from expensive legal costs if the worst did happen.
There is currently no legal requirement for mobility scooters to have any motor insurance, even if they are driven on the road. With records showing nearly 50 serious injuries linked to accidents involving mobility scooters in 2014, there are many who argue that compulsory insurance for mobility scooters would be a good thing.
When will this law come into force?
It’s impossible to say for sure because the details are still under consultation. Even if the decision is made to make insurance compulsory for all motor vehicles used anywhere, it could still take some time before it becomes law.
Getting the best value insurance for your home and vehicles
If the new rules do come into force, call Park Insurance for the best value insurance deals for your motorised vehicles. Our expert team has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of insurance to help make sure you get the right cover for you and your family, with no nasty surprises in the small print.
We’re preferred brokers with some of the UK’s leading insurance companies, so we can negotiate great value deals that aren’t available on the high street.