European drivers for new car
We are taking delivery in 9/13 and have a sweet little route planned through Switzerland and Germany with friends.
If we were to let our German/Swiss friends drive the car, are they covered under BMW's insurance?
If we were to let our German/Swiss friends drive the car, are they covered under BMW's insurance?
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I would check at the welt but most likely as long as they sign the insurance card.
This could get tricky. If they have their own insurance for their own cars in Europe it may cover them in whole or part for temporary use of a car not owned by them and that could complicate the primary / secondary insurance question in the event of a claim. It might all work out in the end and not disturb your experience, but behind the scenes there would be some international and foreign-language thrashing about. Not having that cause upset and be a frustrating time-sink seems unlikely to me.
As 3ismagic# points out it is critical that they be there at delivery to sign the paperwork. You'd not be able to hook up with them later and add them by phone, or add them without their signatures at the Welt.
Frank.
As 3ismagic# points out it is critical that they be there at delivery to sign the paperwork. You'd not be able to hook up with them later and add them by phone, or add them without their signatures at the Welt.
Frank.
Ah too bad. They live too far away to meet us at the Welt.
Actually, no its not critical for them to be there at the Welt. They just sign the insurance paper before driving and they are covered.
You may be right, but on my 2009 ED we had a broken Welt experience which indicates otherwise. We had one BMW Welt guy with us for all the car paperwork up to and including the green registration docs and acceptance form they wanted us to sign before we'd even seen the car. My wife began to get annoyed because he kept ignoring her and cutting her off to ask me questions. In his eyes it seemed I was the only customer and my wife was some sort of chattel in tow. I was getting a bit peeved because my wife was getting mad and I knew I'd be suffering later.
Then he noticed something amiss and left. I had to return to the desk 20 or so minutes later to finish it up with a second BMW Welt person who dealt with the insurance. In the meantime my wife had wandered off with my daughter and there was a kerfuffle while I tried to track her down. My wife's signature was required on the insurance document and her passport photo needed to be verified. She was irritated at having to dig deep into her backpack yet again. By this time we'd found out that our delivery was totally busted because my daughter's kid activities were cancelled due to a school visit that was commandeering the whole Kid Experience Lab and they were wanting to delay the vehicle acceptance to the afternoon instead of our confirmed morning appointment.
Anyway, in 2009 I am certain that the insurance docs needed the proven identity and signature of the drivers.
Were that not the case wouldn't Allianz be exposed to people letting anybody and everybody drive the car and calling up to add people only after the car was damaged? I suppose the insurance could cover the car regardless of drivers, but in that case why all the palava about confirming identities and in-person signatures? Why would any driver need to sign anything?
Frank.
Then he noticed something amiss and left. I had to return to the desk 20 or so minutes later to finish it up with a second BMW Welt person who dealt with the insurance. In the meantime my wife had wandered off with my daughter and there was a kerfuffle while I tried to track her down. My wife's signature was required on the insurance document and her passport photo needed to be verified. She was irritated at having to dig deep into her backpack yet again. By this time we'd found out that our delivery was totally busted because my daughter's kid activities were cancelled due to a school visit that was commandeering the whole Kid Experience Lab and they were wanting to delay the vehicle acceptance to the afternoon instead of our confirmed morning appointment.
Anyway, in 2009 I am certain that the insurance docs needed the proven identity and signature of the drivers.
Were that not the case wouldn't Allianz be exposed to people letting anybody and everybody drive the car and calling up to add people only after the car was damaged? I suppose the insurance could cover the car regardless of drivers, but in that case why all the palava about confirming identities and in-person signatures? Why would any driver need to sign anything?
Frank.
Things may have changed. In Sept 2011 we did a double ED (650 vert & Z4) and neither of us had to sign the other's insurance papers. I specifically asked if we needed to do so and was told by our paperwork Frau that other drivers were automatically covered if they were driving with the registered owner's approval.
In Dec 2011 I went back with a friend to pick up an ED 750 and wasn't asked or required to sign the insurance card.
Who knows - it's probably a "it depends" situation...
dk
In Dec 2011 I went back with a friend to pick up an ED 750 and wasn't asked or required to sign the insurance card.
Who knows - it's probably a "it depends" situation...
dk
No, you are fine. I specifically asked, in May 2010, if my father can drive the car and the answer was yes, as long as he signs insurance paper. My father not only wasn't there, he was in a different (European) country.
I also asked about other drivers 3/2012. All are covered. Insurance goes with the car not the driver.
Actually, we spoke to Sabrina at BMW Europen Delivery. She said as long as my husband is in the car, our European friends can drive. I will verify in 3 short weeks when we are there!!!!
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