The customer collection catch 22

[mbenz76]

And how is it any different to collecting new from dealer.

My car sat stored at the dealer for a whole weekend before PDI and me collecting. The only difference is that a transporter took it there and not me.

 

[Rory]

You have to pay for the car in full prior to pick up at the factory, seems reasonable, and the insurance for the trip home is arranged by MB in Germany under German export plates.

It seems because the ownership has passed from MB to you, the customer, that the dealership and MB insurance no longer covers the vehicle.

Isn't there a contradiction there?

You say MB insure the car for trip home on export plates. Then, because ownership has passed to you, MB insurance doesn't cover it.

Yet once you've paid for the car it's yours. So you own it on collection from the factory.

 

[LTD]

I think the difference here is that you are paying for and taking possession of the vehicle in Germany then expecting the dealer to effectively store the vehicle for you at your behest on their risk until the date you want to collect the car.

All they are providing is a parking space free of charge - why should they insure your vehicle ?

For the short time involved, and the value of the car, I would simply take out an Insurance Policy for the car using the VIN and relax.

 

[oldcro]

I'm confused with what the OP wants. His car would be covered by the dealers blanket insurance against any claims. His car would not be specifically covered as that is up to him.
Has he created a problem for himself which in fact does not exist.

 

[Aviator]

"Isn't there a contradiction there?

You say MB insure the car for trip home on export plates. Then, because ownership has passed to you, MB insurance doesn't cover it.

Yet once you've paid for the car it's yours. So you own it on collection from the factory."

Yes it is illogical but that appears to be the way it works.
You pick up the car in Germany and MB arrange insurance for 5 days for the journey to the UK. You must take it to the dealer immediately on return to the UK for registration but while it is with the dealer it is not insured unless you take out your own insurance.

 

[LTD]

Don't you need to provide a valid Insurance Document to allow the car to be taxed in the UK anyway ?

 

[mbenz76]

As I mentioned earlier, can you not get the 7/14 days (can't remember which) free insurance from MB that I got when I collected my new E350 from the dealer? Or do you lose this by getting the 5 days from the factory?

 

[Burger]

but while it is with the dealer it is not insured unless you take out your own insurance.

I think your dealer has either misunderstood the question or for some reason are spinning you a line. Providing they are a reputable dealer then absolutely they have insurance fully covering your car while it is in their possession. End of. I suggest you go back and explain again.

However, as I said in my previous post and others have also said, you have to have insurance for them to be able to obtain the UK road tax. There's no legal way for them around that. For you to provide such insurance you either do it on the cars VIN or on the registration number your dealer absolutely can allocate to your car and provide you BEFORE you take delivery. In fact they should even be able to allocate it now, today.

In that case you can insure the car from the day you collect it in Germany and that way you know for sure it is on both yours and the dealers insurance while it's with them. However, if something were to happen to it while it was in the possession of your dealers, I am absolutely certain your insurance company would pursue the dealers insurance for 100% liability.

So, either your not asking the right question or your dealer isn't understanding the situation because what you're saying they've told you is nonsense.

Regards,

 

[sl300 ireland]

Arange trade plates from the dealer in uk,his insurance will cover any car up to certain value,with mercedes maybe £50,000 as long as it covers the car price,Would they do this for you maybe? worth asking

 

[fuzzer]

Cant the transit plates be extended to allow for 20 odd days insurance. Im sure ive read that the time you take getting home can be extended for a longer trip and to contact them

That seems like the easiest solution for you and the least hassle. Just long enough for you to be able to collect the car on the 3rd or 4th.

P.s. why are you waiting till the 4th i doubt its going to make any difference to the used value , it will be bottom book as normal when selling back to them anyways

 

[saorbust]

Don't you need to provide a valid Insurance Document to allow the car to be taxed in the UK anyway ?

Absolutely. So the dealer wil give you a reference code, you get 7 days free insurance with MB UK Insurance, and the registration number.

Taking delivery early doesn't change the allocation of the registration number, nor does driving it to the UK.

You are correct that for import purposes once you enter the UK you must drive it straight to the dealer. But otherwise there is no issue.

The export plates are valid for a limited time -normally that month only - it's colour coded (or used to be).

 

[camerafodder]

It all seems awfully complicated. Can't you just let MB deliver to the dealer and then you pick it up from there?

 

[MicB]

As an aside, why the heck would you not want to have use of the car at the earliest possible opportunity.....what is with the 01 January thing?

Mic

 

[npuk]

I guess he wants a ''11' plate.

 

[Burger]

I thought the plate that started this Sept ran through to end Feb 2011? I don't get the 1st Jan desire either.

 

[npuk]

Ah yes that is correct I forgot they dont change till end of Feb.

 

[MUGGY]

I thought the plate that started this Sept ran through to end Feb 2011? I don't get the 1st Jan desire either.

Because he will then have a 2011 car as oppsed to a 2010 - I guess it makes a difference to the value.

As for the original question I would suggest that MB Customer Service don't know what they're talking about - not for the first time I'm sure

 

[st13phil]

I think that the issue here is that there is a difference between the car being insured to be driven on the UK roads vs being insured against damage or theft while in the posession of the dealer.

Having done personal collection myself, I can say with certainty that as long as you are not asking the dealer to store the vehicle for an extended period then this is all a non-issue. As the OP has said, you have to pay for the car in full prior to collection from Germany. Once you make the payment it is notionally your asset, but MB provide any driver fully comprehensive insurance cover for a limited period so that you can legally drive it to your dealer in the UK. Between the period you pay for the vehicle in the UK and your taking posession in Germany, is the vehicle uninsured with you at risk? Of course not. Until you take posession MB have not fulfilled their part of the purchase contract.

When you get the car to the UK MB offer 7-day complimentary insurance cover that will allow you to legally drive the car on UK roads. It also provides fire, theft, etc cover. However as others have already said, for the period of PDI, preparation and registration, the vehicle is in the care of the dealer who is responsible for its safe keeping. That is their liability, not yours.

The difference in the OP's case is that he is asking the dealer to store the vehicle on his behalf for an extended period. I would say that in that case that the OP does need to obtain insurance cover - not to allow him to drive it, but against fire or theft - unless the terms of the supply contract state specifically that title in the car passes to him only on final collection as a UK-registered vehicle from the UK dealer (which I don't think it does).