Supreme Court confirms repairs on private land will not require compulsory insurance under UK law
In R & S Pilling t/a Phoenix Engineering v UK Insurance Ltd [2019] UKSC 16, the Supreme Court has held that a motor insurance policy did not confer on the owner an indemnity against liability for damage caused to the property of a third party when a fire had broken out whilst he was repairing his car on the commercial premises of his employer, reversing the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
The decision suggests that repairing vehicles which are on a road or in a public place would amount to use of the vehicle requiring compulsory insurance under UK law. However, at least until any change to bring UK law in line with EU law, repairs on private land will not require compulsory insurance under UK law. The Supreme Court also doubted that significant repairs on private land required compulsory insurance under EU law in any event.
Colin Edelman QC and Richard Harrison acted for the Respondent, instructed by DAC Beachcroft.
Click here to view a full summary of the case by John Platts-Mills.
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