MOTOR INSURANCE FOR MOWERS? EU ruling after Slovenian accident claim
Owners of ride-on mowers and lawn tractors could soon face paying £100 a year for motor insurance under regulations being considered in Europe.
Patrick McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, has been told that all owners of ride-on mowers may be forced to pay for the cover, even if the vehicle never leaves their garden.
The issue stems from a European legal case involving a Slovenian man who was hurt after a ladder on which he was standing was hit by the trailer of a reversing tractor. Motor insurers refused to cover the claim because it took place on private property.
The European Court of Justice, based in Luxembourg, is due to rule on the case next month but Mr McLoughlin had indicated he would fight any such change. A source close to him said: "People have the right to expect to be able to cut the grass on private property without being clobbered for it. We have home insurance in place for these kind of things and it works fine. Once we have seen the ruling we'll take whatever action necessary to head off anything that hurts people's personal finances."
Senior EU legal officials involved in the Slovenian case have argued that motor insurance should cover vehicles being used in all situations, not just those involved in accidents which happen on roads or in public places.
As a result, motor insurance would become compulsory for certain vehicles which do not currently require cover, including sit-on lawnmowers.
Currently gardeners in the UK who use sit-on lawnmowers on their own property but never take them on public roads are covered for accidents under the terms of their home insurance policy.
Tim Price, rural affairs spokesman for NFU Mutual, the insurer, said: “It would be likely to cost at least £100 extra a year to take out a separate motor policy, and that would be for a relatively small mower.”
