EU law will no longer apply in the UK because of Brexit. The idea of insurance requirement for mobility scooters have been scrapped. This could have added at least £50 extra a year for additional insurance.
Golf buggies and fairground dodgems could be added to a long list that includes mobility scooters that will in future require motor insurance for the first time under European law.
A new EU directive may see full motor insurance become a necessity for all “vehicles”, including those only used on private land. The Department for Transport (DfT) have said they are legally obliged to consult on the changes while Britain remains in the EU and admitted the new rules could have “potentially costly consequences”.
Apparently the consultation will run until March and the new directive mat affect the statutory off-road notification (Sorn) scheme which permits uninsured cars to be kept on driveways. The government said that some vehicles that could be impacted by the judgement include, “electrically assisted pedal cycles, construction vehicles, agricultural vehicles, Segways, ride-on lawnmowers, motor sports vehicles, mobility scooters, golf buggies, motorised ride-on children’s toys, fairground rides (eg dodgems), forklift trucks, dumper trucks, engineering plant and quad bikes”.
In a consultation document the Department for Transport said it would have to abide by the rules until after Brexit. However, DfT sources have suggested a “sunset clause” will be drafted into the new rules so they can be abolished when the UK leaves the EU.
A document from the DfT said: “This would result in us broadening our definition of a motor vehicle and extending our insurance requirement beyond roads and other public places. This could mean users of motor vehicles would be required to have third-party insurance on private land.”
A DfT spokesman added: “Following a European Court of Justice judgment, we are consulting whether to extend motor insurance for private land and other vehicle types. We oppose any measures which impose an unreasonable burden on the public. We will use the consultation responses to get the best result for the country.”