Living in a vehicle full time... serious replies please :)

[Electric_Andy]

I lived in a car on and off in Australia, but that was a lot easier due to the warmer weather (often too warm) and the fact that Police didn't really worry about you. They weren't even bothered when we were drinking in the back, but that was a panel van and we had our mattress and bedclothes out so no real intent of driving. But it's different over here.

With a good sleeping bag it would be doable. I expect he'll want to run the car for a while in the evenings to use the heater and charge his phone. I can't see anywhere else letting him do that (over Covid restrictions), or shower etc. In fact, one could wash in a river...very cold but legal AFAIK if you don't use soaps.

Insurance-wise, I believe anyone can register a PO Box address. Some people do that if they are in shared accomodation where you can't trust the other occupants. But I'm not sure if for car insurance you need a physical address (surely that would be descriminating against the homeless?) or just a cosher correspondance address. I would be going for common ground, much like the travelling community do, where you can stay for up to 30 days. Somewhere out in the sticks he is unlikely to be bothered much, but I wouldn't like to do it in or near a built up area. Too many noises, idiots knocking on your windows, over zealous parking wardens etc etc.

It certainly has to become a way of life if it is to be endured (or enjoyed) and not just a knee-jerk money saving idea. Much easier without Covid restrictions, as one can sup beer or coffee all evening in a pub, but you can't do that now. I would wonder how he would keep himself amused and sane, even if he was warm and well fed.

 

[mudsticks]

Part of the T&Cs of the policy will be that he states where he is living, as that forms a material part of the calculation of the premium. If he states that incorrectly (OK, lies about it) then the Insco will take a very dim view. I'm not sure if they would be legally allowed to invalidate a policy on that basis, but he would end up on a blacklist somewhere and find getting insurance difficult and expensive for the rest of his life. Dishonesty offences are like that.



This, x100. The offence is 'being in charge' of the vehicle, so even if he has the keys in his pocket with no intention to drive, the police could argue that he was 'in charge' and prosecute him. If I park my caravan on a legitimate site, leave the car keys in a drawer in the caravan and have a few drinks, I am technically still in charge of the vehicle and could be charged. Of course, common sense applies and this doesn't happen - to boring, middle-class folk enjoying a quiet break on a site well away from the road and doing no harm. But to a single, unshaven guy living in a car in a back street? I wouldn't bet on it.

In my first year at Uni, I had a mate who applied late and couldn't get accommodation for the first few weeks of the term. He lived in a van in the road where I had my digs. No one seemed to mind, and we even tested his legitimacy by sending him a postcard addressed to 'Rowland, The Grey Van, Mountain View'. The postman politely knocked at the driver's window (my mate was asleep) and passed the card in through the quarterlight. He was glad to get out of it and into a bedsit after a week or two, though.

Yes even if the keys are in the glove box, it's still technically prosecutable, if you're over the limit.

I've known people get post delivered to trees, they are living in.

There we are - posties..
The unsung heroic key workers.

 

[RichardB]

But I'm not sure if for car insurance you need a physical address (surely that would be descriminating against the homeless?) or just a cosher correspondance address.

The usual phrase on the policy application is 'the address where the car is usually kept', so they can use that to calculate the premium. Good postcodes, bad postcodes, etc. And they are very hot on this - for example the common thing of insuring the car as being kept in the parents' leafy suburb when the car is actually kept in the street outside the daughter's student flat. They are aware of the issue. I am sure he could find an insurer willing to insure on a PO Box address, but there will likely be special terms attached that made it unworkable.

 

[mudsticks]

Not uncommon for people to live full time in a motorhome (or caravan), but, I would have thought living in a car would be a pretty miserable existence.

In a motorhome/caravan mainland Europe is probably more pleasant, at least you can migrate south in winter, like the birds. Not without its costs however. "Wild Camping", is becoming increasingly difficult in England, although in Mainland Europe, particularly France and Germany, there are numerous parking places, free, or small charge. Most have limits on how long you can stay, so, fairly constant movement is the order of the day.

Have not done it personally, but, those who I know who have/are doing this, tend to use a friend or relatives address for vehicle registration, driving licence address, etc. Insurance, is, I believe a little more difficult (to do it correctly that is).

As others have said, a visit to the Local Council seems a much wiser option.

Sadly, as a single, non-vulnerable person, he will come a long way down the list for council housing

 

[IanSmithCSE]

Good morning,

On my web site I have what is pretty close to a simulated car insurance price comparison site but it shows the steps that are undertaken to get to the the final premium

As you can see from the image where you live is a very important factor, so mispresenting this isn't a minor detail that you might think that it is.

Although the rates and exact steps do not represent any live scheme that you can buy today they are very close to the real thing, for example their is a scheme that specialises in drink drivers and one that specialises in young drivers and another that deliberately buys business by offering new business only discounts.

If you want to play I used the Safe Risk button and selected from the limited range of postcodes.

http://iansmithcse.co.uk/CIPE/MotorInsurance/DataCapture.aspx

Bye

Ian

 

[MontyVeda]

...
So long as he's got insurance it should be fine.

When he's sleeping in his car he's not driving so not going to have a crash. .
...

but when he is driving it...?

 

[Electric_Andy]

Very useful Ian. But I wonder if you registered a PO Box then the area would be the physical address of the PO Box? Or I vaguely remember, not sure if remotely true, that one could state the address of the nearest post office/police station/public service if you of no fixed abode? And they could use that as an area reference.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Hygiene problems arise when living in vehicles,especially cars. Yes,you can use public toilets,if you can find a clean one that is open 24/7 and with local council run and private leisure centres closed now, finding a hot shower would be very difficult.

 

[IanSmithCSE]

Good morning,

Very useful Ian. But I wonder if you registered a PO Box then the area would be the physical address of the PO Box? Or I vaguely remember, not sure if remotely true, that one could state the address of the nearest post office/police station/public service if you of no fixed abode? And they could use that as an area reference.

As premium calculations are pretty much uncovered by legislation an insurer is free to do what they want, so yes they could use a PO box or not rate on areas at all.

But they don't, the commodity car insurance market is based on a standard set of rules and ratings, once you no longer fit those rules then you need to go to a broker who may get you a policy that actually covers the situation as it is. :-)

Bye

Ian

 

[Brains]

I have a vehicle that spends most of it's life in a different location to my registered address.
The insurance company is set up to have a registered address in one place and a vehicle address in another.

 

[Drago]

Good morning,

On my web site I have what is pretty close to a simulated car insurance price comparison site but it shows the steps that are undertaken to get to the the final premium

As you can see from the image where you live is a very important factor, so mispresenting this isn't a minor detail that you might think that it is.

View attachment 568372


Although the rates and exact steps do not represent any live scheme that you can buy today they are very close to the real thing, for example their is a scheme that specialises in drink drivers and one that specialises in young drivers and another that deliberately buys business by offering new business only discounts.

If you want to play I used the Safe Risk button and selected from the limited range of postcodes.

http://iansmithcse.co.uk/CIPE/MotorInsurance/DataCapture.aspx

Bye

Ian

Well, insurers claim its an important factor, but moving to a lower autocrime area made mine go up. Insurers don't let mere facts get on the way of a good quote.

 

[IanSmithCSE]

Good morning,

Well, insurers claim its an important factor, but moving to a lower autocrime area made mine go up. Insurers don't let mere facts get on the way of a good quote.

A big problem with discussing insurance premiums is that it is very rare for policy holders to be given the rating steps that created the final premium.

Back in the good old days they were printed into expensive books, given to insurance brokers and maybe changed twice year, nowadays they can change daily. Yes you can go on to confused etc and get many quotes and say all I changed was this therefore that, but not necessarily.

In the example above there are two steps, driving district and theft district, that is one way of doing things another way is to assume that they are the same.

The driving district is drives in the countryside so is bound to be drunk on scrumpi so load the premium, the theft district is lives in the middle of no where and nobody pinches cars round there.

Another approach would be to combine the two steps into one meaning that the rating factor rises more because of the scrumpi effect than it is reduced by the nobody pinches cars effect.

On the other hand the underwriters could have had a bad day and got it wrong or are deliberately loading premiums in an area because they are finding that they have too much business is that area. Even that they have a different set of numbers, lots of BMWs get nicked in that area but nobody takes Mercs.

I know that the purely statistical approach to risk is inaccurate when dealing individual cases, but for cheap high volume insurance nobody has come up with anything better. Or if they have they are keeping it a secret.

Bye

Ian

 

[mudsticks]

but when he is driving it...?

When he's driving it, he's driving it..

Unless he's still making his breakfast whilst driving.

In which case I think that comes under 'driving without due care and attention'

As an offence - and not OK ever, wherever you happen to sleep.

I don't think having a whole bunch of old clothes, and some food in your boot invalidates your insurance.

... If it does, I'm in big trouble..

The 'where you keep your car/ registered address' for insurance thing, is a slightly different matter.

But I don't suppose your mate is going to make a claim for his car being nicked off of the driveway of his poste restanre address, if he was nowhere near there at the time..

 

[cyberknight]

Yes I'd definitely rather be in a tent than a car.

Like you say much warmer.

I've known a few folks overwinter in bell tents or yurts with a burner..
Quite cosy.

But a metal box with no heating, at this time of year is basically a fridge.

But if you haven't got a secure place to pitch a tent it's tricky...

Basically being insecurely housed isn't so great.


I know a few farmers, and landowners here and there who come to similar arrangements, as your student chap.

Trading Park up facilities for a few hours work here and there.

I can confirm this , sitting n the car for an hour in line for the tip i tried not to have the engine on and not run the heating and i was cold just doing that let alone sleeping overnight in one

 

[Domus]

Funny but true story. Many years ago when I was a Long Distance Walker I did an event In the Lakes. The start/finish was Ambleside Rugby club. All the cars parked on the pitch and when we got back for pie and peas etc went home or the B&B. Two mates we met up with in the pub that night said they were staying in the "Volvo Hotel". ie the estate car at the club.
Met up with them a couple of weeks later and they told me what happened. After a session in the pub they got in their sleeping bags to sleep it off.

They woke up on the Sunday morning desparate for the loo, wiped the condensation off the windows to find themselves blocked in, in the middle of a car boot sale.