Speed Awareness Course - effect on insurance
Discussion
Hi,
My wife has just received her first NIP after 18+ years driving, clocked at 35 in a 30 zone. It looks like she'll be offered the chance of a Speed Awareness Course instead of getting the fine + points, but if she does the course do we need to advise her insurer?
I've seen plenty of internet opinion that says the insurer doesn't need to know, but technically she has committed an offence, so I guess it depends on whether or not she is classed as having been convicted (as that's the question the insurance companies ask - "any convictions in the last 5 years?").
Any advice would be appreciated.
My wife has just received her first NIP after 18+ years driving, clocked at 35 in a 30 zone. It looks like she'll be offered the chance of a Speed Awareness Course instead of getting the fine + points, but if she does the course do we need to advise her insurer?
I've seen plenty of internet opinion that says the insurer doesn't need to know, but technically she has committed an offence, so I guess it depends on whether or not she is classed as having been convicted (as that's the question the insurance companies ask - "any convictions in the last 5 years?").
Any advice would be appreciated.
Bloke taking the course I went on specifically told us that we had not been convicted of any offense and we did not have to disclose that we'd been on the course to anyone - particularly our insurers.
Of course if the insurers start to include a "have you been on a speed awareness course?" type question it coudl cause problems.....
Of course if the insurers start to include a "have you been on a speed awareness course?" type question it coudl cause problems.....
Dan_1981 said:
Bloke taking the course I went on specifically told us that we had not been convicted of any offense and we did not have to disclose that we'd been on the course to anyone - particularly our insurers.
Of course if the insurers start to include a "have you been on a speed awareness course?" type question it coudl cause problems.....
Why would an insurer consider a person who has attended a course a greater risk than one who hasn't? Surely a repentant sinner, especially one who has been educated in the error of their ways, is a good bet as far as safety is concerned.Of course if the insurers start to include a "have you been on a speed awareness course?" type question it coudl cause problems.....
i just renewed my insurance, after much on line searching, several of the providers had a tick box asking had i attended a SAC in the past 3 years, i wonder what would happen if i had been on a course said no on the insurance application, oh i know insurance is void,
not everyone asked but i i wonder how long before they do
not everyone asked but i i wonder how long before they do
wonkysid said:
i wonder what would happen if i had been on a course said no on the insurance application, oh i know insurance is void,
If they could find out maybe so.But is the database not private and only for the purpose of administering the schemes? If so it may be unlawful to divulge the contents.
Likewise, can insurance co's ask the Police about your convictions? Of course with convictions, production of your licence is the obvious way of proving what you have/haven't got points for.
daz3210 said:
wonkysid said:
i wonder what would happen if i had been on a course said no on the insurance application, oh i know insurance is void,
If they could find out maybe so.But is the database not private and only for the purpose of administering the schemes? If so it may be unlawful to divulge the contents.
Likewise, can insurance co's ask the Police about your convictions? Of course with convictions, production of your licence is the obvious way of proving what you have/haven't got points for.
wonkysid said:
daz3210 said:
wonkysid said:
i wonder what would happen if i had been on a course said no on the insurance application, oh i know insurance is void,
If they could find out maybe so.But is the database not private and only for the purpose of administering the schemes? If so it may be unlawful to divulge the contents.
Likewise, can insurance co's ask the Police about your convictions? Of course with convictions, production of your licence is the obvious way of proving what you have/haven't got points for.
So does that mean the law says you don't have to declare? If so non-declaration should carry no penalty.
Guess we need a case in court before we will know for sure.
http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/transport/roadsafe...
"Remember, if you are eligible and elect to take the Speed Awareness Course, you do not have to pay the fine, you won't get the penalty points and above all, you don't have to tell your insurance company because the speeding offence is cancelled.
If you decide not to take the course option, under the terms of your insurance policy you are required to notify them of any prosecutions. It is not uncommon for insurance costs to rise at a rate of £50 per penalty point for a period of up to five years."
"Remember, if you are eligible and elect to take the Speed Awareness Course, you do not have to pay the fine, you won't get the penalty points and above all, you don't have to tell your insurance company because the speeding offence is cancelled.
If you decide not to take the course option, under the terms of your insurance policy you are required to notify them of any prosecutions. It is not uncommon for insurance costs to rise at a rate of £50 per penalty point for a period of up to five years."
Course yesterday...
My experience:
Started with tables arranged to make up four larger with 6 or 7 chairs - very cozy!
Tutor a bit over-the-top in being Mr Nice!
Started well with lots of laughing and jokes to break the ice, but I got the distinct feeling things would change...
Then the condesending attitute for Mr Tutor began to show more and more and the relevence to speeding less and less - most of the deliverance was highway code stuff and going on and on about how he was an advanced driver ... not necessarily related to speeding issues in itself...
Think most there began to feel Mr Condescending was going over the top to the point of not wishing to discuss anything but dictating towards the end...
Not what I expected.
I can see new drivers getting some useful stuff from this, but then most were almost geriatric in age, most had inadvertantly gone over the limit by a small fraction, only one admitted to a 'speed problem' ie they knowingly did it.
Would I go again if even offered?
Probably not!
My experience:
Started with tables arranged to make up four larger with 6 or 7 chairs - very cozy!
Tutor a bit over-the-top in being Mr Nice!
Started well with lots of laughing and jokes to break the ice, but I got the distinct feeling things would change...
Then the condesending attitute for Mr Tutor began to show more and more and the relevence to speeding less and less - most of the deliverance was highway code stuff and going on and on about how he was an advanced driver ... not necessarily related to speeding issues in itself...
Think most there began to feel Mr Condescending was going over the top to the point of not wishing to discuss anything but dictating towards the end...
Not what I expected.
I can see new drivers getting some useful stuff from this, but then most were almost geriatric in age, most had inadvertantly gone over the limit by a small fraction, only one admitted to a 'speed problem' ie they knowingly did it.
Would I go again if even offered?
Probably not!
Ganglandboss said:
http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/transport/roadsafe...
"Remember, if you are eligible and elect to take the Speed Awareness Course, you do not have to pay the fine, you won't get the penalty points and above all, you don't have to tell your insurance company because the speeding offence is cancelled.
If you decide not to take the course option, under the terms of your insurance policy you are required to notify them of any prosecutions. It is not uncommon for insurance costs to rise at a rate of £50 per penalty point for a period of up to five years."
"Remember, if you are eligible and elect to take the Speed Awareness Course, you do not have to pay the fine, you won't get the penalty points and above all, you don't have to tell your insurance company because the speeding offence is cancelled.
If you decide not to take the course option, under the terms of your insurance policy you are required to notify them of any prosecutions. It is not uncommon for insurance costs to rise at a rate of £50 per penalty point for a period of up to five years."
wonkysid said:
i just renewed my insurance, after much on line searching, several of the providers had a tick box asking had i attended a SAC in the past 3 years, ...
Believe your insurer, not the SAC organiser.Streaky
streaky said:
Ganglandboss said:
http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/transport/roadsafe...
"Remember, if you are eligible and elect to take the Speed Awareness Course, you do not have to pay the fine, you won't get the penalty points and above all, you don't have to tell your insurance company because the speeding offence is cancelled.
If you decide not to take the course option, under the terms of your insurance policy you are required to notify them of any prosecutions. It is not uncommon for insurance costs to rise at a rate of £50 per penalty point for a period of up to five years."
"Remember, if you are eligible and elect to take the Speed Awareness Course, you do not have to pay the fine, you won't get the penalty points and above all, you don't have to tell your insurance company because the speeding offence is cancelled.
If you decide not to take the course option, under the terms of your insurance policy you are required to notify them of any prosecutions. It is not uncommon for insurance costs to rise at a rate of £50 per penalty point for a period of up to five years."
wonkysid said:
i just renewed my insurance, after much on line searching, several of the providers had a tick box asking had i attended a SAC in the past 3 years, ...
Believe your insurer, not the SAC organiser.Streaky
streaky said:
Ganglandboss said:
http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/transport/roadsafe...
"Remember, if you are eligible and elect to take the Speed Awareness Course, you do not have to pay the fine, you won't get the penalty points and above all, you don't have to tell your insurance company because the speeding offence is cancelled.
If you decide not to take the course option, under the terms of your insurance policy you are required to notify them of any prosecutions. It is not uncommon for insurance costs to rise at a rate of £50 per penalty point for a period of up to five years."
"Remember, if you are eligible and elect to take the Speed Awareness Course, you do not have to pay the fine, you won't get the penalty points and above all, you don't have to tell your insurance company because the speeding offence is cancelled.
If you decide not to take the course option, under the terms of your insurance policy you are required to notify them of any prosecutions. It is not uncommon for insurance costs to rise at a rate of £50 per penalty point for a period of up to five years."
wonkysid said:
i just renewed my insurance, after much on line searching, several of the providers had a tick box asking had i attended a SAC in the past 3 years, ...
Believe your insurer, not the SAC organiser.Streaky
If they don't explicitly ask then you are under no obligation to volunteer the information as it does not form part of the contract.
Watch out using price comparison sites. They typically don't ask about SAC. I had to use admirals web site as I couldn't specify my exact car on the comparison site I tried first and realised they want to know. I imagine if I'd bought the admiral policy from the comparison site I'd have been sent the paperwork and asked to check and missed it in the small print. I've no idea what would happen in such a case but you get the feeling they don't much of an excuse to wriggle.
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