Driving without Insurance

[mobbsy30]

Hi, I was pulled over tonight driving my wifes car, and told that the car was showing as uninsured. The car has now been recovered to the police station and having checked for a policy once I got home. It turns out that the policy expired in August and we've missed it somehow. I have insured the car now, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience of likely fine / points?

[langtounlad]

6pts I'm afraid - £150 fine

[mobbsy30]

So, a definite 6 points? I know thats the max fixed penalty but am I guaranteed to get that?

[mobbsy30]

Thanks

[SS2.]

langtounlad said:

6pts I'm afraid - £150 fine

The fixed penalty for driving without insurance is 6 points and £300.

[Sebring440]

mobbsy30 said:

Hi, I was pulled over tonight driving my wifes car, and told that the car was showing as uninsured. The car has now been recovered to the police station and having checked for a policy once I got home. It turns out that the policy expired in August and we've missed it somehow. I have insured the car now, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience of likely fine / points?

Well you've got away with it for three months. So you've saved the cost of three month's insurance. Bargain!

[Sheepshanks]

RK should have got a threatening letter from DVLA if a car is taxed but not insured.


Wonder if wife will get done for permitting?

[CanAm]

O/P, do you have DOC cover under your own policy? (Though this would usually exclude a spouse's car)

[KungFuPanda]

CanAm said:

O/P, do you have DOC cover under your own policy? (Though this would usually exclude a spouse's car)

DOC usually only kicks in if the car been driven has it's own policy in force.

[mobbsy30]

I'm really annoyed with myself for this, but at the end of the day it's my own fault. The policy on the car had expired in August. I was just wondering if the penalty is fixed or if I'll definitely get 6 points and £300, or if theres a chance it could be less

[CanAm]

KungFuPanda said:

CanAm said:

O/P, do you have DOC cover under your own policy? (Though this would usually exclude a spouse's car)

DOC usually only kicks in if the car been driven has it's own policy in force.

Mine certainly does, but it's still worth checking the policy wording.

[SS2.]

A fixed penalty is fixed - if offered, it'll be 6 points and £300.

It's different for matters which are proceeded to court.

[mobbsy30]

Now I have insured the car, should we be able to get the car back tomorrow? It says she needs the V5 the insurance certificate and her driving licence. Then I assume I will recieve either an offer of a fixed penalty or a court summons through the post, is this correct?

[TwigtheWonderkid]

KungFuPanda said:

DOC usually only kicks in if the car been driven has it's own policy in force.

Usually is not always. certainly worth checking your own DOC, if you have DOC.

[numtumfutunch]

I know all about this

Due to laziness Id been with the same insurer for years with the policy on auto renew on my credit card

During our protracted relationship they used to regularly spam my email and phone with offers on life and home insurance

Then one day I got picked up on ANPR for not having insurance
Turns out it was a legitimate pull because I didnt actually have any

For reasons that have never been explained to me the renewal didnt go through despite my card details being unchanged and legit
For more reasons that have never been explained despite spamming me on the phone over a period of several years they didnt actually tell me my policy didnt automatically renew

In my defence I bought my first car when I started work "back in the day" which is also the anniversary of a gazillion work related direct debits so I hadnt realised my car insurance premium hadnt been taken

And relax...............

The result was I drove like Miss Daisy for the 3y I was on 6 points and actually got a taste for it

Moreover the worlds most patient traffic cops let me speak to my insurer on the phone and organise cover to get on my way as they realised I wasnt the usual IN10 perp

As I was desperate and despite being furious with them for letting me down my ex insurer had my details so after a civil chat on the phone with 2 traffic cops sat next to me I renewed with them mainly because they had all my details inc proof of no claims bonus

Ironically and somewhat hilariously as I wasnt insured with them - no sh*t Sherlock!!!!!!!!!!!! - I got a new customer bonus which wiped out my fine and didnt receive a financial penalty for the IN10

It was a while ago and Im fine now, the immediate aftermath wasnt DIRECTly great

Cheers

[matjk]

Only possible get out would be if the insurance company that let the policy expire would write you a letter of indemnity to say they would have covered you in the event of an accident.
I drove around for 4 months with no insurance and only found out when a set of a ANPR camera on a police car.
Called my insurer to find out why that hadn't renewed as requested and they said they didn’t know but as they hadn’t informed me they would right me a letter of indemnity, they also spoke to the police at the road side.
The letter was just a email I had to print out and take to the station. The desk person just looked at it , said fine , ticked something in some kind of register they had and gave the letter back , no points no further action, so your insurer has the power to get you off , (if they want to)

[ridds]

Many insurance co's now have auto renew on policies to prevent situations like this happening. Surprised yours didn't.

You may be able to use that as an angle, unless of course you asked them not to store your payment details on file or you had specifically told them at some point not to auto renew.

[number2]

ridds said:

Many insurance co's now have auto renew on policies to prevent situations like this happening. Surprised yours didn't.

You may be able to use that as an angle, unless of course you asked them not to store your payment details on file or you had specifically told them at some point not to auto renew.

They have auto renew to tie you in ans hope you automatically pay them. They aren't concerned about you driving without insurance.

[mobbsy30]

It's the only time I've ever had a policy that didn't auto renew, I doubt I specifically asked for that, I'll check with my previous insurer

[mattyprice4004]

number2 said:

They have auto renew to tie you in ans hope you automatically pay them. They aren't concerned about you driving without insurance.

The reason they do it doesn’t really matter - the end result is the same.
Auto renewal is very good at avoiding situations like this, having nearly been caught myself!