driving uninsured...
Discussion
Never had this happen before....
Insurance renewal due on 2nd May 25 from major car insurer. I phone on 28th April to accept renewal (and to tweak the policy). Spent 30 minutes on the phone- everything renewed, agent confirms i'm insured. Job done.
This morning i get a note from the insurer (whilst I'm in town) that they note i didn't renew, and they are sad to see me go..... askmid confirms i am driving uninsured. The insurer didn't actually renew the policy.
Made a call to the insurer, and the insurer has agreed (having listened to the call recording) that it was absolutely their fault.
Would i be liable under the law for driving around uninsured for the past few days? would i have a defense? if i'd had an accident, what would be the likely outcome?
I've asked for a letter from the insurer to confirm that they would actually have insured me, but they are not forthcoming on this point- which i am VERY surprised about.
Not sure where to go, whether my request is unreasonable, or what i should be considering, beyond, "i might have been pinged by ANPR".
I took insurance from another supplier in the interim (purchased minutes after i receive the note from the insurer)
Insurance renewal due on 2nd May 25 from major car insurer. I phone on 28th April to accept renewal (and to tweak the policy). Spent 30 minutes on the phone- everything renewed, agent confirms i'm insured. Job done.
This morning i get a note from the insurer (whilst I'm in town) that they note i didn't renew, and they are sad to see me go..... askmid confirms i am driving uninsured. The insurer didn't actually renew the policy.
Made a call to the insurer, and the insurer has agreed (having listened to the call recording) that it was absolutely their fault.
Would i be liable under the law for driving around uninsured for the past few days? would i have a defense? if i'd had an accident, what would be the likely outcome?
I've asked for a letter from the insurer to confirm that they would actually have insured me, but they are not forthcoming on this point- which i am VERY surprised about.
Not sure where to go, whether my request is unreasonable, or what i should be considering, beyond, "i might have been pinged by ANPR".
I took insurance from another supplier in the interim (purchased minutes after i receive the note from the insurer)
On the original phone call of 2nd May, did they take payment? I know its not technically anything to do with the later crime you may have committed, but if they never actually took payment, then there is an obvious issue there to alert you to something not right. And if they did, its clearly 100% an admin issue with the insurer.
I imagine if you did get caught with no insurance, it might never make it to court (not in the public interest....) or if it did and you were found guilty, there is the option of a discharge instead of points/fine.
If you actually had an accident in that period (theoretical....) I don't know what the outcome might have been.
I imagine if you did get caught with no insurance, it might never make it to court (not in the public interest....) or if it did and you were found guilty, there is the option of a discharge instead of points/fine.
If you actually had an accident in that period (theoretical....) I don't know what the outcome might have been.
This happened to one of my daughters when she moved to LV. They sent her a thick letter with the policy etc which she didn't open. Then a week or so later another single page letter, which she did open, saying the policy had ended.
Turned out they'd set it up for the previous year, so it expired within a few days.
LV said they would have been "held liable". Apparently it's impossible to backdate insurance.
Advice at the time was that if she'd been stopped she'd have to plead guilty as it's an absolute offence, but in the circumstances should get an absolute discharge.
Turned out they'd set it up for the previous year, so it expired within a few days.
LV said they would have been "held liable". Apparently it's impossible to backdate insurance.
Advice at the time was that if she'd been stopped she'd have to plead guilty as it's an absolute offence, but in the circumstances should get an absolute discharge.
I've had something similar when making some changes at renewal. The insurer said it would need to be a new policy not a renewal, which was fine.
A few weeks later I realise I've not seen the new policy documents. I ring the insurer and they can see the details of the new policy but it's at an odd status that the call handler doesn't recognise.
After a quick investigation they call me back and say it was a problem at their end and I would have been covered.
A few weeks later I realise I've not seen the new policy documents. I ring the insurer and they can see the details of the new policy but it's at an odd status that the call handler doesn't recognise.
After a quick investigation they call me back and say it was a problem at their end and I would have been covered.
paul_c123 said:
On the original phone call of 2nd May, did they take payment? I know its not technically anything to do with the later crime you may have committed, but if they never actually took payment, then there is an obvious issue there to alert you to something not right. And if they did, its clearly 100% an admin issue with the insurer.
I imagine if you did get caught with no insurance, it might never make it to court (not in the public interest....) or if it did and you were found guilty, there is the option of a discharge instead of points/fine.
If you actually had an accident in that period (theoretical....) I don't know what the outcome might have been.
No, the change weade was to go from a n annual payment to direct debit, so no up front payment. The advisor read out the DD guarantee though, after he had taken all my bank details. I imagine if you did get caught with no insurance, it might never make it to court (not in the public interest....) or if it did and you were found guilty, there is the option of a discharge instead of points/fine.
If you actually had an accident in that period (theoretical....) I don't know what the outcome might have been.
I've actually had this happen to me.
With numerous cars and bikes you have to be on the ball with renewal times. Typically Calendar reminders, lists of Policy Numbers against vehicles and expiry dates etc.
I would add, the complete lack of identifying details in emails from Brokers makes searching for info a real pain. I now make point of downloading all paperwork as soon as it arrives and emailing it to myself so it can easily be found.
I got caught via an ANPR camera on one of my cars where similar had happened. Policy auto renewed but actually didn't. I think it was due to the card previously used for payment expiring.
I received a letter in the post and addressed the issue the same day. I think the letter came from MIB.
With numerous cars and bikes you have to be on the ball with renewal times. Typically Calendar reminders, lists of Policy Numbers against vehicles and expiry dates etc.
I would add, the complete lack of identifying details in emails from Brokers makes searching for info a real pain. I now make point of downloading all paperwork as soon as it arrives and emailing it to myself so it can easily be found.
I got caught via an ANPR camera on one of my cars where similar had happened. Policy auto renewed but actually didn't. I think it was due to the card previously used for payment expiring.
I received a letter in the post and addressed the issue the same day. I think the letter came from MIB.
ridds said:
Policy auto renewed but actually didn't. I think it was due to the card previously used for payment expiring.
One of the reasons why we stick with LV, despite some ups and downs with pricing. Exactly the above happened to me. They renewed the policy anyway, then wrote and asked if I'd be so good as to contact them with the new card details.Sheepshanks said:
ridds said:
Policy auto renewed but actually didn't. I think it was due to the card previously used for payment expiring.
One of the reasons why we stick with LV, despite some ups and downs with pricing. Exactly the above happened to me. They renewed the policy anyway, then wrote and asked if I'd be so good as to contact them with the new card details.I'm not a massive fan Auto-renew.
Without it you actually get a letter, touting for your business and a warning you'll be uninsured. The "Continuous Insurance" rules mean that most Brokers apply it automatically now (possibly have to) and also easy business.
On my most recent renewal, I wasn't permitted to renew without putting my card on file for Auto-renew.
I'm pretty sure an IN10 would be far worse than the hassle and expense of 10 phone calls to get a auto-renewed payment returned.
I'm finding my current Brokers are far more competitive come renewal time these days. Does very much depend when renewal time is though.
ridds said:
Without it you actually get a letter, touting for your business and a warning you'll be uninsured.
You get pretty well the same letter with auto-renewal.You then ring up and say you don’t want to auto-renew and they’ll have a go at keeping you. Not always though, a few times I’ve told there’s nothing they can do.
Or you never get around to calling and it just auto-renews, but at least you’re insured.
Sheepshanks said:
You get pretty well the same letter with auto-renewal.
You then ring up and say you don’t want to auto-renew and they’ll have a go at keeping you. Not always though, a few times I’ve told there’s nothing they can do.
Or you never get around to calling and it just auto-renews, but at least you’re insured.
Some Brokers may. The Auto-renew I have experienced typically involves an email, with no reference to the vehicle in question, stating your policy will be renewed. Please log in to view all correspondence.You then ring up and say you don’t want to auto-renew and they’ll have a go at keeping you. Not always though, a few times I’ve told there’s nothing they can do.
Or you never get around to calling and it just auto-renews, but at least you’re insured.
I had this situation recently. Tried to confirm I had re-insured my car. Searched emails for the vehicle Make, Model, Reg, all came up as blanks as very few Brokers (that I have experience of) include any of that information as main body text in emails.
PugwasHDJ80 said:
I've asked for a letter from the insurer to confirm that they would actually have insured me, but they are not forthcoming on this point- which i am VERY surprised about.
Get back on to them, speak to someone senior, and demand they issue a letter of indemnity to cover the period from 2 May until the start date on the certificate they've issued. If in 6 months, someone alleges you hit their car on 3 May, the phone call will have been deleted and they probably won't have any record of these events.
I think someone has allready posted.
There is no option to backdate insurance. It is in existence or it is not at a point in time.
Failure to have valid insurance in place, is the offence. This is what is used where insurance has lapsed, not been renewed.
Driving without valid insurance is a separate offence. Where no policy has been purchased or no previous policy was in place.
There is no option to backdate insurance. It is in existence or it is not at a point in time.
Failure to have valid insurance in place, is the offence. This is what is used where insurance has lapsed, not been renewed.
Driving without valid insurance is a separate offence. Where no policy has been purchased or no previous policy was in place.
cliffords said:
I think someone has allready posted.
There is no option to backdate insurance. It is in existence or it is not at a point in time.
Failure to have valid insurance in place, is the offence. This is what is used where insurance has lapsed, not been renewed.
Driving without valid insurance is a separate offence. Where no policy has been purchased or no previous policy was in place.
An insurer is quite capable of reinstating a previously lapsed or cancelled policy.There is no option to backdate insurance. It is in existence or it is not at a point in time.
Failure to have valid insurance in place, is the offence. This is what is used where insurance has lapsed, not been renewed.
Driving without valid insurance is a separate offence. Where no policy has been purchased or no previous policy was in place.
TownIdiot said:
cliffords said:
I think someone has allready posted.
There is no option to backdate insurance. It is in existence or it is not at a point in time.
Failure to have valid insurance in place, is the offence. This is what is used where insurance has lapsed, not been renewed.
Driving without valid insurance is a separate offence. Where no policy has been purchased or no previous policy was in place.
An insurer is quite capable of reinstating a previously lapsed or cancelled policy.There is no option to backdate insurance. It is in existence or it is not at a point in time.
Failure to have valid insurance in place, is the offence. This is what is used where insurance has lapsed, not been renewed.
Driving without valid insurance is a separate offence. Where no policy has been purchased or no previous policy was in place.
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