Why does not having a valid Tax Disc invalidate insurance
Why does not having a valid Tax Disc invalidate insurance
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Discussion

nickytwohats

Original Poster:

2,093 posts

272 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
quotequote all
?

Plotloss

67,280 posts

301 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
quotequote all
Because the car is automatically unroadworthy presumably?

nickytwohats

Original Poster:

2,093 posts

272 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
quotequote all
roadworthyness isn't anything to do with the tax disc is it.

Plotloss

67,280 posts

301 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
quotequote all
Presumably a the definition of a roadworthy vehicle is one which is fit to drive on the road.

Which without a tax disc, it isnt.

Pickled Piper

6,452 posts

266 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
quotequote all
Is that strictly true? I'm a bit out of date but IIRC under the RTA they have to provide a minimum of third party cover under most circumstances. Your tax disc could have expired but if a local scrote nicks it and causes damage and injury to others then it is your policy that pays up. Perhaps the BiBs could clarify the situation.

Having said that they will try and wrangle out of other liabilities using any technicality known to man. They will also put a whole load of disclaimers in your insurance paperwork, many of which they would have a hard time defending if they are challenged correctly.

pp

flemke

23,508 posts

268 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
quotequote all
So if you have not been able to renew your tax, which expired yesterday, and whilst your car was sitting in your garage this morning it was stolen, your insurance is invalid?
Doesn't seem likely.

GreigM

6,740 posts

280 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
quotequote all
flemke said:
So if you have not been able to renew your tax, which expired yesterday, and whilst your car was sitting in your garage this morning it was stolen, your insurance is invalid?
Doesn't seem likely.

My brother recently had a car stolen off his drive and burnt out - the insurance company (safari animal kind of place) took 2 weeks to check with the dvla if his license was valid and the tax was valid before they would process the claim - WTF!!! So if he'd been banned and left his car on the driveway while taking the bus and it was nicked then they wouldn't pay?? Sounds like just the insurance companies being the low-life scum we all know they are.

micky g

1,578 posts

266 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
quotequote all
It's nonsense, of course it's irrelevant to insurance if your car is taxed or not.

gpshead

657 posts

272 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
quotequote all
I've seen a fair few of the Traffic Cops/Road Wars type programmes. I've seen a fair few people being done for not having taxed vehicles. None of them were automatically done for driving without insurance as well.

I've never heard of the notion of no tax meaning no insurance. Nonsense surely? It doesn't seem quite fair otherwise, especially since insurance costs so much more than tax for many people.

shuvitupya

3,339 posts

248 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
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My insurance policy states that I must have a road fund licence unless SORN, and a valid MOT if required by law.

Liverpool Victoria.

BliarOut

72,863 posts

270 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
quotequote all
It doesn't necessarily. My insurer reduces the payout by 10% if the vehicle is untaxed. It's just a cop out guvnor yes

micky g

1,578 posts

266 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
quotequote all
It doesn't!

Any insurer who tries to underpay because of not having a valid tax disc is wrong.

Richard C

1,685 posts

288 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
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Urban Myth, Absolute Nonsense

xxplod

2,269 posts

275 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
quotequote all
micky g said:
It doesn't!

Any insurer who tries to underpay because of not having a valid tax disc is wrong.

Correct

BliarOut

72,863 posts

270 months

Saturday 19th May 2007
quotequote all
xxplod said:
micky g said:
It doesn't!

Any insurer who tries to underpay because of not having a valid tax disc is wrong.

Correct

Unless they explain the terms and conditions to you when you take the policy out as mine did.

nickytwohats

Original Poster:

2,093 posts

272 months

Sunday 20th May 2007
quotequote all
thanks guys

vonhosen

40,597 posts

248 months

Sunday 20th May 2007
quotequote all
The main thing is they can't avoid their liability in repsect of third parties (which is the only cover you are required to have by law) & as such, you still have insurance.

nickytwohats

Original Poster:

2,093 posts

272 months

Sunday 20th May 2007
quotequote all
As it should be _ thanks Von

Eliminator

762 posts

286 months

Sunday 20th May 2007
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When you take out "Insurance" it is a contract. Read the terms and conditions in the policy document as that is "the contract". If it says "no tax or SORN then no claim" then that's what you get. If there is no mention of the tax disc then it is not relevant to the contractual right you have over the insurance company for payment.

So Safari animal may be right, or not, depending on what the policy says.

Always read the policy, not just the advertising.

Pickled Piper

6,452 posts

266 months

Sunday 20th May 2007
quotequote all
Eliminator said:
When you take out "Insurance" it is a contract. Read the terms and conditions in the policy document as that is "the contract". If it says "no tax or SORN then no claim" then that's what you get. If there is no mention of the tax disc then it is not relevant to the contractual right you have over the insurance company for payment.

So Safari animal may be right, or not, depending on what the policy says.

Always read the policy, not just the advertising.


Not so. The insurance companies would like you to think that this is the case. The insurance co can write what they want to in the contract, however, it must ultimately be fare and reasonable. Insurance company terms have been successfully challenged through the inurance ombudsman and now the FSA. Have a look on the appropriate website for some case histories.

pp