Car insurance and national insurance number

[f1rob]

Just wondered if this is the norm now ?
I have insurance on 3 different cars and never been asked to provide this but my partner just had the renewal come up for her Corsa.
I'm a named driver on her policy and they want copies of our licences and also our national insurance number ????
When I asked why they want it was told that's how they check a licence now ?
Asked why my other 3 insures don't need it and just got told they do
Anyone else had similar

[bigandclever]

Hasn't it been the case for a while now that if a 3rd party wants to check the status of your licence, they can do it with the licence number, your NI number and your post code?

[ralphrj]

To check your driving licence information on the website below they need your NI number.

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

[Mandat]

bigandclever said:

Hasn't it been the case for a while now that if a 3rd party wants to check the status of your licence, they can do it with the licence number, your NI number and your post code?

No. The 3rd party can check the licence status with DVLA when you provide them with a time limited access code.

To generate the access code, you need to login with your licence number, NI number and post code.

That is how it is supposed to work.

[Jakg]

bigandclever said:

Hasn't it been the case for a while now that if a 3rd party wants to check the status of your licence, they can do it with the licence number, your NI number and your post code?

The correct way is for the OP to generate a check code allowing the insurance company to view the information with the (time limited) check code and the last 8 digits of the driving license number.

The government website lists who needs an NI number and even warns that it shouldn't be shared with those who don't need it - https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/your-nationa...

[bigandclever]

Mandat said:

bigandclever said:

Hasn't it been the case for a while now that if a 3rd party wants to check the status of your licence, they can do it with the licence number, your NI number and your post code?

No. The 3rd party can check the licence status with DVLA when you provide them with a time limited access code.

To generate the access code, you need to login with your licence number, NI number and post code.

That is how it is supposed to work.

Yeah, I get that. My assumption(!) was that they're 'helping' by not requesting the check code but would do it on the OP's behalf. But then I did a bit of googling and see that insurers can use the MyLicence service anyway, which doesn't need the NI number, so I dunno

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Mandat said:

bigandclever said:

Hasn't it been the case for a while now that if a 3rd party wants to check the status of your licence, they can do it with the licence number, your NI number and your post code?

No. The 3rd party can check the licence status with DVLA when you provide them with a time limited access code.

To generate the access code, you need to login with your licence number, NI number and post code.

That is how it is supposed to work.

Correct. No way should you give out some call centre button monkey your licence details and your NI number. Just use it to generate your share code. Then you give them that along with the last 8 characters of your licence number, and your post code.

[Ninja59]

As others say you should be able to just generate a share code and not have to share your NI number.

It is for DL service to check your driving history from that aspect.

There is now an online service for you NCD/NCB as well so hopefully we can do away with that nonsense of sending it between insurers etc. as well before long when it becomes more of the "norm".

[Rick101]

Which insurer please?

I'll remember to avoid them in future.

I find companies which shoddy practices like these are usually worth avoiding.

[ZOLLAR]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Mandat said:

bigandclever said:

Hasn't it been the case for a while now that if a 3rd party wants to check the status of your licence, they can do it with the licence number, your NI number and your post code?

No. The 3rd party can check the licence status with DVLA when you provide them with a time limited access code.

To generate the access code, you need to login with your licence number, NI number and post code.

That is how it is supposed to work.

Correct. No way should you give out some call centre button monkey your licence details and your NI number. Just use it to generate your share code. Then you give them that along with the last 8 characters of your licence number, and your post code.

Whilst I agree with your point about the share code (the whole reason it was produced!) a call centre button monkey as you call them could do significantly more damage with all the other information you provide for a policy, the NI really isn't going to make much difference but I'm just arguing the toss there really.

[Rick101]

They are just taking data for the sake of it. If they can't even manage to give you a a sensible reason I'm not sure I have full trust and surety that they will look after my data correctly.

I'm always impressed by Manning, they disconnect the recording software when you give your card details.

I recall questioning why I had to send copies of the BACK of the PAPER driving licence for both named drivers to an insurer once. Their answer...if you don't we'll cancel your insurance. fking s.

Sent them the same one twice. Made me feel a little bit better!

[BobSaunders]

I have just had to forward a photo / copy of my drivers license, front and back, V5C, all pages, and photos of ODO, for my new off road bike.

In the past i have also had to send photos of my drivers license.

It's not new. It's been asked on here before. It's just another way of verifying your identity for some reason.

[Cold]

ZOLLAR said:

Whilst I agree with your point about the share code (the whole reason it was produced!) a call centre button monkey as you call them could do significantly more damage with all the other information you provide for a policy, the NI really isn't going to make much difference but I'm just arguing the toss there really.

I suppose it depends on who they share it with as it's unlikely to sit untouched and unviewed within their own database for too long.

[Toaster Pilot]

Pretty sure they’re misusing the service by pretending to be you using that data.

Admiral asked for a license check when I took out a van policy recently - they asked for a check code as you would expect them to.

[Sheepshanks]

You used to be basically told to keep your NI number secret and the Government prohibited their use for anything but tax and benefits purposes, but they've relaxed their approach greatly in the last few years

[Ninja59]

ZOLLAR said:

Whilst I agree with your point about the share code (the whole reason it was produced!) a call centre button monkey as you call them could do significantly more damage with all the other information you provide for a policy, the NI really isn't going to make much difference but I'm just arguing the toss there really.

Surely though if they are a "low level" and utilise Master Data Management or similar tools then data masking prevents specific information from being available depending on seniority.

I do wonder how collecting an NI number from someone can be justified under GDPR.

[CraigyMc]

ZOLLAR said:

Whilst I agree with your point about the share code (the whole reason it was produced!) a call centre button monkey as you call them could do significantly more damage with all the other information you provide for a policy, the NI really isn't going to make much difference but I'm just arguing the toss there really.

If you really, honestly believe that, print your NI number here and see what happens.

[ZOLLAR]

CraigyMc said:

ZOLLAR said:

Whilst I agree with your point about the share code (the whole reason it was produced!) a call centre button monkey as you call them could do significantly more damage with all the other information you provide for a policy, the NI really isn't going to make much difference but I'm just arguing the toss there really.

If you really, honestly believe that, print your NI number here and see what happens.

I think you misunderstood me, what I'm saying is if they wanted to cause you difficulty then why would they try and get your NI when they have access to your name, DOB, address, contact telephone number, email address, spouse or family members details, vehicle registration, previous addresses or vehicle registrations if you've moved during policy term etc

I didn't say they couldn't do damage only that they don't specifically need it in the first place.

[ZOLLAR]

Ninja59 said:

ZOLLAR said:

Whilst I agree with your point about the share code (the whole reason it was produced!) a call centre button monkey as you call them could do significantly more damage with all the other information you provide for a policy, the NI really isn't going to make much difference but I'm just arguing the toss there really.

Surely though if they are a "low level" and utilise Master Data Management or similar tools then data masking prevents specific information from being available depending on seniority.

I do wonder how collecting an NI number from someone can be justified under GDPR.

As I've mentioned above, policy details will be available to those dealing with policies, basically all of the Customer service, new business or renewals staff including claims as well.

[f1rob]

Thanks for all the replies
Being old school and cautious I'm going to generate a access code and give them that and not disclose my NIN

Edited by f1rob on Tuesday 30th January 12:58