drink driving and insurance

[wjwren]

Just watching Police Interceptors, chap smashed his car up while drunk. What are the consequences, if any for him and his insurance? Would the insurance pay out as if it was a normal crash? What about drug driving, the same?

[Eyersey1234]

I believe they have to pay out a 3rd party claim but no idea if the drunk driver would be covered for damage to their own car.

[Jamescrs]

I believe there is normally wording in the T&C's of the policy but as a rule of thumb the insurer will pay out to any third party but will not pay out for the drunk drivers own damage and on top of that they will often seek to claim the third party costs paid out back from the drunk driver.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Most policies do not have any exclusion and pay out for own damage even if drunk. So do have an exclusion, and some only put an exclusion on for drivers with a previous drink/drive offence.

[shep1001]

Out of curiosity, I checked mine. 3rd party liability only if convicted of being unfit to drive through drink or drugs for any person on the policy. KGM are the underwriters

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Mine has no such restriction. Aviva.

[Dave Hedgehog]

wjwren said:

Just watching Police Interceptors, chap smashed his car up while drunk. What are the consequences, if any for him and his insurance? Would the insurance pay out as if it was a normal crash? What about drug driving, the same?

my friend had an accident the morning after and blew over the limit

insurance would not pay out on his lease car, he had to fix it as they would have sued him

insurance paid out for third party damage and then successfully sued him in court for the bill plus costs

on top of an 18 month ban, huge fine and increased insurance premiums for 10 years once he started driving again

Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Thursday 24th October 15:11

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Dave Hedgehog said:

wjwren said:

Just watching Police Interceptors, chap smashed his car up while drunk. What are the consequences, if any for him and his insurance? Would the insurance pay out as if it was a normal crash? What about drug driving, the same?

my friend had an accident the morning after and blew over the limit

insurance would not pay out on his lease car, he had to fix it as they would have sued him

insurance paid out for third party damage and then successfully sued him in court for the bill plus costs

on top of an 18 month ban, huge fine and increased insurance premiums for 10 years once he started driving again

Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Thursday 24th October 15:11

Sounds like he had a really crappy policy. And insurers can only charge additional premiums for up to 5 years from date of offence on a drink/drive, so 3.5 years from when he got his licence back.