Advice Needed RE; Insurance and pending conviction

[ungarsee]

I've just been caught doing 55 in a 40 but my insurance is due for renewal on the 9th May. At this point I have the letter requesting the drivers details and 28days to reply.

What I want to know is do I need to declare this? As I am only at the stage of giving them my details I don't know for certain what code to fill in on the form but I assume it will be an SP30. There doesn't seem to be a section for pending conviction.

What do you guys think? Especially anyone who may work for an insurance company as I don't want to invalidate my policy.

Cheers

[peterguk]

I've always been asked for any pending convictions at renewal time.

At the end of the day, the responsibility is on you to declare any relevent info.

[R_U_LOCAL]

If they don't ask for pending convictions, then don't declare it - many insurance companies still only want you to declare convictions.

Look through the renewal very carefully to make sure first, though.

Edited by R_U_LOCAL on Saturday 21st April 23:57

[safespeed]

R_U_LOCAL said:

If they don't ask for pending convictions, then don't declare it - many insurance companies still only want you to declare convictions.

Look through the renewal very carefully to make sure first, though.

I'm not sure this is sufficient. Most policies have a catch-all clause that requires you to 'notify them of anything that may affect their risk'.

This is probably another civil / criminal dividing issue. If they don't ask then I don't expect they could invalidate your legal cover, but I expect they could use it as an excuse to wriggle out of a claim.

I'd say the golden rule with insurance is: declare everything - mainly because in event of a claim the b*stards will do anything they can to wriggle out of paying it.

[ungarsee]

safespeed said:

R_U_LOCAL said:

If they don't ask for pending convictions, then don't declare it - many insurance companies still only want you to declare convictions.

Look through the renewal very carefully to make sure first, though.

I'm not sure this is sufficient. Most policies have a catch-all clause that requires you to 'notify them of anything that may affect their risk'.

This is probably another civil / criminal dividing issue. If they don't ask then I don't expect they could invalidate your legal cover, but I expect they could use it as an excuse to wriggle out of a claim.

I'd say the golden rule with insurance is: declare everything - mainly because in event of a claim the b*stards will do anything they can to wriggle out of paying it.

The problem I'm having is applying on the internet as there's no where to declare it. I think I'll just call them tomorrow and get a name of whoever I speak to. I'm assuming that they'll record the conversation as well so I'll get them to send me the recording just in case under data protection act. (that's if they tell me I don't need to include it)

Cheers for the advice

[SpidermanUK]

R_U_LOCAL said:

If they don't ask for pending convictions, then don't declare it - many insurance companies still only want you to declare convictions.

Look through the renewal very carefully to make sure first, though.

Edited by R_U_LOCAL on Saturday 21st April 23:57

This is the worst possible advice! Declare EVERYTHING, including the stripe on your car and the mud flaps! Insurers are notorious for wriggling in the event of a claim! If they "don't care" about pending prosecutions, then how can it possibly affect you if you tell them?

However, if you don't inform them, and subsequently make a claim, they may use the withholding of information against you! All insurance policies have the world's slimiest clause "you should inform us of everything that may affect our decision to offer cover" or words to that effect. That puts the onus on you to tell them everything, not on them to ask everything!

When a relative of mine was trying to get quotes 6 years after a D/D conviction, he had to ask EVERY call centre muppet "do you REALLY mean "any convictions in the last 5 years?" ", all of them replied "yes, just the last 5 years" when he asked "what about D/D? " they ALL said "Oh! You have to tell us about D/D if it's less than 10 years ago!"

Over-declare, if it doesn't "matter", then it won't affect your premium, if it DOES matter, you'll have proper cover rather than a big legal battle in the event of a claim!

Obviously if you've de-catted your post 92 car.......you have no choice but to keep quiet!

[bigdods]

I only declared my SP30 once I had my licence back with the endorsement. Up until that point you have not been convicted of anything and are therefore presumed innocent. When I rang the 3 insurance companies involved with my different cars they ALL said - no interest to us, just tell us at renewal time.

[chockymonster]

I asked my insurance company when I should declare and they told me only to worry once the points hit my license.

[RedSpike66]

chockymonster said:

I asked my insurance company when I should declare and they told me only to worry once the points hit my license.

I concur with the 'declare everything' mantra, but until convicted, you've nothing to declare - innocent until proven guilty. You absolutely must tell them once you are convicted tho as the last thing you want is your insurance null and void in the event of an accident.

One SP30 doesn't make a huge difference to a quote in my experience (I am over 40 tho) - I've tried various combinations of mileage, convictions, garaged/on drive etc. with these internet sites just to get a feel for the premium difference, but honesty always the best policy with car insurance.