Can/do the Police let insurers know about drink drive

[un1corn]

arrests?

This is something I just thought up, I don't even drink. (The devils poison!)

Local plod twitter lately, shows picture of a crashed BMW stating driver was arrested drink drive. This was a brand new top of the range M4. £60k+

Assuming that persons is charged, can/would the police let the insurers know about the arrest? My understanding is, insurers wont pay out in the event of drink/drug drive.

Otherwise this driver could phone his insurer, tell them he crashed but make no mention of the arrest. He gets the car replaced/repaired, courtesy car in the mean time, and 4 months later is convicted, but still has that 60,000 car to sell or store or whatever.

I would assume its in the interests of insurance fraud, but are they allowed? Are they allowed to tell an insurer even if the driver isnt charged, but released under investigation? I guess the insurers would want to know to put a hold on the claim until the result is determined right?

Because ultimately, this affects us all if drink drivers are getting cars repaired after a crash. Or does some stupid data protection nonsense stop the polic telling insurers?

[edthefed]

Insurance company can / will ask for a copy of the Police accident report.
Can also ask to interview officer in case

[Countdown]

I would be very surprised if they did for ANY offence, including Drink Driving.

[hotchy]

edthefed said:

Insurance company can / will ask for a copy of the Police accident report.
Can also ask to interview officer in case

Never heard of that. I crashed mine and they asked "who was at fault"

"Me"

3 weeks later I had a check. Fair enough the entire accident cost them 2k and not 60.

[ZOLLAR]

In the event of a crash?

Yes it does happen, depends on the OIC and other factors however insurers are pretty switched on in many cases and will carry out enquiries (police reports etc)

[Chris32345]

un1corn said:

arrests?

This is something I just thought up, I don't even drink. (The devils poison!)

Local plod twitter lately, shows picture of a crashed BMW stating driver was arrested drink drive. This was a brand new top of the range M4. £60k+

Assuming that persons is charged, can/would the police let the insurers know about the arrest? My understanding is, insurers wont pay out in the event of drink/drug drive.

Otherwise this driver could phone his insurer, tell them he crashed but make no mention of the arrest. He gets the car replaced/repaired, courtesy car in the mean time, and 4 months later is convicted, but still has that 60,000 car to sell or store or whatever.

I would assume its in the interests of insurance fraud, but are they allowed? Are they allowed to tell an insurer even if the driver isnt charged, but released under investigation? I guess the insurers would want to know to put a hold on the claim until the result is determined right?

Because ultimately, this affects us all if drink drivers are getting cars repaired after a crash. Or does some stupid data protection nonsense stop the polic telling insurers?

Yes as it's a driving offence and carrys points so they will find out at some point

[TwigtheWonderkid]

un1corn said:

My understanding is, insurers wont pay out in the event of drink/drug drive.

That's usually untrue. A few insurers have that clause (companies in the Admiral group) and most insurers will insert that clause if you have a previous drink drive offence in the last 5 years, but for most of us who have never been done in the past, there is no such exclusion.

[guindilias]

Chris32345 said:

Yes as it's a driving offence and carrys points so they will find out at some point

It's a criminal offence, and doesn't carry any points at all.

[Gmlgml]

Countdown said:

I would be very surprised if they did for ANY offence, including Drink Driving.

As well as insurance issues the common law disclosure policy applies.

It used to be called notifiable occupation (so certain job roles teacher, nurse, solicitor etc) would require the police to notify the employer and/or any professional body prior to conviction.

The scenario you outline (drink drive) gets used reasonably often for those who drive for a living. A recent example being a cab driver stopped over the limit with passengers on board.

The taxi licensing authority and his employer were informed.

It is a bit of a faff to do though as it’s needs an Assistant Chief Constable to authorise the form.

This is a bit different of course from notifying an insurance company, they would generally pick it up post event via the DVLA. The onus is on the driver to inform his/her insurance company at the date of conviction but I bet many don’t until renewal. Doing so would invalidate their period of insurance between conviction and renewal.

Edited by Gmlgml on Tuesday 23 April 13:03

[martinbiz]

Gmlgml said:

The onus is on the driver to inform his/her insurance company at the date of conviction but I bet many don’t until renewal. Doing so would invalidate their period of insurance between conviction and renewal.

Edited by Gmlgml on Tuesday 23 April 13:03

Really???? I think you will find they all differ, some require immediate notification of convictions, others on renewal

[Gmlgml]

martinbiz said:

Really???? I think you will find they all differ, some require immediate notification of convictions, others on renewal

That’s no different to what I said.

People do wait until renewal, but they shouldn’t do.

[Lindun]

Isn’t drink driving different though, as one of the basic requirements of it is to have a current valid licence. Once you get banned then your insurance will become void automatically.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Gmlgml said:

martinbiz said:

Really???? I think you will find they all differ, some require immediate notification of convictions, others on renewal

That’s no different to what I said.

People do wait until renewal, but they shouldn’t do.

For a normal conviction with points, you do not have to tell your insurers until the next renewal. Regardless of what your insurer tells you, you are under no obligation to tell them until next renewal. And they are not entitled to be told. If you choose to tell them mid term, they cannot charge you extra for your insurance, but can charge you an admin fee to record the info. Hence wait until renewal, but don't forget.

For any conviction involving a ban, you need to tell them, because you are no longer covered to drive and so either other drivers will become the main user or the vehicle will be left undriven, both of which they are entitled to be told about.