Convicted abroad, do you tell your insurance company?

[MDUBZ]

So.. someone, let’s call him Dave, following an accident, is going to get a drink driving conviction in another continent. Punishment will likely be a fine, possibly a ban, but not prison. Yes Dave is an idiot and can consider himself very lucky no one was seriously hurt.

I think the answer is yes, you should tell your insurance company, as they aren’t specific on geography when they ask you if you have any motoring convictions. I suspect Dave won’t tell his insurance company as he believes, and he is probably right, that there is not a shared database and is unlikely to get found out.

Would you tell your insurance company in the UK if you were Dave and why?

I’m not overly happy about letting Dave off the hook in the UK, but I’m sure it has been a sobering experience, and one he won’t repeat.

To remove any doubt, I’m not Dave and very glad I’m not in this position, and it is not half term, i’m vague for reasons of anonymity (yes I have pics, no I won’t share them, yet, for the same reason).

[Charlie1986]

So it was you that was drunk and had a moment.

If it was me I’d probably say nothing - but also I’ve came home from Germany while serving a 45 day ban and as soon as crossed in to France I was driving…

[MDUBZ]

Ha definitely not me - I wouldn’t have left the party early..

[samjlevy]

How would you even declare it, there is no category code?

I’m not sure the insurance company would have any idea what to do or what to class it as on their systems. I wouldn’t bother disclosing an offence from another county.

[caziques]

I wouldn't say anything to a UK insurance company, almost impossible for them to find out.

The only issue would be driving in that country in the future, if that isn't done then there won't be any repercussions.

[Durzel]

Morally I’d feel like I should, but practically there’s no way for the insurance to record it given that driving offences (including drink driving) have offence codes that don’t apply if you’ve not been convicted in the UK.

Even non-motoring ones I’m not sure you can really declare when you’ve not been convicted over here.

[GasEngineer]

Does a driving ban only apply to the country it was issued in? If Dave has a UK licence how would the German ban apply ?

[vikingaero]

I think the way the Insurers word the questions covers them more than you. It's often something as simple as "Do you have any convictions?" and doesn't specify UK only. To claim that it is a Continental only conviction puts you on thin ice with disclosure and utmost good faith. Each to their own and it's up to your friend to take the risk.

[DodgyGeezer]

GasEngineer said:

Does a driving ban only apply to the country it was issued in? If Dave has a UK licence how would the German ban apply ?

Dave's ban was on another continent, so in his case: shut up and learn your lesson

[martinbiz]

GasEngineer said:

Does a driving ban only apply to the country it was issued in? If Dave has a UK licence how would the German ban apply ?

It wouldn’t unless the country concerned has a reciprocal agreement with the UK

[Phil Dicky]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

This is so true.

[martinbiz]

caziques said:

I wouldn't say anything to a UK insurance company, almost impossible for them to find out.

It really wouldn’t be, especially as the conviction was a result of the accident

[MDUBZ]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I’m not really into sweeping generalisations, but yeah, in this case it is a concern as he is mixing in an expat community with drinking at it’s core. I think back in the UK, removed from that culture his behaviour will be different but I’m worried for his and others safety, but that is a separate issue that needs dealing with.

[MDUBZ]

DodgyGeezer said:

Dave's ban was on another continent, so in his case: shut up and learn your lesson

the username looks like it might check out I agree I think this is probably the most prudent approach. I can’t find anything about a reciprocal agreement.

[martinbiz]

Phil Dicky said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

This is so true.

I suspect that is just your gut feeling and not from a reliable source, very easy to check the percentage of re offending for drink driving, it’s around 10%

[TwigtheWonderkid]

martinbiz said:

Phil Dicky said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

This is so true.

I suspect that is just your gut feeling and not from a reliable source, very easy to check the percentage of re offending for drink driving, it’s around 10%

The problem for insurance companies and drink drivers isn't the reoffending risk. As you rightly point out, once caught, most drink drivers do not do it again. But getting done for drink driving tells an insurance company (in general terms) something about that driver's mentality. They are risk takers, they don't care about other road users etc.

Someone who drinks and drives is the same person that gambles the amber light, overtakes on the double white lines etc. They may not drink and drive again, but their personality won't change.

That's why people with drink drive offences have more claims than other drivers, even if they never drink again, and why insurance companies charge them more.

[mattyprice4004]

Charlie1986 said:

So it was you that was drunk and had a moment.

If it was me I’d probably say nothing - but also I’ve came home from Germany while serving a 45 day ban and as soon as crossed in to France I was driving…

Replies like this are why I love PH.
Poster one: 'The sky is blue'
This reply: 'THE SKY IS OBVIOUSLY BRIGHT RED'

[Solocle]

martinbiz said:

I suspect that is just your gut feeling and not from a reliable source, very easy to check the percentage of re offending for drink driving, it’s around 10%

That's not the percentage reoffending, that's the percentage who get caught reoffending.

How many people on 3 points stop speeding altogether? How many of them go on to be on 6 points?

[GasEngineer]

martinbiz said:

GasEngineer said:

Does a driving ban only apply to the country it was issued in? If Dave has a UK licence how would the German ban apply ?

It wouldn’t unless the country concerned has a reciprocal agreement with the UK

But wasn't he driving in Germany on a UK licence covered by his UK insurance driving abroad cover?

[Phil Dicky]

martinbiz said:

Phil Dicky said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

This is so true.

I suspect that is just your gut feeling and not from a reliable source, very easy to check the percentage of re offending for drink driving, it’s around 10%

Ex Police so not really gut feeling and you're basing your comment on those caught. Though to be fair I've been out 20 years so my views could easily be way off the mark now.