Renewing insurance when told by doctors not to drive
Discussion
I have an existing policy on my Skoda Octavia which is due for renewal within days. Due to health issue back in September, I have been told by doctors not to drive currently – which of course I haven’t. This is not a long term situation and hope to be given the OK soon.
My wife still drives the car as she is a named driver on the policy.
I have tried to contact my insurance company to discuss but it’s an internet only policy and there appears to be no way to speak to an human being. When I find what appears to be the correct screen on their webpage, where I tick a box that marries up with being told by my doctor not to drive, I get the response “Sorry, you are not eligible for cover”.
I have tried emailing the company to see what options I have and await their response.
Curious whether anyone else has been in this situation and how it was address. Any thoughts on whether a company would insure me as the main driver, with my wife as a named driver. even though I’m not permitted to drive currently?
TIA
My wife still drives the car as she is a named driver on the policy.
I have tried to contact my insurance company to discuss but it’s an internet only policy and there appears to be no way to speak to an human being. When I find what appears to be the correct screen on their webpage, where I tick a box that marries up with being told by my doctor not to drive, I get the response “Sorry, you are not eligible for cover”.
I have tried emailing the company to see what options I have and await their response.
Curious whether anyone else has been in this situation and how it was address. Any thoughts on whether a company would insure me as the main driver, with my wife as a named driver. even though I’m not permitted to drive currently?
TIA
"Why would you tell them?"
Well, call me naive but I have worked on the basis of not keeping anything from an insurance company just in case that one day you need to make a claim they'll wriggle out of it if the can. Although admittingly in the current situation a claim would only come about if my wife was driving or it got nicked.
But food for thought
Well, call me naive but I have worked on the basis of not keeping anything from an insurance company just in case that one day you need to make a claim they'll wriggle out of it if the can. Although admittingly in the current situation a claim would only come about if my wife was driving or it got nicked.
But food for thought
Have you handed in your licence OP, or is this just "advice" from the doctor? If the former, I think most (perhaps all) insurance policies have a clause stating you have to tell the insurer; if the latter, I don't think there's any reason to inform them although obviously if it drags on, you may have to change the main driver over to your wife if she ends up using the car more than you over the course of the policy.
ThunderSpook said:
Why would you tell them? Just don’t drive the car until you’re allowed to if it’s only temporary.
This. Follow you doctor/consultants advice, but leave it until next renewal. If you still are advised not to drive, insure it in your wife’s name. My take is, you have not been advised to surrender your licence. So, if you don’t need to inform the DVLA, you don’t need to tell the insurance company.
Mammasaid said:
In addition, if you're not allowed to drive how can you be the main driver?
Get your wife to insure the car as main driver, and then when you're allowed to drive again tell your insurance company and make yourself the main driver.
Your NCD is valid for 2 years, so you won't lose it.
He can probably keep his existing policy but just change the details to note his wife as main driver. The policy can remain in his name, I insure my car with my wife a the additional driver, but also the main driver, as she drives the car far more than I do. Get your wife to insure the car as main driver, and then when you're allowed to drive again tell your insurance company and make yourself the main driver.
Your NCD is valid for 2 years, so you won't lose it.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Mammasaid said:
In addition, if you're not allowed to drive how can you be the main driver?
Get your wife to insure the car as main driver, and then when you're allowed to drive again tell your insurance company and make yourself the main driver.
Your NCD is valid for 2 years, so you won't lose it.
He can probably keep his existing policy but just change the details to note his wife as main driver. The policy can remain in his name, I insure my car with my wife a the additional driver, but also the main driver. Get your wife to insure the car as main driver, and then when you're allowed to drive again tell your insurance company and make yourself the main driver.
Your NCD is valid for 2 years, so you won't lose it.
Thanks for all the replies.
I have now got it sorted. Cancelled the upcoming policy renewal and taken out a replacement with another company which had an actual human on the end of the phone where I could discuss the 'challenges of my circumstances' with.
Basically, the policy remains in my name and my wife is down as the main driver. When I start driving again (hopefiully soon!), a simple phone call reverts to me becoming the main driver and my wife as a named driver.
Yes, it is a bit more in cost but realising that 'cheap' internet only based policies are OK for maybe 80% of the population but not for the 20% who have different circumstances that need catering for .
I have now got it sorted. Cancelled the upcoming policy renewal and taken out a replacement with another company which had an actual human on the end of the phone where I could discuss the 'challenges of my circumstances' with.
Basically, the policy remains in my name and my wife is down as the main driver. When I start driving again (hopefiully soon!), a simple phone call reverts to me becoming the main driver and my wife as a named driver.
Yes, it is a bit more in cost but realising that 'cheap' internet only based policies are OK for maybe 80% of the population but not for the 20% who have different circumstances that need catering for .
Sinbad1900 said:
Yes, it is a bit more in cost but realising that 'cheap' internet only based policies are OK for maybe 80% of the population but not for the 20% who have different circumstances that need catering for .
In reality, it's probably a 95/5% split between bog standard cover and unusual circumstances. The worry is, with 95% of the population happy to grab online cheapo insurance, is there enough business for it be sustainable for other firms to employ humans to listen to the 5%'s issues. And if not, and they call it a day, what happens to that 5%? jeremyh1 said:
Just renew it there is no risk if you don't drive
The doctor stopped you from driving he did not stop you from insuring the car
OP has solved the problem (in the way I would have suggested, had I seen it earlier) so this is moot, but, what if the car was stolen and the insurance company turns around and says 'well, we would not have covered you at all had we known about the doctor's order, so your policy is void', which the 'sorry, you are not eligible' in the OP suggests could be the case.The doctor stopped you from driving he did not stop you from insuring the car
I'm not sure I'd want to risk that for the sake of a bit of admin.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
In reality, it's probably a 95/5% split between bog standard cover and unusual circumstances. The worry is, with 95% of the population happy to grab online cheapo insurance, is there enough business for it be sustainable for other firms to employ humans to listen to the 5%'s issues. And if not, and they call it a day, what happens to that 5%?
I think that so long as someone can make money on the non bog standard cases then they will provide cover - for a price. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff