Speeding fines and insurance

caveman · 03-12-2006, 12:17

Put me wise guys am i a p**t.
Six months ago I got a speeding fine (camera) and the statutory 3 points and Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£60 fine. Because I had the misfortune to have a couple of accidents in the last 2 years - one a right off - I informed my insurance company. I increase on my premium at renewal was Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£40, not too bad you say. The thing is I am informed that I will pay that for 5 years which makes it Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£200.
When I asked my some friends if they has similar convictions and what hike in premium they had incurred. Two said they had but not informed their insurance companies.
Now that got me thinking. I -as I already mentioned - had 2 accidents recently, but on neither occasion did the ins. co. ask to see my licence.
My question is, under what circumstances would they have found out about my conviction if at all. I spoke to them off the record to ask these questions and got the impression that they would never ask for my licence but thanks for being honest.
I don't like being honest if it costs me loads of dosh. What do you guys feel have you had any experiences with fines and insurance.

**Derek** · 03-12-2006, 12:24

I suppose they could always refuse to pay out on a claim if they find out. It's not unknown for undeclared modifications to a car to invalidate the policy.

There is a pretty good summary here.

**Rob** · 03-12-2006, 12:25

The issue is that the insurance policy says you have to declare these things. If you don't and you subsequently claim, you run the risk of having your claim dissallowed. The risks are probably low for third parties but if you are trying to get your own car repaired, that's where you could be out of pocket.

03-12-2006, 12:44

You have to disclose all driving offences when taking out you insurance, failing to do so leaves you with no insurance, basically you've shelled out on a policy that's not worth the paper it's written on. What would happen if you hit another driver??? No Insurance, be honest with things like this you never know what's round the corner when your driving.

caveman · 03-12-2006, 12:58

The question I am really asking is do the insurance co.s check. After all as I said i've had 2 accidents in the last 18 months and on neither occasion has the ins. co. asked to see my license and both were my fault.
Would you assume that they have done their own checks. I am also led to believe by my IC Direct Line that they don't check.

**Rob** · 03-12-2006, 13:05

I doubt very much that insurers would need to see your licence. They'd just make enquiries to DVLA. After all they feed lots of information into such systems - the police know if your car has current insurance for example - and share info amongst themselves too.

SnoopZ · 03-12-2006, 13:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

I doubt very much that insurers would need to see your licence. They'd just make enquiries to DVLA. After all they feed lots of information into such systems - the police know if your car has current insurance for example - and share info amongst themselves too.

That's correct, everything is on computer and they won't need to see your licence to know whether you have points on it or not, or whether you have ever been in an accident.

Dan_Sette · 03-12-2006, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

That's correct, everything is on computer and they won't need to see your licence to know whether you have points on it or not, or whether you have ever been in an accident.

Absolutely correct.

The police know if you haven't taxed our car, if it isn't MOT'd and if it is not insured.

In one major city, where I was lucky (?) enough to see the start of a national roll out of equipment, EVERY, car driving into the city centre was checked, if no insurance etc was registered the computer printed out the summons and sent it in the post.

Similarly, if you declare to you insurance company everything is ok, they will check the DVLA for fines and convictions, automatically when you insure and at any renewal.

It ain't woth the risk.

D

TheNorm · 03-12-2006, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan_Sette

...Similarly, if you declare to you insurance company everything is ok, they will check the DVLA for fines and convictions, automatically when you insure and at any renewal...

So why do they insist on asking all those questions every year when I go through the "try to find the cheapest renewal" routine?

caveman · 03-12-2006, 22:03

I can't see how that can be true. I know a number of people with speeding fines who haven't told their insurance companies and they renew without difficulty every year. I am not too sure if they have claimed but their premium is accepted without question as though the companies are not aware of the convictions.

SnoopZ · 03-12-2006, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNorm

So why do they insist on asking all those questions every year when I go through the "try to find the cheapest renewal" routine?

It's upto you to declare it and not for them to check. In the event of an accident they will check and if something isn't correct it might invalidate your insurance which of course works infavour of the insurance company as they then haven't got to payout stacks of cash to settle the claim.

Aragorn · 03-12-2006, 22:10

This page maybe of help -

Quote:

....
Speeding Convictions - Insurers know that there is a connection between the number of speeding convictions a person may have and their likelihood of making an insurance claim. So people with speeding convictions are likely to face higher premiums until their driving record improves.
.....
Tell Your Insurer - You must tell your insurer of any changes in the details you have provided such as address, occupation, type of car and motoring convictions including fixed penalties.
Remember - not only is it an offence under the Road Traffic Act to make a false statement or withhold information for the purposes of obtaining a certificate of motor insurance, but it may also invalidate your policy.

HTH

Chris W · 04-12-2006, 00:50

When i had TPFT insurance the 6 points i've got didn't make too much difference to the premium, but when i went fully comp they made a much bigger difference.

Janusian · 04-12-2006, 10:45

The insurance company will only normally check in the event of a claim either by a copy of the licence or direct with the DVLA, (there would normally be a permission clause on the claim form).

In the event of there being undisclosed convictions, then what happens next depends on whether the insurance company would have accepted you as a risk with the convictions disclosed. If they would have, but with an increased premium and/or excess then they would ask for that premium and the increased excess at that point. If they would not have accepted you had you disclosed the convictions then they are within their rights to void the policy. In that case they would still have to deal with the third party claim, but no element of your own. They are also then technically also within their rights to reclaim any losses they pay out from you.

This is why the modifications issue is more of a risk. Most insurance companies don't accept cars that have been modified in any shape or form, so this is more likely to lead to avoidance of the policy.

In any case it is not worth the risk. Avoidance of a policy could leave you open to a potentially ruinous bill.

Angua · 04-12-2006, 10:53

And as for the two accidents if they did not put points on your license there would be no need whatsoever for the insurance company to see it.

As for avoiding paying the extra by withholding information, should you have an accident you will not be covered by insurance and the other driver could well sue you directly if it was your fault.