Is your car insurance valid?
Research out today from Confused.com has found that as many as one in four drivers could be at risk of invalidating their car insurance because they have failed to inform their insurer of motoring convictions or points on their license before renewing their policy.
96% of drivers are apparently aware that manipulating the truth about their car and driving history could invalidate any claim. Motorists seem willing to take a risk hoping they won’t be caught out.
The research found that a quarter of all car owners think it’s ok to be manipulative with the truth when looking for the cheapest car insurance. However, this in itself could leave drivers high and dry when it comes to making a claim.
Debra Williams, Confused.com Managing Director said: “Insurers take a dim view of people who don’t update them immediately should their circumstances change. Changes in job title or annual mileage may seem insignificant to most drivers, but this can significantly affect your premiums. If you are caught lying about your details, your insurer can reduce your pay out and may even refuse to pay at all.
“If you move address, receive points for a driving conviction or have an accident, even if that is only a minor knock or ding, you need to notify your insurer immediately. Don’t risk waiting until your policy is up for renewal, as if you need to make a claim and a previous incident has not been reported, you could find that your policy isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.
”Debra continued: “In the worst case scenario you could land yourself in hot water with the police and get a record for fraud, making it difficult and considerably more expensive to get cover in the future.”