DVLA License Revoked - Insurance want to cancel?

[TLR]

Hi guys,

Afraid to say this is quite a long winded one, and I'm really stuck with what to do, I'll try and outline this as clearly as possible.

I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnoea around November time last year. I informed the DVLA who said they would send me some paperwork to fill in ("LETTER 1") and send back.

I filled this paperwork in (Form CONSENT and POSSIBLY Form SL1) and sent it back to them, shortly after I sent the paperwork back I received a letter dated around 12th Jan 2008 ("LETTER 2") saying "We haven't received the documentation we sent you, if you've sent it, ignore this letter, but your
license will be revoked on the 18th Jan 2008 if you've not sent them".

The letter had been sent second class, so I wouldn't have had a chance to respond to LETTER 2 in time for the 18th January.

LETTER 2 contained a medical CONSENT Form and Form SL1.

I ignored this letter, as to the best of my knowledge I had posted the information they had wanted back to them.

I received a letter dated 14th February 2008 ("LETTER 3") on the 20th February saying that my license was revoked from the 18th January and if I am still using this license, I am committing an offence and need to return it.

I phoned the DVLA and apparently they didn't receive the Form SL1 that they apparently sent enclosed in LETTER 1.

I don't remember them sending form SL1 the first time, they said it was in LETTER 1 (same as the CONSENT form, which I had sent back and they confirmed they received), but the license was revoked due to them not receiving SL1.

Why would I of not filled out SL1 if I had got it the first time? I'm not stupid, and searching my house hasn't turned it up anywhere.

The only time I received SL1 (To my best knowledge) was when they sent LETTER 2, by which time it was too late to send back anyway, I ignored this letter

at the time as I was sure I had sent all of the documents back that they required.

I contacted my insurance company saying that my license was revoked due to a paperwork error with the DVLA, and as soon as I send a Form D1, Form SL1 and Form CONSENT I can have my license back.

My insurance company wanted to cancel my policy straight away, but I managed to get them to give me SEVEN days to get my license back.

I've faxed ALL the documents the DVLA require today (26th), but I am not confident that I will get the license back in 7 days.

What can I do? Obviously I don't want to have insurance cancelled on me, as this would make me uninsurable in the future.

Can the insurance give me a 7 day time limit? As they must know that that is unreasonable, DVLA turnaround is 3 weeks, providing they don't need to write to my Dr.

Would I need to notify all my next insurers that I've had my license revoked? Would I be better off voluntarily cancelling this insurance policy and losing 8 months of NCB build-up?

My license has been revoked through them not receiving the forms, not because of medical reasons.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

TL

[KeithP]

Can they cancel your policy because you no longer have a licence?
What about all the other parts of a policy apart from the actual driving? E.g. theft of car, theft from car, etc.
If your car is parked on the road, and not being driven (because you have no licence), it still needs to be insured. Maybe it is still being driven by another driver on your policy.
Lots of questions here. Sorry, I do not have the answers though.

[TLR]

Well apparently no license = no cover at all for them.

I'm going to have to cancel manually, at least if I do it I won't become totally uninsurable.

It's not parked ont he road.

T

[Conor]

You wouldn't be uninsurable anyway even if they cancelled because of the reason it was cancelled. Don't know where you heard that.

[TLR]

I did a quick online quote on www.ebikeinsurance.co.uk and it asks the question:

"Has this rider been refused insurance, or had insurance withdrawn in the last 5 years?"

When answering "Yes" to that (Which I'd have to I imagine if my company cancel on me due to the DVLA revoking my license) my insurance quote jumps from £2000 to £10500.

Thanks,

T

[N79]

Your problem might be that your policy is a "normal" policy where the main driver is the proposer. Since you do not have a licence, you can not be the main driver! If there are other named drivers on the policy then one of them has become defacto the main driver.

I would suggest that you ask your insurance company if you can convert to a "commercial" policy where the poposer is not the main driver for a short period while you deal with the DVLA.

Finally, and in the interest of clarity, if you write to DVLA licence is the noun and license the verb.

N79

[TLR]

Your problem might be that your policy is a "normal" policy where the main driver is the proposer. Since you do not have a licence, you can not be the main driver! If there are other named drivers on the policy then one of them has become de facto the main driver.

I would suggest that you ask your insurance company if you can convert to a "commercial" policy where the proposer is not the main driver for a short period while you deal with the DVLA.

Finally, and in the interest of clarity, if you write to DVLA licence is the noun and license the verb.

N79

Sorry about that, my spelling is atrocious :)

Unfortunately the insurance company wanted to cancel the policy instantly, it took me speaking to 3 people and pleading for almost an hour for them to give me 7 days to get it sorted.

I'm worried that if I get onto them again they're just going to cancel it instantly.

Thanks,

T

[N79]

No need to apologise, I was seeked to educate not criticise (my word that sounds pompous) and my spelling is awful.

TBH I can see the insurance company's point. It may be best to cancel the policy and take out a new one when you have your licence back. You will lose any no claims entitlement from this year but you will be able to apply any previously built up entitlement when you take out the new policy. The car will obviously have to remain off the road and you will not have cover for theft, fire etc.

N79

[TLR]

I'm starting to think that's the best idea, I won't have to tell my future insurance that I've had insurance withdrawn previously if I cancel manually. The plan is to phone the cancellations for my insurance tonight, let them know the DVLA will be letting me know what's happening ASAP, and then on Thursday asking to cancel the policy (I think I have until Sunday to find out whether I have a new license).

Will I have to inform future insurers that I had my license revoked from 18th Jan-??? once I have my license back? Or is it something that don't need to know (I've not had it revoked for medical reasons, speeding, etc)

T

[TLR]

Found this on the Equity Red Star website:

The onus is on you to ensure that you and all named drivers hold a valid driving licence(s) and/or CBT certificate (if applicable) for the motorcycle(s) you are proposing to insure. Failure to hold a valid licence will make this insurance invalid from the start of the contract. We reserve the right to request a copy of any driver's licence at any time.

[TLR]

Quick update:

The DVLA said they'd had to write to my Dr's, so there's no way I'll get word about my license in time.

I'll cancel the insurance.

T

[mrbadexample]

I'll cancel the insurance.

T

If you haven't already done that, try asking if they'll suspend the policy. That way you could resume it once you get your licence back, and should retain the no-claims you've built up. No harm in asking.....

[cyclonebri1]

If you haven't already done that, try asking if they'll suspend the policy. That way you could resume it once you get your licence back, and should retain the no-claims you've built up. No harm in asking.....


You know it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect the insurer to be able to suspend rather than cancel the policy. Even if you lost the weeks whilst it was suspended they would be in pocket, you'd be uninsured so no risk. But then reason and car insurance don't exactly go hand in hand. This is the type of stuff that causes people not to disclose relevant info and is no good to any of us.:mad: :mad:

[350nutter]

Can you not convert the policy to one which covers fire and theft, but not riding your bike? Tell them it's off the road but you still require fire/theft cover.

[raskazz]

A few points.

The insurer can certainly cancel the policy as long as they follow the cancellation terms specified. This usually requires 7 day's notice for the insurer to cancel.

Regardless of any particular insurer's rules, it would really be against the public interest for an insurer to continue a normal motor policy to someone who tehy know does not hold a licence.

The insurer won't 'suspend' the policy as it is an annual contract.

[cyclonebri1]

A few points.

The insurer can certainly cancel the policy as long as they follow the cancellation terms specified. This usually requires 7 day's notice for the insurer to cancel.

Regardless of any particular insurer's rules, it would really be against the public interest for an insurer to continue a normal motor policy to someone who tehy know does not hold a licence.

The insurer won't 'suspend' the policy as it is an annual contract.

Hmmm, so who's the benifitiary in that? No disrespect but it does sound like an insurers viewpoint.

Also does that mean the insured actually has 14 days, keep 'em talking;) .

[raskazz]

Hmmm, so who's the benifitiary in that? No disrespect but it does sound like an insurers viewpoint.

No, it's just a commonsense viewpoint. Why would someone who cannot legally drive need an insurance policy to cover third party risks? A laid-up policy is more appropriate until the licence issue is resolved.

No, its doesn't mean that 14 days will be allowed, only 7 as per the policy wording.

[MarkyMarkD]

I don't understand the point about not suspending because it's an annual contract. In fact, it's wrong.

My wife was in hospital long-term and her policy was suspended for that time and an appropriate rebate given against the renewal premium.

I think that what's gone wrong in this thread is that the OP has been unnecessarily honest with their insurer.

If the licence withdrawal is merely a paperwork error, there was no reason to notify them. If the OP had kept quiet, resolved things with DVLA (whilst not using the vehicle) and then started driving again, no problem would have arisen.

There are times when being too honest is a bad thing - and I say this as someone who constantly advises people on MSE not to lie to their insurers.

I would wholeheartedly pursue the suspension of cover approach as I cannot see why that should be denied by the insurer.

[cyclonebri1]

I don't understand the point about not suspending because it's an annual contract. In fact, it's wrong.

My wife was in hospital long-term and her policy was suspended for that time and an appropriate rebate given against the renewal premium.

I think that what's gone wrong in this thread is that the OP has been unnecessarily honest with their insurer.

If the licence withdrawal is merely a paperwork error, there was no reason to notify them. If the OP had kept quiet, resolved things with DVLA (whilst not using the vehicle) and then started driving again, no problem would have arisen.

There are times when being too honest is a bad thing - and I say this as someone who constantly advises people on MSE not to lie to their insurers.

I would wholeheartedly pursue the suspension of cover approach as I cannot see why that should be denied by the insurer.


Thats exactly what I meant but couldn't be a***d to type it all:D :D :D

[TLR]

Yeah, I didn't want to lie, so I've messed myself up there.

I thought maybe if I had an accident in the future, they'd look at my license and find out that it'd been revoked for a certain period of time, and then cancel my insurance.

What happens to NCB once you've cancelled a policy? I had 2 years and 3/4 NCB building up on the cancelled policy, can I just keep the 2 years until I get another policy? I don't really understand how NCB works, doesn't it expire?

T

[cyclonebri1]

Yeah, I didn't want to lie, so I've messed myself up there.

I thought maybe if I had an accident in the future, they'd look at my license and find out that it'd been revoked for a certain period of time, and then cancel my insurance.

What happens to NCB once you've cancelled a policy? I had 2 years and 3/4 NCB building up on the cancelled policy, can I just keep the 2 years until I get another policy? I don't really understand how NCB works, doesn't it expire?

T


I used to have 2 separately insured cars and built up max no claims on each. When I stopped on policy I was told the no claims was available for 5 years but lost completely after that if not taken up. I don't know if this is a general rule though.:money: