How does Expired MOT affect insurance claim?

Phirefly · 3 April 2007 at 8:02AM

Hi, I've searched the threads where this issue has been discussed previously, sorry if I'm repeating but I'm just looking for confirmation on a point raised.

I had a minor at fault bump resulting in almost 1.5K of repairs to my car the DAY after my MOT expired without me realising (hows your luck

) I was oblivious and the claim was set in motion. Now I've realised my mistake I'm in a dilemma over whether to tell my insurers about this or if its not worth it. The car is booked in to be repaired in a couple of weeks and thus far all I've been told by the insurers is that I will need to pay my £150 excess diectly to the bodyshop.

I've seen it stated on this forum that for minor reparable claims, insurance companies do not require you to produce a valid MOT certificate. Is this a fact?

Many thanks in advance

FlameCloud · 3 April 2007 at 8:18AM

By allowing the MOT to lapse (and subsequently the Tax as well I think) you have clearly breached page 20 section 3 of the policy- keeping the vehicle in a roadworthy condition.

If the insurance company find out its an probable repudiation, and don't be fooled into thinking that we need you to produce a physical certificate to be caught out by it.

Its a connundrum about whether to keep quiet about it, but it is down to your own morals I suppose.

Phirefly · 3 April 2007 at 10:07AM

Thanks for your reply.

Its completely alien to me to be in this position. At university I used to preach to my friends who falsely insured their cars from their parents' address and I have had a claim investigated in the past so I know how important it is to be as up front with insurers as possible.

From my research into this it seems that this whole issue is somewhat of a grey area. The consensus on this board seems to be that if the car is repairable the you wont be required to produce an MOT certificate to the insurers. Anecdotal evidence I've found confirms this and also that it is rare for insurers to check on MOTs in straightforward cases.

On the Times Online, its stated that

It is a Myth that If your car has no MoT or road tax then your insurance is invalid

and that

There are a very few policies that insist in the small print that an MoT must be in force otherwise they will refuse to pay. These, however, are extremely rare, but it is worth checking the wording just in case.

I do not want to deliberately mislead, but I also don't want to open an unnecessary can of worms....

Phirefly · 3 April 2007 at 10:16AM

Also, I've read that as the MOT is no guarantee of roadworthiness, it isn't strictly relevant to the clause you made reference to. It appears that the 'roadworthiness' issue is dealt with on a case by case basis, and whether any defect was causatory.

The accident occured under 20mph when I backended someone who performed an emergency stop as we were moving away at the green light. I would think that the only vehicular roadworthiness issue relevant to this particular incident would be my brakes and possibly tyres. As it happens my brakes were serviced and tyres checked a few days prior to the incident....

mattymoo · 3 April 2007 at 11:05AM

Phirefly, your 2nd post (3rd on thread) is pretty much spot on.

Not quite sure what Flamecloud is getting at quoting section this, page that of a policy document. Whose policy document? You never said who the insurers were. Suspect he is quoting his own companies policy.

MOT certs are inspected when the car is a write off. No MOT will result in a lower valuation. It does not, as you say, invalidate your insurance. MOT only proves a car is roadworthy on the day of the MOT test.

Your insurers will have got their motor engineer to inspect the car and agree the repair costs with the bodyshop. If he had any concerns about its condition, he would have raised them then.

Do not volunteer the MOT information. Get the car repaired and then arrange an MOT test for the day you collect it from the bodyshop. You must then drive from bodyshop to MOT testing station - the only journey you can legally make without an MOT.

Oh, and don't book MOT with a garage in the same chain as the bodyshop. That would be just daft

Phirefly · 3 April 2007 at 11:11AM

:):)

You're a Legend, thanks a million for the reassurance.

I had stated my insurers in my first post so thats probably why the other poster had made reference to a particular clause. I thought better of it though and edited the name of my insurers out.

nadnad · 4 April 2007 at 10:49AM

yep just to reassure you - your insurance company will only ask for the MOT and reg book if the vehicle is written off. get it fixed get it MOTd and say nothing!

Phirefly · 4 April 2007 at 10:56AM

Thanks nadnad, its very reassuring to hear that. I'm not a fraud and try to lead a moral life, I just wanted to double check whether I would have been disclosing something I needn't have. I just want the whole matter over with now!

milkydrink · 4 April 2007 at 10:57AM

Not trying to scare you.

BUT aren't MOT's on a computer database now anyway.

If you do your car tax online you don't need to show your MOT they just know you are listed as having a valid one.

The yaba-daba-do thing the police have, that knows automatically if a car is legit by number plate recogniction.

My insurance company is one who says you must have an MOT to be insured. I would have thought without a MOT you are not road legal & if you are not legal why would they pay out

.

nadnad · 4 April 2007 at 11:36AM

they will pay out because they dont check. they trust that their custmoers will have tax and mot.

Phirefly · 8 May 2007 at 11:50AM

Thought I'd update this thread as when I was looking for info on the subject, I found plenty of opinions but no facts regarding what actually happened in the end to people in this situation.

Well I got my car MOTd immediately, then repaired at a main dealer, paid my £150 excess and got my car back last thursday no questions asked

How does Expired MOT affect insurance claim?

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