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Old 03-11-2009, 11:52 AM   #1
galba
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Default No certificate - off the road ?

Is it illegal to drive without possession of insurance certificate ? My new one was issued yesterday but I was told they can't guarantee receipt by 16th November due to the uncertainty of further postal strikes.

I imagine lots of people will be in this situation if the strikes continue.
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Old 03-11-2009, 11:54 AM   #2
bryanb
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Police can check whether you are insured via the insurance database. It's only illegal to drive while uninsured.



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Old 03-11-2009, 11:56 AM   #3
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It's not illegal.

The police tend to rely on the computer in their car which can advise them whether a car is insured or not and is around 95% accurate. If your car shows as being insured on this they will normally accept this. If it does not show they will often ring and confirm whether the car is insured if it's during office hours.

They will sometimes give you a seven day wonder which is basically you produce your certificate and certain other documents such as driving licence and mot (If applicable) at a police station of your choice.
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Old 03-11-2009, 6:06 PM   #4
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ask the insurance to fax the policy documents to you
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Old 03-11-2009, 7:45 PM   #5
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Legally you don't have valid insurance until your have the certificate in your hand, but I have never heard of any police force enforcing the law.

The law would also make sending certificates by email illegal, once again never enforced. I believe the RTA is about to be changed for that purpose.
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Old 03-11-2009, 8:23 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pastra View Post
Legally you don't have valid insurance until your have the certificate in your hand, but I have never heard of any police force enforcing the law.

The law would also make sending certificates by email illegal, once again never enforced. I believe the RTA is about to be changed for that purpose.
I'm sorry but you're giving more poor information.

Firstly 'legally', i.e. under contract law, you are covered with or without a certificate, from the effective date and time of the commencement of the policy.

As far as Road Traffic Act liabilities are concerned, cover attaches as soon as the certificate is posted to the insured or their agent (including brokers).

Last edited by raskazz; 03-11-2009 at 9:23 PM..
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Old 03-11-2009, 8:27 PM   #7
pastra
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raskazz View Post
I'm sorry but you're giving more poor information.

Firstly 'legally' you are covered with or without a certificate, from the effective date and time of the commencement of the policy.

As far as Road Traffic Act liabilities are concerned, cover attaches as soon as the certificate is posted to the insured or their agent (including brokers).
I am assuming your a Directline underwriter!!!

the law;

(1) A policy of insurance shall be of no effect for the purposes of this Part of this Act unless and until there is delivered by the insurer to the person by whom the policy is effected a certificate (in this Part of this Act referred to as a “certificate of insurance”) in the prescribed form and containing such particulars of any conditions subject to which the policy is issued and of any other matters as may be prescribed.


In the post doesn't count
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Old 03-11-2009, 8:40 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pastra View Post
I am assuming your a Directline underwriter!!!
You assume incorrectly. I work for a much more specialist insurer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by pastra View Post
the law;

(1) A policy of insurance shall be of no effect for the purposes of this Part of this Act unless and until there is delivered by the insurer to the person by whom the policy is effected a certificate (in this Part of this Act referred to as a “certificate of insurance”) in the prescribed form and containing such particulars of any conditions subject to which the policy is issued and of any other matters as may be prescribed.
Yes, that is the law, but what you have failed to mention (presumably because to do so would weaken your already spurious argument) is that it is not the case that 'delivery' requires that the insured has the certificate in their possession.

I quote from page 2/22 of the Chartered Insurance Institute's Motor Insurance course book:

"What constitutes delivered has been the subject of much debate over the years. It has been established that delivery need not necessarily be to the motorist personally but may be to their agent. An agent in this sense is wider than an insurance intermediary and, indeed, can include the Post Office.

In law, therefore, the motorist is legally covered as soon as the certificate is posted or handed to them or their agent"

Quote:
Originally Posted by pastra View Post
In the post doesn't count
Care to produce any evidence to this effect? Or is it just 'opinion'?

Last edited by raskazz; 03-11-2009 at 9:17 PM..
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Old 03-11-2009, 8:46 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raskazz View Post
You assume incorrectly.



Yes, that is the law, but what you have failed to mention (presumably because to do so would weaken your already spurious argument) is that it is not the case that 'delivery' requires that the insured has the certificate in their possession.

I quote from page 2/22 of the Chartered Insurance Institute's Motor Insurance course book:

"What constitutes delivered has been the subject of much debate over the years. It has been established that delivery need not necessarily be to the motorist personally but may be to their agent. An agent in this sense is wider than an insurance intermediary and, indeed, can include the Post Office.

In law, therefore, the motorist is legally covered as soon as the certificate is posted or handed to them or their agent"



Care to produce any evidence to this effect?
I agree that the wording has been debated for years now, but legally it must be delivered not in the process of being delivered to comply with the law as it is written.

This will be reviewed in 2010.
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Old 03-11-2009, 8:48 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pastra View Post
I agree that the wording has been debated for years now, but legally it must be delivered not in the process of being delivered to comply with the law as it is written.
Again, wrong. You are assuming a literal interpretation of the statute whereas case law indicates that the correct interpretation is a purposive one, which belies a lack of basic legal understanding.
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Old 03-11-2009, 10:31 PM   #11
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All insurance policies are loaded onto the MID within a set time frame by all insurers and from my own experience, if the police cannot find the car insured on there they will either contact MIB or the insurance company concerned. If they cannot confirm it is by any of these methods thats the car is insured I understand they now have the right to take the car and impound it. From what I have delat with from customers I have spoken to it now sounds like they dont even give you a 7 day producer anymore.

From what I understand (someone can correct me if im wrong) is that they only check the registration number. What I suggest if you have any feeling the insurance policy might have an incorrect part on your reg (eg. should be s not f or a letter that sounds similar over the phone) check it with your insurance company and get it updated asap so the MID can be as well and shouldnthave any problems.



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Old 04-11-2009, 1:50 AM   #12
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Old 04-11-2009, 9:23 AM   #13
galba
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Thanks for all the advice - and the interesting discussion

I do feel reassured there will not be a problem, and will check with askmid.com on the 16/17th. November.

Here in south Yorkshire the roads are bristling with ANPR cameras and I imagine vehicles without insurance are quickly spotted.
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Old 04-11-2009, 1:16 PM   #14
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make life easy get them to fax it to you,a facsimilie copy is considered a legal document,then you have it now and not have to worry about delays
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