License Suspended - Should I Inform Insurance?

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hiiw
hiiw Posts: 12 Forumite
in Motoring
I had my license suspended by the DVLA in March due to self-declaring alcohol misuse within the previous 6 month period. I did not inform my insurer at the time that my license had been suspended, and my policy is up for renewal in November.

I am applying to have my license reinstated in a couple of weeks time, but I'm not sure whether I should inform the insurance company that it was suspended now, as it has been nearly 6 months since the DVLA came to their decision (I completely forgot to inform them at the time). Some people seem to advise not telling them anything, and simply finding cover elsewhere, whereas others say you need to tell the insurance company? I'm really not sure what to do, as informing the DVLA of my short-term substance misuse problem turned out to be a case of being too honest and shooting myself in the foot!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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  • angrycrow
    angrycrow Posts: 1,078 Forumite
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    As you have what is in effect a dvla notifiable medical condition which resulted in suspension of your licence you do need to declare it. The bigger issue is that if your licence has not been reinstated by the renewal they are unlikely to agree to cover you. If you are married and your partner drives you could insure it in their name but if you are single you may struggle to insure the car.

    If the later is the case and you have off road parking speak to a specialist broker about laid up cover and then sorn the car. This will at least give you protection for fire theft or malicious damage.

    Whilst it may feel you shot yourself in the foot declaring it at least you are taking responsibility for your actions which many people would not have done.
  • hiiw
    hiiw Posts: 12 Forumite
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    I am single but my parents are named drivers on the car (which is a whole other issue as I suspect they are not covered due to the fact that I'm the main named driver). We have off-road parking on a driveway, but obviously if my license isn't reinstated by the time the policy runs out I'll most likely SORN it or my parents will insure themselves on the vehicle.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,094 Community Admin
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    If your license is suspended so you can't drive it but your parents who are named drivers are driving it then you're committing fraud, basically insurance fronting, because the policy holder is not the main driver.

    If for any reason anything happened that resulted in a payout they'd check you had a license, find out it was suspended, invalidate your insurance and pursue you for the costs of any payouts.
  • waamo
    waamo Posts: 10,298 Forumite
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    What does the terms and conditions of your insurance say? They will probably have a section in them about issues such as this. Whatever it says is what you need to do.
  • Johno100
    Johno100 Posts: 5,259 Forumite
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    I thought this thread rang a bell.

    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5648099
  • hiiw
    hiiw Posts: 12 Forumite
    edited 15 September 2017 at 6:47PM
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    Tarambor wrote: »
    If your license is suspended so you can't drive it but your parents who are named drivers are driving it then you're committing fraud, basically insurance fronting, because the policy holder is not the main driver.

    If for any reason anything happened that resulted in a payout they'd check you had a license, find out it was suspended, invalidate your insurance and pursue you for the costs of any payouts.

    Yes I thought that was the case, I have informed them of this. My dad has 3rd party insurance which I think negates this? But my mum is not covered for driving the car as I am the main policy holder, correct?
  • atrixblue.-MFR-.
    atrixblue.-MFR-. Posts: 6,887 Forumite
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    Tarambor wrote: »
    If your license is suspended so you can't drive it but your parents who are named drivers are driving it then you're committing fraud, basically insurance fronting, because the policy holder is not the main driver.

    If for any reason anything happened that resulted in a payout they'd check you had a license, find out it was suspended, invalidate your insurance and pursue you for the costs of any payouts.
    Technically NOT as at the time of taking out the policy the OP was truthfull and he is/was the main driver up intill the point he got suspended, He would be in contravention of not declairing a change of curcumstances but thats about it, fronting NO, He hasnt actively attempted to defraud the insurers at all at the point of taking out the policy.
  • atrixblue.-MFR-.
    atrixblue.-MFR-. Posts: 6,887 Forumite
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    hiiw wrote: »
    @Tarambor Yes I thought that was the case, I have informed them of this. My dad has 3rd party insurance which I think negates this? But my mum is not covered for driving the car as I am the main policy holder, correct?
    Many insurers drive other car extensions have a clause thats the vehicle must be insured in its own right, Have a Valid VED, and MOT and that's the vehicle is not owned by family or spouse. if this is the case and your car doesnt meet this then he would not be covered by his DOC extension so he must Check.


    You MAY still be able to be the policy holder as you OWN/registered keeper of the vehicle, And you could possibly be able to call your insurer and move your mum up to main driver and dad named driver for the remainder of the policy saving you cancelling it.


    Call them and ask.
  • hiiw
    hiiw Posts: 12 Forumite
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    atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »
    Many insurers drive other car extensions have a clause thats the vehicle must be insured in its own right, Have a Valid VED, and MOT if this is the case and your car doesnt meet this then he would not be covered by his DOC extension so he must Check.


    You MAY still be able to be the policy holder as you OWN the vehicle, And you could possibly be able to call your insurer and move your mum up to main driver and dad named driver.


    Call them and ask.

    Thank-you very much for all your help :)
  • Warwick_Hunt
    Warwick_Hunt Posts: 1,179 Forumite
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    atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »
    Many insurers drive other car extensions have a clause thats the vehicle must be insured in its own right, Have a Valid VED, and MOT and that's the vehicle is not owned by family or spouse. if this is the case and your car doesnt meet this then he would not be covered by his DOC extension so he must Check.


    You MAY still be able to be the policy holder as you OWN/registered keeper of the vehicle, And you could possibly be able to call your insurer and move your mum up to main driver and dad named driver for the remainder of the policy saving you cancelling it.


    Call them and ask.

    But as you well know, the lack of an mot is not a valid reason to void cover.
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