Direct Line Car Insurance - Stolen/Total Loss/Can't cancel

mlawson

Hi guys,

Been a long time reader gaining general advice, but could really do with some specialised advice and help.

My car was stolen over the summer (house broke into and keys taken), it was found a few days later smashed up and has been declared a total loss.

DL have paid out (well under what I feel is fair, but that's another story). I pay my insurance monthly and renewed 2 weeks before my car was stolen.

I've just queried the Direct Debits continuing and been told I've got to pay until next Summer because I've made a claim...

But, I can, when I get a new car, amend my policy to "this new car" and continue paying as normal with DL.

The problem is, DL won't insure me on my new car, because I'm under 25. (I can get insurance elsewhere though).

The stolen car was group 18 insurance and the new one is group 19.

What are my options? Do I have to continue paying DL for the next 9 months? Can I not cancel my policy? It's not my fault they won't insure the new car?

Thanks for any advice or help!!

Yours in anticipation...

qazitory

Have you claimed on your on insurance, i.e. lost your no claims?

I'd personally get a car where you can get it insured. I know it sounds tough, but that's the downside to being under 25!

raskazz

Direct Line settled your total loss claim, therefore that policy has served its purpose and the full annual premium must be paid, regardless of whether the policy is now cancelled or whether you find a vehicle that DL can substitute onto the policy.

They are under no obligation in law to even let the policy run after a total loss to allow a new vehicle to be covered, if they do so it is entirely a gesture of goodwill and so you cannot really criticise them for not covering the higher risk car. It might not be your fault that they won't cover it, but then it's not their fault either.

You have two options:

1) Purchase a new car that DL can cover and place that on your policy with them, or

2) Cover the new car elsewhere - but you will still have to pay DL the full annual premium for the policy that you incurred the claim on.

mlawson

If I was to do option 2 what would happen with my NCB (both paying up in full or continuing DD until next summer).

In theory, I would have 6 years NCB next summer as I couldn't/wouldn't make a claim with them.

qazitory - I made the claim when I had 5 years NCB protected.

slipp_digby

mlawson wrote: »

The problem is, DL won't insure me on my new car, because I'm under 25. (I can get insurance elsewhere though).

The stolen car was group 18 insurance and the new one is group 19.

I am surprised you could get DL to provide cover on a group 18 car in the first place! They sometimes ask for 2 yrs+ no claims + over 25 etc to even offer cover on specific vehicles.

The answer, is unfortunately to get a new car which is in a lower insurance group than the one you had. Will DL provide cover for the same model as a replacement?

Tough break, as its not your fault.

edit: didnt see you comment above

lisyloo

You cannot have your NCD running on 2 policies.
Sorry I sympathise.
But if you are using it on the curent DL policy you can't use it on the new one.
If you cancel the DL policy you should be able to use your existing no claims on the new policy (5 years?) but you will off course have to declare the accident.

It will count as a "fault" claim.
The terminology is confusing because what happened wasn't your fault, but DL did not recover any money so the claim counts against you. Sorry again.

tinkerbell84

your new insurers may require a high group car to be fitted with a tracker if you've had another high group car stolen too

raskazz

mlawson wrote: »

If I was to do option 2 what would happen with my NCB (both paying up in full or continuing DD until next summer).

In theory, I would have 6 years NCB next summer as I couldn't/wouldn't make a claim with them.

qazitory - I made the claim when I had 5 years NCB protected.

If you went down the route of option 2 then you can release your NCD to the new policy by cancelling the Direct Line policy - you can cancel the policy, but the outstanding payments will still have to be made.

mlawson

Is this possible...

Ask DL to change my vehicle on the current policy to my girlfriends car, very low insurance group, therefore reducing my premiums, then offer to pay my insurance off in full - in theory a lot cheaper then my current policy and gaining my 5 years NCB certificate?

raskazz

mlawson wrote: »

Is this possible...

Ask DL to change my vehicle on the current policy to my girlfriends car, very low insurance group, therefore reducing my premiums, then offer to pay my insurance off in full - in theory a lot cheaper then my current policy and gaining my 5 years NCB certificate?

No, even if the substitute vehicle is a lesser risk no return of premium will be given - the minimum that you will have to pay DL is the annual premium for the car that was written off.