Driving on Provisional License

reduceditem

Flyboy152 wrote: »

No, however, if I have done something wrong I take it on the chin and accept my fate. I don't try to weasel out of it, by seeking advice on how to prevent the other party from exercising their rights.

That's impressive....that, after 5 minutes deliberation, you can confidently state that you've taken it on the chin and accepted your fate for all the mistakes you've made (rolleyes again).

The OP wants the easiest solution that will cause the least damage to himself and his wife. If he is not fully conversant with the law and his obligations, that's a fairly understandable first reaction.

shaun_from_Africa

just delighted to jump all over anyone who has done something a bit daft.

So if you consider driving without a valid licence, and driving whilst uninsured "a bit daft", what in your opinion would someone have to do for it to class as a serious offence?

reduceditem

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

So if you consider driving without a valid licence, and driving whilst uninsured "a bit daft", what in your opinion would someone have to do for it to class as a serious offence?

It's possible she thought she was covered.

Just last month I helped arrange insurance for a friend's wife (she has a provisional) so that she could practise in her husband's car. Neither of them fully understood (until I explained), that he would always have to be in the car, etc.

(No, I'm not making it up)

DavidHayton

wba31 wrote: »

Everyone makes mistakes? Knowingly sitting in a car you know you have no licence to drive and going out on your own isn't a mistake, it's a complete disregard for the law. I will print your response and keep it in my car. I will let my car go through it's next MOT due date and not renew. I will fail to renew my tax disc. I will cancel my car insurance. I will drive everywhere at double the speed limit. and when eventually the law catches up with me i will insist it's ok... everyone makes mistakes... "but driving double the speed limit endangers lives..." so does driving without the permit only given to those who have proved that they are safe to drive without assistance

Yes we all make mistakes. If you were to do all these things then it sure would be a (very big) mistake. You would be endangering yourself and others so I don't think that you would do it. But, even if you did, I still wouldn't advocate locking you up and throwing away the key. I would defend your right to get over your mistakes and learn from them.

Best wishes
David

wba31

DavidHayton wrote: »

Yes we all make mistakes. If you were to do all these things then it sure would be a (very big) mistake. You would be endangering yourself and others so I don't think that you would do it. But, even if you did, I still wouldn't advocate locking you up and throwing away the key. I would defend your right to get over your mistakes and learn from them.

Best wishes
David

There are mistakes - going over the speed limit having not noticed at limit change, accidentally not seeing someone and pulling out on them, getting in the wrong lane. most of these are accidental if they are really mistakes. in that you are saying that the Mrs op accidentally got in the car and drove off knowing she had no licence. i believe a driving test is booked for march? so ignorance to the law cant pass im afraid, otherwise the test would never have been booked really would it?

Inactive

reduceditem wrote: »

It's possible she thought she was covered.

I very much doubt that, in any case;

Ignorance is no excuse.

tbourner

reduceditem wrote: »

It's possible she thought she was covered.

Just last month I helped arrange insurance for a friend's wife (she has a provisional) so that she could practise in her husband's car. Neither of them fully understood (until I explained), that he would always have to be in the car, etc.

(No, I'm not making it up)

You mean the OP may have only realised what they'd done wrong when the police told her at the scene, and then the replies on here have alerted him to the rather serious offence of TWOC?
But surely he wouldn't still be here commenting if that were the case cos he'd be distressed........... actually....... where's he gone?

reduceditem

Inactive wrote: »

I very much doubt that, in any case;

Ignorance is no excuse.

It's not about excuse, it's about 'reason' (in the broadest sense of the word).

Why assume that everyone is as conversant with the law as you?

reduceditem

tbourner wrote: »

You mean the OP may have only realised what they'd done wrong when the police told her at the scene, and then the replies on here have alerted him to the rather serious offence of TWOC?
But surely he wouldn't still be here commenting if that were the case cos he'd be distressed........... actually....... where's he gone?

Again, in-built into your response is the assumption that everyone is conversant with the law in the same way you are. Lots and lots of people won't be.

thenudeone

Gordon_Hose wrote: »

Surely by driving ALONE on a prov license, she's invalidated any insurance?

Depends on the terms of the insurance certificate and policy.
Many certificates say ".. provided [the driver] holds or has held and is not disqualified from holding a licence".
This suggests that, for example, you will still be insured if you forget to renew your licence at age 70, or if you are a foreign driver who has failed to swap their licence for a UK one after several years.

Some polices say "provided [the driver] is driving in accordance with the conditions of a licence". If applied strictly, this is a bit harsh because if a learner forgets to put their L plates on, they aren't insured.

All of this is irrelevant if (as stated) the car was taken without consent. Even if your wife had her own policy covering driving other cars (very unusual for a learner), it would not cover her if the car was TWOC'd.
I believe that in these circumstances the insurer of the stolen car covers the damage caused by the driver. Only if there is no policy would a claim be made to the MIB uninsured claim fund.

The OP needs to do some serious thinking quickly. Was it really taken without consent? Or was this just said to avoid prosecution for allowing the car to be used without insurance?