7 days to produce driving documents, can't find 2

DaveMcDavid

(also posted in N. Ire forum in case there are local differences in what happens)

Regular user, posting under new ID.

(background) I was in a minor crash on Wednesday, I rear ended a vehicle, no injuries either side, police attended the scene and gave me 7 days to produce my documents.

Problem is, while I do have my MOT cert and photo ID, I can't find my counterpart or certificate of insurance.

I've told my insurers to expect a claim, and they're putting a copy of my certificate of insurance in the post. I also applied for a duplicate counterpart on Thursday, but it says to allow 3 weeks.

I am properly insured, licensed, taxed and MOT'd, but what happens if I go to the police station and tell them I'm waiting for two of the documents they need to arrive in the post?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

i assume you were given a HORT1.

you have 7 days to produce, if you cant you must still attend with what documents you have, explain that your counterpart has been lost and you have apllied for a new one and your insurance cert is being posted as you lost that too. they can check you were insured at the time by contacting the insurance company (have your policy number handy to make things easier) but if the station want to they can do you with failure to produce all of your documents. but goes for you if you attend rather than not attend.

DaveMcDavid

Thanks. Not attending was never an option. I rang the station yesterday and they were to email the officer who issued it to see if he could allow me a bit more time, but the lady on the phone couldn't say what would happen if they didn't arrive on time.

DaveMcDavid

Also, I'm going to accept responsibility as althogh they shouldn't have stopped where or how thyw did, they highway code says I have a responsibility to stop my vehicle, which I failed to do.

Anyway, I've been looking at price comparison websites to check how much it'll cost at renewal, and whether I put in a £2000 payout without injuries, or a £20,000 payout with injuries, or "unknown" I'm getting identical "best quotes". Does that mean if they put in a whiplash claim at some point, my insurance won't go up any higher than it already is set to?

HappyMJ

Don't rely on an assurance that you have more time. Go within the 7 days with what you have.

3rd party medical claims don't matter as much just put whatever value you think the accident came to or unknown would be the best answer and that will do. It's unlikely you will hear if they put in a whiplash claim in a few months anyway they'll probably just settle the claim.

forgotmyname

I agree dont wait just take what you have now.

I had one many moons back, Went in with cars documents but no licence. Officer on the desk cautioned me
and wrote down my short statement. I sent documents off for change of address and they have not returned yet.

Never heard anything else from them. So i presumed they contacted the DVLA to checkout my details.

This was about 15 years ago so i guess a couple of mouse clicks and tehy can check it all now.

andrew-the-cat

Minor crash and they are claiming for whiplash? Seriously, people need to get a life. I was hit by a car that was doing 50mph and I walked away from it with no injuries.

Wig

I would't worry about it, as long as you do eventually produce them you will be ok. Make a statement to the police clerk what the delay is.

RTA S165
(4)A person shall not be convicted of an offence under sub section (3) above by reason only of failure to produce any certificate or other evidence, if in proceedings against him for the offence he shows that—

(a)within seven days after the date on which the production of the certificate or other evidence was required it was produced at a police station that was specified by him at the time when its production was required, or

(b)it was produced there as soon as was reasonably practicable, or

(c)it was not reasonably practicable for it to be produced there before the day on which the proceedings were commenced,

and for the purposes of this subsection the laying of the information or, in Scotland, the service of the complaint on the accused shall be treated as the commencement of the proceedings.

DaveMcDavid

Would waiting for a replacement after loss be deemed reasonable though?

As for whiplash, I don't know if they're claiming for it, but I'm just speculating and thinking through the implications.

Loganfire

Sorry to say this but please remember what I am about to say there's still nothing to worry about, but when you turn up at the police station you will be cautioned and anything you say will and may be used at a court of law. A few year's ago I moved house renewed my driving licences and the day after I sent my licences off I got pulled and given a producer, I received a letter a few days later from dvla saying that my new licences would take two week. I took the letter and all the other document into the police station where I was cautioned (not arrested). It went to court where is was thrown out, allot of worry and allot of wasted time for all.

DaveMcDavid

It's also just occurred to me, my car is registered at my parents address, which is also the address on my licence. My car is insured at my Belfast address (where I live for work, and spend about 3/4 of my time), is that in issue? Insurance is dearer in Belfast, so it's not a deliberate scam.