Car isurance, checking points on licence?

notts_phil

Something ive seen in another thread whereby someone said they got charged as the points giving on the licence were wrong by a week

Well when you take out a new policy how common is it for the insurer to check your licence with the Dvla?

Please dont give "assumed" answers but only if you actually know......

to many people just guess on here....

mikey72

A lot just ask for a copy of your licence, so that's the first check.
The poster in the other thread hasn't said how they found out.

Spiderham

mikey72 wrote: »

A lot just ask for a copy of your licence, so that's the first check.

This. I know there were plans in place for insurers to possibly be able to check records with DVLA but I don't know how far along the line these are/if they have got it running yet.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8252976/Insurers-could-get-access-to-DVLA-database.html

mikey72

Spiderham wrote: »

This. I know there were plans in place for insurers to possibly be able to check records with DVLA but I don't know how far along the line these are/if they have got it running yet.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8252976/Insurers-could-get-access-to-DVLA-database.html

I don't think this is running yet, it would be a good idea though.

notts_phil

Never been asked for a sight of my licence apart from when ny car was stolen

Spiderham

mikey72 wrote: »

I don't think this is running yet, it would be a good idea though.

That's my thoughts too. If I remember some chat in the office correctly I think part of the problem is Data Protection considerations (eg getting permission to check named drivers details when they won't be there when quote is obtained) and how it gets paid for.

Definitely agree it would be good.

InsideInsurance

Getting paid for would be simply to bill people who want to access the service just as they do presently for the other services.

The DPA bit will be messy because of adding NDs but plenty get round similar issues with card payments when the PH isnt the card holder buying online.

At present the insurers only check manually. The exact frequency and triggers for checks can vary between insurers

Spiderham

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Getting paid for would be simply to bill people who want to access the service just as they do presently for the other services.

There's huge front end costs to set up the database in an accessible way so the industry will have to contribute to this. The split between insurers for the set-up costs will also take some time to negotiate.

InsideInsurance

The challenge is if it is insurers would actually use it or not. To use the service you need to either capture driving license number or at least full name, address and DoB for named drivers. This would without doubt lead to drop off from quotes and insurers would have to ask themselves if it is worth it to catch the percentage of people that dont give accurate information.

There would be a significant up front cost but I dont necessarily agree that it will have to be shared. There is nothing to stop the DVLA either directly, or via one of the usual DBA outsourcing type organization, seeing it as a revenue generation opportunity rather than just a public service thus funding set up but generating income from its users. I could see Experian paying a reasonable sum for exclusive rights to distribute the data if they had either a few big insurers or aggregators agreeing to adjust their quote questions.

How much upfront cost will depend on who much forethought was put into the development of their other webservices (or if they outsource), in theory it could be relatively low (in IT project terms) but then as we are discussing a public system it probably isnt and the existing services held together with sellotape, string and a lot of prayers.

Spiderham

InsideInsurance wrote: »

The challenge is if it is insurers would actually use it or not. To use the service you need to either capture driving license number or at least full name, address and DoB for named drivers. This would without doubt lead to drop off from quotes and insurers would have to ask themselves if it is worth it to catch the percentage of people that dont give accurate information.

There would be a significant up front cost but I dont necessarily agree that it will have to be shared. There is nothing to stop the DVLA either directly, or via one of the usual DBA outsourcing type organization, seeing it as a revenue generation opportunity rather than just a public service thus funding set up but generating income from its users. I could see Experian paying a reasonable sum for exclusive rights to distribute the data if they had either a few big insurers or aggregators agreeing to adjust their quote questions.

How much upfront cost will depend on who much forethought was put into the development of their other webservices (or if they outsource), in theory it could be relatively low (in IT project terms) but then as we are discussing a public system it probably isnt and the existing services held together with sellotape, string and a lot of prayers.

Funnily enough I ended up having a chin wag with someone in the office about it this afternoon.

I think the DVLA are actually being more stringent than in your first paragraph, something about full licence number to check. Also, the shared costs is what's happening as far as I'm aware and I gather it ain't light. I imagine part of the reason is that with current spending cuts it wouldn't fly very well with public opinion to invest capital into a project to help insurers "checking up" on convictions, "they've been helped out enough/ripping us off enough already" and I don't think anyone wants a middleman third party getting involved which would increase costs further long term.

mikey72

It would have to be driving licence number.

There's no other way, as the driving licence address may not be the same as the owners address, or where the car is kept overnight. (student for instance), that wouldn't help my dummy quotes at renewal though, so I'm starting to waver here.