Motorcycle Still Insured now Disqualified??????

Allybwoy

The issue I have is that I was disqualified from driving and so stopped driving my car and riding my motorbike. Insurance premiums were fully paid under fully comprehensive rate for both.

My bike was stolen recently and the insurance company has asked for a copy of my licence. This never crossed my mind as being an issue but I am now wondering whether they will say I am not insured as I havent currently got a licence and so will not pay out. The bike and car have not been used since the disqualification but the bike was recently stolen from my front garden.

I have an old copy of my licence but am not sure whether I should send that or state I havent got it as I am disqualified so have not been riding. I have read that maybe should have downgraded to just fire and theft which should be a lot cheaper than premiums I had already fully paid.

Please advise whether I will be insured or whether insurance can state that as I failed to declare disqualification (even though I havent used the bike) my insurance is invalid. I thought I had to just leave the insurance running due to the new rules of needing to insure any vehicle on the road but there is not a lot of info available.
Many thanks for any help in advance

kingstreet

The best answer you can get is from reading the terms and conditions which apply to your policy. We can generalise about what might happen, but only your own schedule and policy document will tell you what you should do in the event of disqualification.

Different insurers have different requirements.

Quentin

Have you renewed since the offence? If so, then there may be an issue over the non disclosure for you to deal with.

If you have not renewed since the offence, just short circuit everything and inform them now.

raskazz

Allybwoy wrote: »

The issue I have is that I was disqualified from driving and so stopped driving my car and riding my motorbike. Insurance premiums were fully paid under fully comprehensive rate for both.

My bike was stolen recently and the insurance company has asked for a copy of my licence. This never crossed my mind as being an issue but I am now wondering whether they will say I am not insured as I havent currently got a licence and so will not pay out. The bike and car have not been used since the disqualification but the bike was recently stolen from my front garden.

I have an old copy of my licence but am not sure whether I should send that or state I havent got it as I am disqualified so have not been riding. I have read that maybe should have downgraded to just fire and theft which should be a lot cheaper than premiums I had already fully paid.

Please advise whether I will be insured or whether insurance can state that as I failed to declare disqualification (even though I havent used the bike) my insurance is invalid. I thought I had to just leave the insurance running due to the new rules of needing to insure any vehicle on the road but there is not a lot of info available.
Many thanks for any help in advance

We need more information.

When were you banned and for how long?
When did you last renew or amend your policy?
Which insurer are you with and what docs the policy wording stipulate regarding disclosure of convictions?

Don't attempt to pull the wool over their eyes by sending an old licence. This could have ramifications much more serious than an inadvertent non-disclosure.

Sgt_Pepper_2

raskazz wrote: »

We need more information.

When were you banned and for how long?
When did you last renew or amend your policy?
Which insurer are you with and what docs the policy wording stipulate regarding disclosure of convictions?

Don't attempt to pull the wool over their eyes by sending an old licence. This could have ramifications much more serious than an inadvertent non-disclosure.

How long doesn't matter.

raskazz

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

How long doesn't matter.

Not in terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, no, but it would help paint a picture of how it will look to the insurer when they consider the issue of indemnity.

pendulum

I'd think you should be OK providing:

1) At your last renewal you still had a licence (they probably would have refused to insure you otherwise)
2) At your last renewal you didn't have a prosecution pending and failed to inform them of this

Don't forget the Insurance Ombudsman if things don't go your way - it is not just "whatever the insurer says, goes". Even if you technically did break the insurers rules they tend to side with the claimant if it's an innocent mistake or the insurers terms aren't reasonable.

Allybwoy

Hi guys thanks for the responses so far. In answer to the questions posed:

1) I was banned for 8 months
2) This ban occured around 3 months after I had renewed. I am now a month away from renewal. So have not and would not have renewed without informing of the disqualification.
3) At my last renewal I did not have prosectution pending.
4) I am with Zenith Insurance which was obtained via the broker Devitt Insurance.
5) I have just checked Zenith online Policy Booklet and Policy wording states "To keep your policy up to date please tell us straight away about changes which affect your insurance." Some examples are "Someone who rides a motorcycle gets a motoring or other conviction, or suffers a medical condition or claims on another policy". If u do not tell us about your changes your insurance may not cover you fully or at all.

As explained earlier havent ridden car or motorcycle since ban and bike was stolen a week ago. Informed Police and insurance straight away.

Allybwoy

UPDATE................

I today received letter requesting photocopy of both parts of licence, stating in absence of licence they will be unable to deal with this claim on my behalf, Indemnity is declined. They will also advise any interested thrid parties to deal directly with myslef. Should they be required to make third party payments as Road Traffic Act Insurer they will be looking to me for reimbursement of thise cost. In addition the failure to provide a copy of my driving licence will result in the cancellation of my policy.

1) The bike was stolen and has not been ridden since the ban so what third party issues or Road Traffic Act issues are they referring to?

2) Do i need to clarify this with them when I call to inform them of the situation regarding not having the licence (although i have an old copy) due to disqualification although im sure I sent a copy (of the paper part at least) to Devitt insurance (broker) and maybe told them to contact DVLA to confirm photocard entitlement details If they did not get the photocard as well (cant remember).

3) The exact situation i didnt want to occur seems to be happening in i may lose the insurance (year policy due to end April 2012) and my no claims and also payout. Surely if i realised i should have said at the time I could not give them the licence anyway? And the bike still had to be insured which is was as the fully comprehensive policy was paid fully from the outset.

You live and learn I suppose!

Quentin

Allybwoy wrote: »

1) The bike was stolen and has not been ridden since the ban so what third party issues or Road Traffic Act issues are they referring to?......

Any that might surface from third parties when you were riding it!

thenudeone

pendulum wrote: »

Don't forget the Insurance Ombudsman if things don't go your way - it is not just "whatever the insurer says, goes". Even if you technically did break the insurers rules they tend to side with the claimant if it's an innocent mistake or the insurers terms aren't reasonable.

You do not need to have a driving licence to own a car or bike.

Would it be reasonable to refuse a theft claim because the owner received a driving ban after taking out the policy? The insurer may say yes, but IMO that would be unreasonable because the fact that the bike was stolen from the owner's property isn't affected by, or related to, any conviction or disqualification.

This looks like it will go all the way to the ombudsman.