Insurance - warning and help needed! (a sorry tale)

longers1

Hi all
Bear with me through this sorry tale!
I was driving to work in a bus lane on my scooter. A car pulled in front of me and I broke and came off it. I was quite bruised and battered but nothing was fortunately broken. My scooter has scratches all down it’s side, the wind mirror was bent back and some of the trimmings had come off (a week later, after filling it up, my entire fuel box emptied, so it appears a split in the fuel tank was caused as well). I also need a new helmet from hitting it on the ground. My jeans were ripped and my shoes all scuffed. At the moment I came off the scooter, a Police van was coincidentally driving past. They stopped and took down all the details

Still, at least the other driver had admitted responsibility and their insurance would cover it all. When the Police then looked into my insurance, it turns out it ran out in October and hadn’t been renewed. This came as a massive shock to me as I would never drive uninsured – it would be madness. I have life insurance, house insurance, health insurance and car insurance, all regularly renewed. My insurance is only £150 with a company called Just Insurance (owned by Aviva), there is no reason not to insure!

It had run out though, and I had never had any warning to renew and they are a company that don’t automatically renew - the only insurance company i have ever come across who do that.

My bike was then taken to the impound and I was told I would have to pay £150 plus £20 a day storage. I also got a £200 pound fine and 6 points on my licence. I have never had points on my licence before.

As well as this, due to the 6 points, I can’t get insured on my shared car without paying an extortionate price – these points stay with me for 3 years!

I also have to pay the repairs to my scooter myself.

So this will cost me thousands of pounds and I am made to feel like a criminal, all because of a genuine human error!

Does anybody know if there is any way to appeal this? I accept the fine, I made an error but the 6 points on my licence (and remember, I have had a clean licence for 17 years) I can’t accept. I think it’s desperately unfair. Any help on this sorry tale massively appreciated!

So my warning is, make sure your insurance automatically renews!

If any one has any help / suggestions, please throw them my way!

Otherwise, have a good (and safe) weekend
x

DCFC79

I'd suggest using a diary/calender to make a note when insurance is due whether its auto renew or not. If not a diary/calender then use Google calendar, can use it also for when the tax is due. Not sure on what grounds you can renew, yes you made an error but you still didn't renew. The length you have had your licence is of no relevance, accept the points and move on. Use the points gained as a reminder to yourself to make sure insurance is renewed.

longers1

I have done for every other insurance, but somehow this one slipped through the net!

spacey2012

It is a very big net, you should always check you have a valid certificate of insurance and know when it expires.
It is a primary responsibility of using the road.

dacouch

Have you asked Simply Insurance on what date and to what address they sent the renewal for the scooter?

Did the car stop and if so do you have their insurance details?

SuperHan

Unfortunately this is one case where the insurer can never win. People complain about auto renewal, then complain when it doesn't happen.

Sadly, it is your responsibility to insure yourself, not your insurers. The police have no evidence that you didn't choose to not renew and try your luck, so why should they take your word for it?

I know the exact date my car insurance runs out so that I can shop around before my renewal comes through. This may just be an expensive and unfortunate lesson learned, and just be glad the penalty for driving uninsured is so lenient!

vaio

your insurance (or lack of it) doesn't make any difference to the liability for the accident you had. If the other driver was at fault then his insurers will pay for the repairs to the bike/clothes/helmet etc plus something towards your bruises etc

As far as the insurance goes, you're stuck with the points. You could go to court but likely you'd end up worse off as it's an absolute offence, either you have it or you don't.

notanewuser

longers1 wrote: »

As well as this, due to the 6 points, I can’t get insured on my shared car without paying an extortionate price – these points stay with me for 3 years!

Not to p1ss on your chips, but that's 5 years, not 3 (for insurance purposes).

vaio

yep, but when they get round to commencing the new rehabilitation of offenders times the rehab time for offences resulting in a fine drops from 5 years to one year

longers1

vaio wrote: »

your insurance (or lack of it) doesn't make any difference to the liability for the accident you had. If the other driver was at fault then his insurers will pay for the repairs to the bike/clothes/helmet etc plus something towards your bruises etc

As far as the insurance goes, you're stuck with the points. You could go to court but likely you'd end up worse off as it's an absolute offence, either you have it or you don't.

Thanks for this. Who should I then contact about claiming for this? My new insurers?

longers1

vaio wrote: »

yep, but when they get round to commencing the new rehabilitation of offenders times the rehab time for offences resulting in a fine drops from 5 years to one year

Sorry Vaio. I'm not quite sure I understand you.