Exchanged drivers licence made my car insurance premiums high

CPUK81

Hi Everyone!
I have a problem with my car insurance renewal. I have replaced my Full EEC drivers licence last year. I have now Full Uk drivers licence which states that the document is valid from dd.04.2012.it expires in 10 years time. On the back of the licence it gives the dates in which I passed my driving tests which is 07.1999.
When I was getting a quote on the Internet there is a question what type of licence I hold and next is how long I held this licence. The insurers I tried tell me it is a date the document was issued to me which means that my premiums are extermely high and some insurers will not sell me the policy. I have been driving cars for over 13 years now with no claims yet I am being treated as a provisional driver with no experience. There is a case of me giving the date of passing the test and getting qualified but I worry this could invalidate my policy if I was unfortunate enough to have an accident. I will only add that I have been driving cars in UK for the 7 out of 13 years of me having a drivers licence. The proof for the insurers should be my 7years NCD.
Can anyone give me some advice of what to do because the last thing I want to do is to drive with not valid insurance.
PS. I have contacted DVLA and they say the date on the back of DL is the proof of me having a DL for a period of time from that date onwards.

Thank you for your help.
CPUK81

forgotmyname

Stop using the comparison websites and phone the insurers directly.

CPUK81

I did call LV and my union insurer and they said the same. This is just crazy....

System

Whenever I have used a comparison web site, or indeed ever filled in a proposal form, the options for "type of licence held" have been "full" or "provisional".
Then "number of years licence held" would be the number of years since you got your full licence, ie passed the driving test.
I don't think it means number of years you have physically held that particular red booklet, green paper, photo-card, or anything else. If it did you would revert to being a new driver just because you moved house.
The type of licence remains constant however that fact may be evidenced.

CPUK81

Thank you for your reply.
When I was talking to insurers customer service people they all told me that the question they ask is "How long have you held your licence?". In my case, as I exchanged my licence they say this is a period of time I held my full UK licence. This is all about the wording. Prior to my Full UK I had different international licence in their opinion. None of the people I was talking to would accept my argument of me getting qualified 13 years ago. I don't know what to make of this? Was I unfortunate enough to talk to 3 different agents that didn't know what they were talking about?
Another thing which I consider is disregard of what they tell the insurer that I held my licence for 13 years but I am worried that I could have a problem if it happened that I was to make a claim. The insurance is supposed to give me a peace of mind but until I am sure I am ok I will never have this comfort.
If I had an accident and they would reject my claim saying that I lied about my licence what would be my chances in court of law?
I will call Trading Standards Agency today to ask what do they think.
Thanks to everyone who can spare a moment to help me...

System

I see what you are saying, but what the insurers are apparently saying doesn't make sense. I've never considered the point before - I have always taken the number of years question to mean years since I passed the test.
Now you mention it, it would be impossible to prove that, as I had to send back the original red booklet decades ago, and the pass date is not recorded on the paper licence.

Just checking the wording in my insurance documentation, it says the driver "must hold or have held a full driving licence, and not be disqualified".
So my insurers (Privilege) appear not to care whether I have ever had a break in UK licence held.

I suppose now you have asked you have to accept what they say, but it does seem perverse.