Expired points & car insurance.

johes

Hi, I'm in need of advice!
I had 3 points on my license, n they will be 5 years old in 8 weeks time.
My insurance is due for renewal and I thought that with the points not officially on my license anymore and nearly 5 years old that it wouldnt make much difference to my quote. How wrong I was! They double the price of my insurance!!! DOUBLE!!!! :eek: :eek:
If I was to not mention these points, how much trouble would I be in if they found out?! :A

vaio

a lot, but I'm surprised three points is having that much of an effect

All you can do is hit the comparison sites and see what they offer

Aretnap

Failing to declare them could lead to your policy being voided. If you had an accident and your insurer found out about them afterwards, that could leave you liable for the full cost of the accident. If it was a big accident which left someone in a wheelchair, that could mean losing everything you own. Is that enough trouble for you?

I'm also surprised that 3 points which are almost five years old make that big a difference to your premium, but not all offences are equal - what are they for?

If you can't find cheaper cover on the comparison sites, one thing you can do is to find a policy with a low cancellation fee for now, even if it's a little more expensive than the cheapest one. Then in eight weeks time you can cancel it, get most of your money back, and take out a new policy without having to declare the old points.

Coigach

One thing you've got to watch is that insurers often share information with each other.

You've got to answer all the questions honestly or insurers, if they find out you haven't acted in utmost good faith, will not pay out in the event of a claim.

Some underwriters won't be interested in old "expired" points, others will. What you'll have to look for is an insurer whose proposal form doesn't demand you reveal those points. However, you'll possibly find that many have a question which asks whether you have EVER been declined insurance or had special terms imposed ......

It's one of these areas where a good broker can often be useful.

InsideInsurance

Insurance doesnt actually care about "points on your license"

Insurers care about the criminal offence you committed, if its expired under the Rehabilitation of Offenders act and what punishment you received if its a Motoring offence. Hence why they ask if you've been convicted of an offence in the last 5 years rather than asking how many points you've got on your license.

Its evidently going to be a high risk strategy to lie about the conviction date and say its over 5 years ago when it isnt

Aretnap

Coigach wrote: »

Some underwriters won't be interested in old "expired" points, others will. What you'll have to look for is an insurer whose proposal form doesn't demand you reveal those points. However, you'll possibly find that many have a question which asks whether you have EVER been declined insurance or had special terms imposed ......

The OP hasn't been declined insurance or had special terms imposed, unless there's something he hasn't told us. He's just been quoted a bit more than some other people. Unless you're that woman in Devon who reportedly has the lowest premium in the country, so have you.

rs65

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Its evidently going to be a high risk strategy to lie about the conviction date and say its over 5 years ago when it isnt

Particularly when the Access to Driver Data takes effect next summer.

OP, you risk having invalid insurance - and it will be found out.

DigForVictory

+1 for the cheapest to cancel one for a couple of months then onwards, under the rehabilitiation of offenders.
To make life a whisker more tricky for the insurance companies, use a different email address in 2 months time. Or that of a spouse. And, if you can, a different card to pay with. but then I enjoy going a bit Byzantine...

thenudeone

3 points alone from an offence 4 years ago shouldn't make that much difference to a quote, but you MUST tell the insurer, regardless. Your policy could be voided and you could be prosecuted if you don't.

It is an offence to lie when obtaining motor insurance.