IN10 License Endorsement

ms04uk

Hi all,

I got an IN10 added to my license in Jan 2011. (Long story involving moving abroad for a few months, having a direct debit set up to pay, the policy renewed, and money wasn't taken. Ended up meaning I got stopped by the police and charged for no insurance - my own fault I guess.)

According to gov.uk, the points must stay on for 4 years from the date of the offence. 4 x years has now expired.

I would now like to hire a car to go on a trip around europe, however the companies seem to say no to anyone with an IN10 - within a timescale of around 6-10 years.

If I "moved address", or "lost my license", the points will be taken off my license. Would that then mean that I wouldn't have to declare the points - would the car hire companies be able to find out?

Any help greatly appreciated - I hope you understand me asking this question!...

dacouch

They should be spent before six years, have a read of this and the link.

http://hub.unlock.org.uk/changestotheroa/

ms04uk

Hi Dacouch,

Thanks very much for the speedy reply.

Does this mean that the insurance companies (even those from abroad) have access to my convictions, even though they arent on the license that I would be handing over for them to see?

Car_54

I believe you can apply for a new licence at any time (for a fee - £20?) and if the points are more than 4-years-old (11 for drink offences) they won't appear on the new licence.

I don't see how the hire companies would then know.

dacouch

ms04uk wrote: »

Hi Dacouch,

Thanks very much for the speedy reply.

Does this mean that the insurance companies (even those from abroad) have access to my convictions, even though they arent on the license that I would be handing over for them to see?

You do not need to declare spent convictions to a UK Insurer, if the Insurer does penalise you for a spent conviction they can get in trouble.

If you're worried ask for a new licence after the convictions are spent.

UK Insurers tend to work from the date of the conviction and not the date of offence

thenudeone

Car_54 wrote: »

I don't see how the hire companies would then know.

If you are involved in a serious accident then believe me, they will find out.

The insurance may then be voided because of non-disclosure of material information (which is also a specific criminal offence).

Guess who the insurance company will turn to, to recover the costs which they have had to pay out to third parties?

Since when did - "You probably won't get caught" count as sound advice?

waamo

Who have you been looking to hire from? Most companies seem to be willing to hire a car providing the conviction is spent and you weren't banned.

Car_54

thenudeone wrote: »

If you are involved in a serious accident then believe me, they will find out.

The insurance may then be voided because of non-disclosure of material information (which is also a specific criminal offence).

Guess who the insurance company will turn to, to recover the costs which they have had to pay out to third parties?

Since when did - "You probably won't get caught" count as sound advice?

They might find out about a spent conviction, but as dacouch has pointed out they can't do anything about it.

What is this "specific criminal offence"? What would be the charge?

Aretnap

The issue with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act is that it only applies in the UK. AFAIK a foreign car hire company or insurer would be entitled to ask you about convictions which were spent in the UK. The US government for example will want to know about all your convictions, spent or otherwise, if you want to go to the States, and woe betide you if you don't disclose them.

Most European contries do have an equivalent of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Ireland seems to be a notable exception), but the precise terms and the lengths of time involved doubtless vary from country to country, so I wouldn't rely on it being spent abroad after any particular length of time (or at all) without checking.

Things doubtless get more complicated still if you book a foreign car hire through a UK company or insurer - the ROA would apply to the original contract, but things might get slightly murky if you're asked to sign a declaration when you arrive at the airport at the other end.

Whether they'd find out or not is a slightly different question, of course.

colino

Sorry OP, rarely so much balls written in so few responses. Just like when you apply for car insurance, don't you think the conviction, the licence and the questions about driving without insurance are separate for a reason?
Like insurance and all things actuarial, it doesn't have anything to do with law or your licence, you have been convicted of an insurance offence with a motor vehicle and it is their prerogative to decline a potential hirer taking many thousands of pounds worth of their goods at all, never mind overseas.

Car_54

colino wrote: »

Sorry OP, rarely so much balls written in so few responses. Just like when you apply for car insurance, don't you think the conviction, the licence and the questions about driving without insurance are separate for a reason?
Like insurance and all things actuarial, it doesn't have anything to do with law or your licence, you have been convicted of an insurance offence with a motor vehicle and it is their prerogative to decline a potential hirer taking many thousands of pounds worth of their goods at all, never mind overseas.

So, do you believe that car hire companies are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act?