Sold my car and now been told it's caused an accident. Help!

ToriP

I had never thought forgetting to cancel insurance on a legally sold car would result in this series of consequences. What a sobering thought.

I hope it works out well for you OP, best wishes

Marktheshark

The loss of the years NCB is often what drives people to take the risk and leave the policy running so they get the NCB.

facade

Also the cheaper insurance policies have a stupendous charge for cancellation (esure charge £55!), which is ridiculous, as cancelling the policy will save them a great deal of grief (yes they can get their money back, but it might take 500 years)

The plan is to make their profit, so if you cancel sfter 6 months you get a pro-rata refund, less £55, but if there is a week to go most people won't pay £55 to cancel something that runs out in a week....

AdrianC

facade wrote: »

Also the cheaper insurance policies have a stupendous charge for cancellation (esure charge £55!), which is ridiculous

Perhaps if people didn't JUST look at the premium when buying insurance, but looked at the policy as a whole...

chiny

facade wrote: »

Also the cheaper insurance policies have a stupendous charge for cancellation (esure charge £55!), which is ridiculous, as cancelling the policy will save them a great deal of grief

Mrs Chiny has just had to pay eSure over £30 to advise that she has retired (change of occupation, change of use, less mileage). At least the eSure rep had the grace to sound embarrassed. This thread convinces me it was money that had to be spent.

Good luck to the OP.

EdGasket

I always let my insurance run on a sold car and then when I got a replacement, just changed the car. What is the alternative? You would have to cancel the insurance when old car sold which as everyone here knows is expensive because of the cancellation charge and not getting pro-rata refund of outstanding premiums returned. Then you'd have to commence new insurance when you get the replacement car.

I find it hard to believe this thread i.e. why should a policyholder be liable for the claim?? That is what you pay the insurance company for. Has anyone thought of challenging the legality of the insurance company trying to recover the cost of claim from the insured?

Retrogamer

EdGasket wrote: »

I find it hard to believe this thread i.e. why should a policyholder be liable for the claim?? That is what you pay the insurance company for. Has anyone thought of challenging the legality of the insurance company trying to recover the cost of claim from the insured?

This is only one thread of many. I've seen these threads on PepiPoo and Pistonheads as well as various stories in the newspaper. I don't doubt their authenticity.

Leaving your insurance to run on a vehicle you sold is a gamble. This thread is what happens when you lose.

EdGasket

So why don't insurance companies just state that once you sell a car, they will cease to cover it whether you notify them or not? That would solve the problem.

Also how are you supposed to go about transferring insurance from one car to the next if you don't buy the next until you have sold the existing one, without cancelling and then starting insurance again which is expensive due to the admin charges and unfair refund policies on partially used insurance?

Stoke

Love to know how this turned out

Johno100

EdGasket wrote: »

So why don't insurance companies just state that once you sell a car, they will cease to cover it whether you notify them or not? That would solve the problem.

Also how are you supposed to go about transferring insurance from one car to the next if you don't buy the next until you have sold the existing one, without cancelling and then starting insurance again which is expensive due to the admin charges and unfair refund policies on partially used insurance?

I would think the logical thing to do would be to contact your insurers, tell them you have today sold car x and you will be in contact with them in a few days/weeks time when you have bought your new one. Any decent insurer shouldn't have a problem leaving the policy running in the interim.