Car insurance post-stroke

Yorkie1

My Dad had a stroke a few weeks ago. It has affected his cognitive functioning (decision making, personality) rather than the classic physical symptoms.


He is now out of hospital etc. and has obviously been advised not to drive until DVLA give him the ok.


He is the policyholder for my parents' car insurance. Subject to anything in the policy, do my parents need to let the insurance company know immediately, do you think?


Mum has no NCD in her own right; does anyone have experience of how the insurance company may approach this either once informed or, more particularly, at renewal? They are in their mid-70's.

Quentin

Normally you don't need to inform anyone during the first month following the stroke (when you must not drive)


But you say he has been told not to drive until DVLA say so???


He needs to get this clarified with his doctor - if he should not drive after the month is up then the DVLA have to be informed, at which time he would have to inform his insurer.


Insurers normally are happy to transfer policy and NCD to the spouse in circumstances like this when the policyholder can't drive.

Yorkie1

Thanks, Quentin.

The stroke occurred at the start of July; Dad was admitted to a hospital and then an assessment unit for 3 weeks from about 10 days after the stroke. He was discharged nearly 2 weeks ago, with the advice still not to drive. There's been changing advice on how long that period should last - perhaps another 2 or 3 months at minimum, and not until he's been cleared by a doctor?

I'm not sure whether the assessment unit said they might inform DVLA or whether my parents have to do so.

It's reassuring to hear the general approach of insurers, even though of course this will be case specific.

Quentin

Yes, your Father does need to inform DVLA and his insurer as the month since the stroke has passed and he still has symptoms.

Yorkie1

Thanks Quentin.

InsideInsurance

The guidelines on strokes and driving are at https://www.gov.uk/stroke-and-driving & https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/403094/INF188X3_030215.pdf

As long as he is allowed to drive then generally insurers arent interested, though most will note that the DVLA have oked the condition. If he isnt fit to drive then as Quentin says, many insurers are sympathetic and will transfer the NCD to the spouse

Yorkie1

Fab. I'll pass the links on to the parents.

Yorkie1

Thanks for the help above. My parents contacted Aviva, notified them of the situation and got my mother listed as lead driver (Dad's licence having been suspended on medical grounds as anticipated).


Unfortunately, Dad had a further stroke a week ago and died on Thursday.


To complicate matters, my parents are in the process of replacing the car. Mum paid the final lump of money today, and the dealer will bring it to the house on Monday (and collect the existing car in p-x).


So, we have a current Aviva car insurance policy with Dad as p/holder on the existing car; a 7 day free policy on the new car from Peugeot from Monday; and will need to insure the new vehicle properly.


My thoughts are that it would be most straightforward to simply stay with Aviva for the duration of this policy. We will need to ask them to change the p/h to Mum, transfer Dad's NCD to her, and then update the new car details.


Does that sound about right?


Many thanks for any comments.

agrinnall

Sorry to hear about your dad.

Staying with Aviva will probably be the simplest option at a time when there will be a lot of other things on your minds. The one thing I'm not sure about is where you say "transfer dad's NCD to her", NCD is specific to a person so it can't be transferred to anyone else, if she doesn't have a NCD of her own then it's very likely that Aviva will require an additional premium compared to what your dad would have paid for the remainder of the policy.

elle_may

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Thanks for the help above. My parents contacted Aviva, notified them of the situation and got my mother listed as lead driver (Dad's licence having been suspended on medical grounds as anticipated).


Unfortunately, Dad had a further stroke a week ago and died on Thursday.


To complicate matters, my parents are in the process of replacing the car. Mum paid the final lump of money today, and the dealer will bring it to the house on Monday (and collect the existing car in p-x).


So, we have a current Aviva car insurance policy with Dad as p/holder on the existing car; a 7 day free policy on the new car from Peugeot from Monday; and will need to insure the new vehicle properly.


My thoughts are that it would be most straightforward to simply stay with Aviva for the duration of this policy. We will need to ask them to change the p/h to Mum, transfer Dad's NCD to her, and then update the new car details.


Does that sound about right?


Many thanks for any comments.

SO sorry for your loss, my thoughts are with you.:sad:

Poppie68

I had a stroke in March, my Dr advised against driving until further notice DVLA and insurance said as long as I followed my DR's advice I was fine...I was given the go ahead from my DR a few weeks ago to resume driving.... So as long as he follows his DR's advice he will be fine.