WarningTesco car insurance and sorn!!!

Cookie24

Be warned !!!

My car tax came up for renewal at the beginning of January just as I was about to go on holiday for a month, as the vehicle is parked off road I thought I would declare it SORN until my return.

My Tescos car insurance policy renewal notice came through for an automated renewal at the beginning of April. The quote was high so I called them to stop the automatic renewal.
During the conversation I mentioned that the vehicle was declared sorn at the beginning of Feb and was told that it was illegal to have an insurance policy on a vehicle which had been declared SORN and that my policy was being cancelled immediately and that I would be charged a cancellation fee for the 2 weeks remaining and loose my years no claims bonus.I was told that this was stated in the policy booklet.

After the call I checked my policy and could find no reference to this so called back, the second operator stated that he new nothing of this legal rqt and he would check and call back. On calling back he stated that it was not in the policy booklet and did I realise how big the policy booklet would be If all the conditions were in there!!!.

After a third 1 hour call to a senior supervisor (which i recorded with his knowledge) It transpired that there was no way that they could reinstate the policy and that I would loose the years no claims bonus. He admitted that the wording was not clear but insisted that Tescos would not insure any vehicle which is on the SORN database and that nothing could be done but that we could follow their complaints procedure.

Be warned people Tescos will not insure SORNED cars and will cancel your policy immediately if they find out you are off road declared.

So if you have a classic car or motorbike which you insure for a year but only take on the road during the better weather stay clear of TESCOS.

I will be following the complaints procedure and taking legal advice.

rs65

Cookie24 wrote: »

On calling back he stated that it was not in the policy booklet and did I realise how big the policy booklet would be If all the conditions were in there!!!.

If its not in the policy then its not a policy condition. I think he was getting confused between underwriting manual and policy conditions.

I have never know an insurer to refuse to insure SORN cars, but I've never bought insurance from a supermarket.

stator

Complaint then ombudsmen

agrinnall

I would hope that either the complaint or if necessary the FOS will get this resolved in your favour, but you are the architect of your own misfortune by failing to declare a material change when you decided to SORN. Had you done so you would have found out at the time that cover could not be provided and you would have been able to cancel the policy yourself and find a suitable alternative.

rs65

agrinnall wrote: »

but you are the architect of your own misfortune by failing to declare a material change when you decided to SORN.

Its only a material change if they asked the question at inception. If nothing else has changed, it is effectively parked in the drive or garaged a bit longer than normal.

OP, has anything else changed such address it's kept at or garaged vs driveway etc?

Cookie24

No nothing changed at all, car parked on private drive as always. If they won't insure a sorned car how could you ever obtain insurance with them in order to remove the sorn as you need the insurance before you can obtain the tax. They do not ask if your vehicle is taxed when you apply for their insurance.

Quentin

You really must follow the advice of the senior supervisor (regarding complaining)


They have cancelled your policy (meaning you will now have a cancelled policy on your record - for evermore - and must disclose this to other insurers when asking for quotes), and you need this removing from your record (as well as compensation for their unfair action causing you to lose a year's NCD, as well as any other costs you encounter before your complaint is resolved)


Once you complain they have 8 weeks to respond before you can escalate the complaint to the FOS.

Cookie24

Thanks Quentin

They are sending me the complaint forms.

When I pointed out the cancelled policy stigma the senior supervisor supposedly spoke to his advisors and was told that I don't need to declare it to anyone. When it was pointed out that it was a yes or no answer on their application form he went very quiet.

Quentin

Cookie24 wrote: »

When I pointed out the cancelled policy stigma the senior supervisor supposedly spoke to his advisors and was told that I don't need to declare it to anyone......

Separately (to your complaint) ask the senior supervisor to confirm this back to you (in writing)


If they agree then keep the letter in your file for ever!

caliew

Hi, I have worked in insurance for a number of years and I have just left due to childcare reasons. Unfortunately if a vehicle is SORN then it cannot be insured.

With regards to your no claims bonus did you have the bonus protected? How many years NCD did you build up? Bonus protection tends to come into play usually around 4 years, many companies tend to taper off after 9 years but some continue on with the trail of NCD. No claims bonus tends to last for 2/3 years on a private motor policy so if your vehicle is SORN for less than 2 years then you can pick up the trail again once you put your private car back on the road. I don't know Tesco's T&C's surrounding the no claims discount as I did not work for them, however I know they are right that you cannot insure a SORN car the reason being the car has to be roadworthy and a SORN car is not on the road.

Hope this helps

sheramber

not a recommendation

http://www.sorninsurance.co.uk/