Driving with No Insurance

PasturesNew

Damn... having way too many Senior Moments this week

spookylukey

atchaa wrote: »

how did the cop find out the intricacies of your insurance policy?

All insurers now report insurance details (usually within 24 hours of the policy being in force) to the Police National computer (PNC). It will show whether or not your cover allows you to drive other vehicles. A lot of people presume that because they are full comp their policy allows them to drive other vehicles 3rd party. Obviously this was not the case for the OP, in his/her case because he/she is under 25, but a lot of the major insurers are now removing it as a clause from ALL fully comp policies, regardless of the age of the driver.

If found guilty of driving without insurance at court (which I'm afraid the OP will be as it's a black or white situation, even if he/she honestly believed he was insured that is not a defence) the minimum punishment will be 6 points or more and a £200 fine or more. The OP won't 'lose' their licence but will be revoked to provisional status which will mean that they have to take both the theory and practical test again, there's no time limit to when he/she can take their test so in theory he/she could take it the day after the conviction and hold a full licence again straight away albeit with 6+ points on

spookylukey

jackieb wrote: »

He had to get a stamped and signed certificate from a garage, which the police had given him, stating that his lights were now working, and this cost him £5. The garage apologised for charging for this. If the police had bothered to look out into the car park when my son went down with his papers they would have seen that he's replaced the bulb.

It's not about them not bothering to have a look at the bulb, whatever 'defect' the vehicle had (in your son's case a simple blown bulb) has to be repaired to MOT standards which is why the garage has to stamp the form to verify that the 'repair' has been done to MOT standards.

anewman

Surely the easiest way is to keep a small toolkit and spare bulbs with the car, then if the police pull you up, thank them for pointing it out and replace the bulb there and then.

grem_2

atchaa wrote: »

how did the cop find out the intricacies of your insurance policy?

I ask because I know someone who regularly drives uninsured (car is insured on parents name), and has been stopped several times. Each time he has just said he is insured, and whatever checks the cop did turned up nothing, and he was sent on his way.

Its a shame when your own honesty brings you down, makes me furious

Strange!

The person you know driving uninsured on a regular basis makes me far more furious than the OP's scenario! Ever thought of reporting them?

mattymoo

silvercar wrote: »

The really bad news is that 6 points means you will lose your licence and, as a newish driver, have to retake both your theory and practical test.

Double check your insurance policy and also your friends. Some policies allow for others to drive their car if they are taken ill.

I'm pretty certain being over the limit will not be classed as ill. Try it by all means but the drunken friends insurers will not offer a lifeline here.

Pav122

Hi all

Thanks for your responses

To clarify a few points :-
The Officer asked me how i was insured, i said i was insured through my own policy. He checked on his Police radio they confirmed that i was fully comp, he said is he insured to drive other cars. It came back that on the computer it said i wasnt. The Policeman said this was strange, as fully comp would normally mean i am insured to drive other cars. So he got my insurance details from his Police Radio and rang Tesco Insurance, who confirmed that i was not covered!!!!!

I am in Court Friday November 2nd AM, so is it legal/possible for me to ring up now book a new theory test for the Friday afternoon, and then a Driving Test for the Saturday morning?? Or do i have to wait unitl i am banned to re book these tests??

Badger_Lady

Pav122 wrote: »

So he got my insurance details from his Police Radio and rang Tesco Insurance, who confirmed that i was not covered!!!!!

Ah... Tesco Insurance. Great for prices, but a lot of things are trimmed off to save on cost.

I was starting to panic reading this thread, because I deliberately went fully comp in order to drive other cars, and I'm 24! But I've read my policy and it doesn't mention any exclusions based on age - just a higher excess for being under 25 but still covered (TPO) on other cars. Whew!

Moncs_2

Pav122 wrote: »

Hi all

Thanks for your responses

To clarify a few points :-
The Officer asked me how i was insured, i said i was insured through my own policy. He checked on his Police radio they confirmed that i was fully comp, he said is he insured to drive other cars. It came back that on the computer it said i wasnt. The Policeman said this was strange, as fully comp would normally mean i am insured to drive other cars. So he got my insurance details from his Police Radio and rang Tesco Insurance, who confirmed that i was not covered!!!!!

I am in Court Friday November 2nd AM, so is it legal/possible for me to ring up now book a new theory test for the Friday afternoon, and then a Driving Test for the Saturday morning?? Or do i have to wait unitl i am banned to re book these tests??

Sorry to hear that mate, I would assumed the same thing if I was in your shoes.

Regarding booking the tests, IF you do get banned you won't be able to book the tests until the ban is completed

DaisyFlower

Badger Ladey, it will only tell you on your certificate of insurance if you have the DOC entitlement and not the policy book (policy book is standard issue, there are only one or two companies who give this to under 25's so I would double check. It will be a clause under the registration number on your certificate if you have this cover.