Car insurance - named driver had accident in their car: what do I do?

geekonthepc

Hi there,

Little bit of a difficult question which I'm struggling to find an accurate answer for - please could someone advise?

I own my car, which I insure for myself with two named drivers. One of the named drivers had an accident in another car (NOT my car/policy) in June which neither we, nor their insurer, believes is their fault. They are currently chasing it as a fault claim on the other drivers part but, as we know, insurers are slow to do anything so we don't yet have final confirmation of who is at fault.

The driver in question has not driven my car since, so as yet I haven't known what to do. However, they'd like to drive it again soon and before they do I would like to know where I stand.

My questions are:

• Do I need to notify my current insurer NOW that my named driver has had an accident in their own car (not mine) since I took out the policy or is it something I tell them at renewal?
• Their insurer has told them they are chasing it as a not at fault claim, and have told them they can tell their new insurer it is non-fault until such a point that anything changes (hopefully it doesn't!) - am I OK to do the same?

Has anyone else had a similar experience they can comment on?

Many thanks indeed!

geekonthepc

geekonthepc

http://www.admiral.com/magazine/guides/motor/important-points-to-tell-your-car-insurer

Having done further research, Admiral says (they aren't my insurer) that they should be told about other drivers claims on other vehicles at the point of renewal. Is this industry standard practise?

"Any claims - you'll need to tell us about any accidents or incidents whether fault or non-fault that you or your named drivers have had during the previous year. Even if the claim wasn't made through us or was in a car that isn't insured with us, you'll still need to let us know."

Quentin

There is no etandard practise


Read up in your own policy when you are required to inform your insurer about this. It will either be "immediately" or "at renewal"


(You also need to inform your insurer about any other changes to the profile of all your named drivers as well as yourself (eg, change of job/convictions/claims/dvla health issues etc)

geekonthepc

Thank you for your response, Quentin. I've just checked my document of insurance, read the section entitled 'Changes during your period of cover', where it says 'You need to tell us asap if...' and this scenario is not mentioned - only accdidents involving my vehicle (which it did not). This leads me to believe they should be told at renewal. Does anyone else have any experience in this situation?

geekonthepc

I quote from my insurance document:
"At renewal, you must also let us know if any of the information has changed for you and/or anyone insured under your policy, including any claims or motoring convictions/endorsements."

I believe this is case closed.

stockton_2

geekonthepc wrote: »

Has anyone else had a similar experience they can comment on?


geekonthepc

I am no expert and there is obviously no consensus of opinion from the experts on here so I hope you do not mind if I play devils advocate here. If I was an insurer and one of the named drivers had been involved in an accident, I would want to know about it. If the named driver was not going to drive the vehicle before the renewal that might be a different matter; but I would not take chances.

Quentin

stockton wrote: »

I am no expert and there is obviously no consensus of opinion from the experts on here so I hope you do not mind if I play devils advocate here. If I was an insurer and one of the named drivers had been involved in an accident, I would want to know about it. If the named driver was not going to drive the vehicle before the renewal that might be a different matter; but I would not take chances.

You shouldn't volunteer any information mid term to an insurer unless you have to as set out in the policy.

Most insurers charge an admin fee for making mid term changes and following your advice if in fact there is no need to do so could be an unnecessary expense.

As posted previously check the policy wording to see what and when things like this should be reported your insurer.

And if any change needs reporting immediately you must do so irrespective of whether or not the driver concerned is intending to drive the car or not. In the event of any claim failure to comply over a notifiable chat can be seen as a breach allowing reduced payout/claim rejection/voiding of policy etc

geekonthepc

I think that answers the question then. As I posted before, the excerpt explicitly says notify them at renewal.

Thank you for your help.

stockton_2

Quentin wrote: »

You shouldn't volunteer any information mid term to an insurer unless you have to as set out in the policy.

Most insurers charge an admin fee for making mid term changes and following your advice if in fact there is no need to do so could be an unnecessary expense.

As posted previously check the policy wording to see what and when things like this should be reported your insurer.

And if any change needs reporting immediately you must do so irrespective of whether or not the driver concerned is intending to drive the car or not. In the event of any claim failure to comply over a notifiable chat can be seen as a breach allowing reduced payout/claim rejection/voiding of policy etc

Thanks for the clarification Quentin. I do appreciate there might be an admin fee to pay. Perhaps I am not cut out to be an MSE'er. I would prefer to pay a little more and sleep soundly at night. But I realize I am an outsider here, in that regard.

Quentin

stockton wrote: »

I do appreciate there might be an admin fee to pay. Perhaps I am not cut out to be an MSE'er. I would prefer to pay a little more and sleep soundly at night. But I realize I am an outsider here, in that regard.

No point paying any fee if they don't want to be informed till renewal! Won't affect your sleep!