Car insurance on different address

ash719

Hi,
The better half had a car accident yesterday. Everything has been reported to insurance and police immediately. She says it's other drivers fault he says it's her fault. I will leave insurance companies to sort that out.
The accident occurred in West Yorkshire and the young "gentleman" sounded like he was from West Yorkshire but he is insured in Lockerbie.
Now there is most likely nothing wrong in this scenario and the police just grinned when I highlighted this to them saying "we don't get involved in that stuff" and they didn't want to breathalise anyone either.
I wanted to ask the good folk here if anyone knows how legal this "gentleman's" insurance is and would the insurance company do anything about it or will they just say 50/50 and see you later.
Thanks.

ChrisK....._3

Insurance will say 50/50 because its cheaper than investigating
Why cant he get insurance in Lockerby?

ash719

I'm asking the question as I'm not sure. He might well have legitimate insurance. He might be from Lockerbie or he might go and park his car in Lockerbie every night. I was under the impression you had to insure at the address where your were staying the majority of the time. I don't know the ins and outs of car insurance so thought I'll seek your views.

Aretnap

It is possible that he actually does live in Lockerbie and was down to see his family this weekend... or it's possible that he obtained his insurance fraudulently. Who knows?

However if it's the latter it's unlikely to have much effect on your claim. There are in theory mechanisms for an insurer to retrospectively void a policy which was obtained fraudulently, however they're complex, and only give the insurer limited protection from paying third party claims anyway, so they wouldn't normally be invoked for a fairly minor accident. The insurer might well refuse to pay for the repairs to his own car, and might even attempt to bill him for whatever money they end up paying you - but those are his problems, not yours.

Whether the insurance company say 50/50 or not depends on what both parties claim actually happened (this is more important than their subjective opinions about who was at fault) and what, if any, evidence there is to support their accounts (witnesses, pattern of damage to the car etc).

Omgraeme

Most insurance policies will expect the policyholder to reside and for the insured vehicle to be kept at risk address. If not they may look to void the policy back to the date it was incepted.

Other insurers might not be too bothered, depending on the T&Cs.

The police should have probably checked as if the insurance company would look to void, he would be technically driving without insurance.

Car insurance is generally cheaper in Scotland compared to England which is why some people might misrepresent their address.

In terms of the claim, it shouldn’t affect your other half, even if the other driver is at fault.

keith1950

The 'gentlemans' insurance situation is purely between him and his insurance company.....it has nothing to do with you!
Are you bringing up spurious issues because you feel that your partner may in fact be at fault ?

sheramber

I sounded like I came from Scotland when I lived in England for 2 years.

Does that make my English address for insurance suspicious?

ash719

No its not "purely between him and his insurance compnay" its between him, his insurance company and my partners insurance company and I will and have passed on all and any concerns to the insurance and police.
I suspected it would be neither here nor there and the respective insurance companies will sort it out amongst them. This forum has confirmed what i already thought.
Thanks for the replies all.

ash719

As I said it might well be all legitimate......

SandraX

ash719 wrote: »

I'm asking the question as I'm not sure. He might well have legitimate insurance. He might be from Lockerbie or he might go and park his car in Lockerbie every night. I was under the impression you had to insure at the address where your were staying the majority of the time. I don't know the ins and outs of car insurance so thought I'll seek your views.

A clear cut no to that, EG, kept at address X as car is parked there overnight for whatever reason, poss working during the week and then returns address Y its perma address but leaves the car there as easier to return home by coach/plane/train or boat.

Just go ahead with the claim mate and cut your loses its a 50/50

Quentin

ash719 wrote: »

As I said it might well be all legitimate......

Assuming that you have comprehensive cover then whether or not the third party is legitimate or illegitimate is irrelevant.

Just leave this to your insurer to deal with

If it ends up 50/50 then you can pursue the third party for 50% of any uninsured losses you have experienced (eg your excess)

If it ends up the other side is found fully liable then you can pursue them for reimbursement of all your uninsured losses