Insurance cover when driving under the legal driving limit

Linaria

Hi, I have no idea if this is a stupid question, as I am not from the UK and I don't have a driving licence myself yet, but I recently found myself in an online discussion with some other people from my country, where the drink driving limit is practically zero, who said that even if you're under the limit, UK insurance companies won't pay a penny if you've had anything to drink.

That means that if you had a beer an hour ago, someone else crashes into you, but it turns out that you had a blood alcohol level of 0.1,or 0.2 (0.8 being the limit in England), any insurance company would deny you any payouts and you could end up in serious debt.

As the people I know in the UK seem relatively relaxed about having a beer or two and driving a couple of hours later, I was surprised at someone saying this, and I can't find any information about it online. Honestly just very curious how it works.

agrinnall

"People" are talking nonsense.

Linaria

They were very clear about me being an utter moron for believing that insurance companies will pay anything if you've had a beer, but that might just be people on the Internet again.

uk1

Linaria wrote: »

As the people I know in the UK seem relatively relaxed about having a beer or two and driving a couple of hours later, I was surprised at someone saying this, and I can't find any information about it online. Honestly just very curious how it works.

They are not completely wrong but you are certainly not an utter moron.

The drink-drive limit is set for criminal convictions and has no direct relevance to car insurers except where it specifically limits their obligations to accidents caused by drivers drinking whilst over the legal limit. However some insurers simply state that they will not cover for claims whilst the driver is driving whilst under the influence of alcohol without stating any more specific details.

It is quite possible for an accident to have been caused and when a driver is tested some time later they are then just under the limit. Or the drink has with other medications rendered the driver impaired. The police might state in their accident report that they believe that a factor in the accident was alcohol but when the driver was tested some time later they were just below the limit. Insurers may take that evidence to decline cover for the insured. To be clear they are obligated to meet third-party claims but may decline their insured's own damage and may even decide to try and claim what they have paid out from their insured.

GoCompare are a large UK insurance comparison site warn about this. Although they do not specify which companies they have a "Car Insurance Myths" page on which they state:

9. My insurance policy is invalid if I drink and drive

It depends. A drink driving conviction could well invalidate any claim you try to make for injury to yourself or damage to your own car or property. Some insurers will not pay out if you are under the influence of drink or drugs. This means that your insurance could be invalid after one drink even if you are well within the legal limit.

https://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/car-insurance-myths/

Aretnap

Most UK insurance policies don't actually have any drink/drugs exclusion at all, so your claim would be paid in full even if you were completely sozzled - just as it would be paid if you were not looking where you were going, driving too fast, going through a red light or otherwise driving like a prat.

A few insurers such as Admiral (Page 20 - here) do have a specific clause which says that you wonn't be covered if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs - but they tend to be worded in terms of the legal drink-drive limit and don't allow the insurer to refuse to pay a claim just because you had a small amount of alcohol in your system.

uk1

Aretnap wrote: »

Most UK insurance policies don't actually have any drink/drugs exclusion at all, so your claim would be paid in full even if you were completely sozzled - just as it would be paid if you were not looking where you were going, driving too fast, going through a red light or otherwise driving like a prat.

A few insurers such as Admiral (Page 20 - here) do have a specific clause which says that you wonn't be covered if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs - but they tend to be worded in terms of the legal drink-drive limit and don't allow the insurer to refuse to pay a claim just because you had a small amount of alcohol in your system.

So it is your belief that most UK insurers would meet a claim in full for damage to their insured’s car made by a banned driver who drove at twice the speed limit whilst drunk whilst chatting on their phone.

EdGasketTheSecond

'banned' no, the rest yes.