Cancelled insurance policy

NisarSadiq

Need urgent help please.

My insurance was cancelled earlier this month, have been insured as additional driver with my brother being main driver since June 2016, he was registered keeper up until May 2017 and then I became registered keeper. Had an accident (non fault) in January this year and other party paid out and now insurance have said due to not declaring that the details had changed of registered keeper they have voided insurance from June 2018-May 2019. What can I do as the quotes I'm getting now are £10,000 plus, have been in touch with brokers that say they help out in these instances and im still being quoted the same. I'm 42 and have had a full licence for only 2 and a half years.

Manxman_in_exile

We just renewed our insurance last week and I'm sure they asked who the RK was. Did they not ask you? You must have renewed at least once between May 2017 and the accident in January (let alone now).


The only advice I've seen on these boards is shop around specialist brokers.


Also (not wanting to worry you but...) is there another problem if you've effectively had no insurance with effect from June last year?

NisarSadiq

My brother renewed the policy last year (June 2018) and according to the letter they sent out of cancellation this month it states when asked if details are the same you replied 'yeah, yep'

AdrianC

You can see why they're not happy with you being "named driver" with your brother as policyholder, once the car changes from him to you as RK. Especially since the policy has been renewed TWICE since you changed the keeper.

I'm presuming that your fairly newly-minted licence made your premium much higher than in his name - that's called "fronting", and insurers hate it for fairly obvious reasons.

chrisw

It does seem rather harsh as I can't see that the registered keeper would particularly affect the risk.

You could try the Financial Ombudsman who can decide whether you've been treated fairly.

https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/motor-insurance-misrepresentation.html

AdrianC

chrisw wrote: »

It does seem rather harsh as I can't see that the registered keeper would particularly affect the risk.

It's the doubt it casts over who the main driver is that's causing the issue here.

If the OP is not the main driver, why transfer the car to his name?

Add in the timescale, over 18 months between keeper change and collision, for a driver with only six months of holding a licence at the time of the keeper change, and it becomes a sin of commission instead of simply one of omission.

TooManyPoints

So your brother renewed his policy in June '18 when he had transferred the registration of the car to you? He didn't declare that nor did he declare the accident that had occurred.

I can see why the insurers are miffed. Insurance policies depend on both sides demonstrating "Utmost Good Faith". Your brother withheld material facts from his insurers and that is why they cancelled the policy. As mentioned, there is also the suspicion of "fronting" in the first instance which must also have played a part in their decision. The facts withheld may not have affected the premium (though that is arguable). It is because they were withheld that caused the cancellation. I don't hold out much hope if you appeal to the Ombudsman.

AdrianC

TooManyPoints wrote: »

So your brother renewed his policy in June '18 when he had transferred the registration of the car to you?

And in June 17, a month after changing the keeper in May 17.

chrisw

AdrianC wrote: »

Add in the timescale, over 18 months between keeper change and collision, for a driver with only six months of holding a licence at the time of the keeper change, and it becomes a sin of commission instead of simply one of omission.

I have some sympathy with the OP as I've done it myself and it's easily done, particularly with auto renewal.

Having failed to find cheaper quotes, I was about to let my wife's car insurance auto renew last month and noticed it said she was neither the owner nor registered keeper, even though she is. I've no idea how long it's been like this, it must have happened as we've juggled keeper and main driver over the years due to me having company cars.

When I contacted the insurance company they didn't seem particularly concerned and it made no difference to the premium, although in our case we have similar driving records.

AdrianC

chrisw wrote: »

When I contacted the insurance company they didn't seem particularly concerned and it made no difference to the premium, although in our case we have similar driving records.

And that's the big difference with the OP, whose licence was shiny-fresh at the time.

NisarSadiq

Thanks for the replies.