Mileage limit on Car Insurance

Bigphil1474

OP, how will they establish the miles you have actually driven since taking out the policy? Far as I know, only the MOT records mileage use, and unless that happened to be done on the same day you took out your policy, there's no way of them knowing the mileage reading at the start of your policy to the end of it, unless they asked for that info. Keep schtum and change it when you renew. If you have an accident tomorrow, your mileage will only be about 5k so far this year, won't it?

almillar

Unlike PCP, PCH agreements, your mileage isn't limited in your insurance policy. It's an estimate. If you're caught systematically estimating far too low, you'd be in trouble, but if you go over by a few thousand miles the odd year, I wouldn't be going anywhere near them to offer them even more money!

engineer_amy

While I don't recommend telling your insurer you do less miles than reality, in order to save a few pounds on renewal every year, who is to say that this year you made an estimate that turned out to be incorrect?
And did your insurer take a note of your mileage at the commencement of the policy? I cant recall ever giving my insurer a starting mileage when I got a quote/bought or renewed.
Unless you bought a car from new and had never moved insurer, I don't see how they would know that you had gone over the estimate.
Does UK mainland record mileage on MOT records? in NI the current mileage is recorded on the MOT certificate, however the MOT history is not searchable like it is in Eng, Scot and Wales. I think that would be the only way the insurer could check mileage year on year

longbb

Thanks all for those replied. Really grateful to see your opinion in such situation. I thought the insurer can find out the mileage from MOT records and service records. Unfortunately the services were done in the main dealer so I guess the information is available if insurer want to find out.

May I check what's people's opinion on the policy wording? Did I misunderstand the wording in believing all that could happen is to pay some additional premium in case a claim is needed?

alan_d

Re the mileage done - what if you were to lend your car to someone else, who has DoC cover via their own policy (and therefore no new policy or paperwork needed), and they do say 1000 miles in your car.
YOU have not driven those miles. but the car has covered more than estimated number.
No-one can prove if you did or did not drive the miles.
So I don't see how an insurance company can dispute this in a claim event.

engineer_amy

I would seem to agree that in the event a claim was made before the end of this period of insurance, and you were asked (and answered honestly) of the annual mileage, they would ask you to pay whatever the difference in premium would have been at the higher mileage (or possibly deduct it off any settlement payout you would get).


Given that there is only 2.5 months left until renewal, I would cross your fingers that you don't have to make any claim, and revise your estimate to reflect reality for the coming year's insurance. That's what I would do in your situation.


And to only be going over by 1.5k, its not a massive overshoot. Its not like you estimated 6k to keep the premium down, but were actually driving 25k per year, every year.

a.turner

engineer_amy wrote: »

While I don't recommend telling your insurer you do less miles than reality, in order to save a few pounds on renewal every year, who is to say that this year you made an estimate that turned out to be incorrect?
And did your insurer take a note of your mileage at the commencement of the policy? I cant recall ever giving my insurer a starting mileage when I got a quote/bought or renewed.
Unless you bought a car from new and had never moved insurer, I don't see how they would know that you had gone over the estimate.
Does UK mainland record mileage on MOT records? in NI the current mileage is recorded on the MOT certificate, however the MOT history is not searchable like it is in Eng, Scot and Wales. I think that would be the only way the insurer could check mileage year on year

It does yes and easily accessed by anyone

societys_child

Where the annual mileage has been exceeded, the premium will be increased to that which applies to the mileage driven.

OK.

If we become aware that the annual mileage has been exceeded at the time of a claim, an additional premium will be charged.

Ah, additional premium. So not just increased cost of the extra miles.

The higher premium will apply from the commencement of the period of insurance."

Back dated higher premium, how much higher? Could finish up costing far more than paying for the extra mileage now. It's a gamble . .

Tom99

Have you owned the car for a few years? If so what does you MOT mileage show? If its less than 6,000 I can't see a problem.

longbb

Clive_Woody wrote: »

From what I recall when I had an Aviva policy, if you update the policy online there is no admin fee charged. They also have an online chat function which if you talk nicely with them they will probably also update your policy with no admin fee.

I think you are right regarding no admin for online change. Thank you. However, not sure whether getting a quote online would then oblige me to pay whatever Aviva deems appropriate now? Feels better to stick to the policy and just leave it for now.