Licence photo card and insurance

Chronicle

Hi all

I've searched the forum and have found the odd post or two with similar queries, but not much confirmed information unfortunately. My sister (who isn't great with computers, hence me asking!) took out insurance 16 days ago, received the policy etc via e-mail along with a receipt confirming purchase.

She was involved in a very minor damage only accident on Wednesday, and when contacting her provider they told her they had not received a copy of her drivers licence despite them sending out a letter (which she tells me she never received) requesting such. Back-and-to about being unaware of that, the insurance provider made her feel as if she wasn't covered for 3rd party damage with their comments whether the underwriter would pursue this for not providing the license. They told her to speak with the claims team, which she did, who took all the relevant information and that's been that for now, no further correspondence.

Thursday my sister realised she has now lost her driver's license when looking for it to send a copy to the insurance provider, and when contacting DVLA to report it lost and go through the process of applying for a new one - they advised her the photo card was out of date! 

I'm wondering if anyone can advise or share any experience of a similar situation? I would like to think she will receive her new licence within a week (or two - or is that optimistic?), however given she has had a damage only accident whilst (although not in possession) holding an out of date photo card, would the insurance be void? Her DVLA summary from a check code states "Driving status: You have a full driving licence" and "Current full licence". 

Many thanks!! 

Car_54

The photocard may be out of date, but her entitlement to drive is still valid until her 70th birthday.

Sandtree

Sounds like she has picked one of the bottom feeder brokers/intermediaries that quote cheap then ask for evidence to prove everything you told them was 100% accurate and if it isn't then suspiciously large additional premiums become payable because you've been the registered keeper of the car for 47 months not the 48 months you declared.

Assuming its still an outstanding query and the policy hadn't been cancelled already for her having failed to provide the information then she still has valid insurance at the time of the incident. They may delay dealing with her own damage until the indemnity checks are complete. 

She clearly needs to get a new card sorted and keep the insurers informed regularly even if its just telling them that the DVLA are still processing the request. Silence will be taken as non-compliance and will be grounds for them to cancel the policy which creates additional future issues.