Got Private Plate - Forgot to inform Insurer

Harrry09

Hi, got a private plate in May and forgot to inform the insurance provider. Policed stopped me for not having insurance on the new plate recently and said I will receive a letter from the court. I asked my insurance Provider (Esure) to give an indemnity letter as the car is still insured (on the old reg) but they refused to do so. Is there anything I can do to avoid this 6 points? Thanks

DE_612183

I doubt it - you didn't inform the insurer of the changes to the policy so as far as they were concerned you are not covered.

I'd try and ask the police to take a nicer view of this to avoid the points.

MX5huggy

Trawl through the ombudsman decisions to find a similar case. I can only find cases where the reg was recorded in error (but I only looked at about 5). Like https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decision/DRN5000636.pdf

search here https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decisions-case-studies/ombudsman-decisions/search?Keyword=Registration+&Sort=relevance

Roz81

I think your insurer needs to informed if you change reg plate.  It's in their T&Cs.

DullGreyGuy

MX5huggy said:

Trawl through the ombudsman decisions to find a similar case. I can only find cases where the reg was recorded in error (but I only looked at about 5). Like https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decision/DRN5000636.pdf

search here https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decisions-case-studies/ombudsman-decisions/search?Keyword=Registration+&Sort=relevance

But in that case there was a system error with the broker... it should have done a DVLA check that would have flagged there is no vehicle registered with that plate. They also failed to provide the customer with documents therefore denying him the second chance to double check the details.

There are several other cases of customers claiming they entered correct insurance details into online systems but the insurer somehow made a mistake and changed the details when issuing the policy. All of these cases appear to be rejected.

This however is different, the OP has simply failed to advise of a change of registration rather than having told the insurer and they've some how messed it up. There is a case https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decision/DRN2255027.pdf however may give the OP hope as the ombudsman ruled that a letter of indemnity should be provided despite it being purely the policyholder's failure to advise of the update

akira181

It's your responsibility to inform the insurer immediately of any changes you make to your policy or vehicle, no matter how small. Be it a change of radio, alloys, paint colour, marriage surname, etc. Even factory fitted optional extras that don't come as standard must be reported, even if you bought second hand and it was the original owner who purchased the optional extras.

A licence plate is definitely something you need to inform your insurer of. "I forgot / I didn't know" is not a valid excuse or defence unfortunately and an insurance company isn't going to help you bypass their T&Cs, accidental or otherwise.

I don't imagine the police or magistrate will be particularly sympathetic either but there's a slim chance you can make a case with what DullGreyGuy posted. I wouldn't get my hopes up too much though and be prepared to take it on the chin

Flight3287462

Why didn't your car get towed?  You would then have to have had the insurance amended before it was collected with a chunky bill to recover it from the pound.

Car_54

My understanding of the Ombudsman's approach to cases like this ('accidental' non-disclosure or incorrect info) is to ask whether the true information would have resulted in a different assessment of risk, and a higher premium.

Would the insurer have regarded a vanity plate as increasing risk? I'd humbly suggest the opposite - if anything, it would make the car less likely to be stolen!

Other than that, the vehicle they're covering hasn't changed, it's still VIN xxxxxx.

Grey_Critic

Pay the fine - unless you want to make a lawyer even richer.

Harrry09

@Flight3287462 The police officer saw that I was travelling with my pregnant wife and so he gave me a 30 min window to get the car insured and show him a document with valid insurance for that plate. He said he had to still report me though. 

When the police officer stopped me I was unable to show him a valid insurance even on my old reg plate because Esure had some technical issue on my account and it was saturday 8pm so could not call them. I could have shown them my bank transactions to prove I pay for insurance but it didnt occur to me somehow as I was in total panic.  I later called Esure on sunday and they have update the reg plate and the inusrance on the new plate started from sunday. 

Harrry09

@DullGreyGuy do you think if I contact Esure again and show this case document from ombudsmen would they consider and give me a letter of indemnity?