Motability insurance issue

JeanyG

My husband has a motability car for the past 15 years. 
We've had this one for 2years.
My husband backed into another car at a carpark recently.  
We reported this to motability insurance Direct Line and they informed us he wasn't on the insurance policy.  
I'm the designated extra driver. Always have been and do most of the driving.  
We were shocked to realise he'd been occasionally driving for 2 years without insurance. 
Sometimes with our son and grandson in the car.
We've never had a problem before, they'd always insured both of us. 
We've now been told we should have checked our policy when picking up the new car. 
This is our 4th car and never had to worry before or  check as motability have always sorted this out. 
I can't understand why my husband wasn't put on the policy this time! Nothing has changed in our circumstances.  
They are now saying we will have to pay for the damages to the other vehicle.  
What I am really annoyed about is if we'd have had a serious accident with our family in the car and not been insured it would have been a catastrophe.  
Any idea what we can do please 🙏 

TheSpectator

JeanyG said:

My husband has a motability car for the past 15 years. 
We've had this one for 2years.
My husband backed into another car at a carpark recently.  
We reported this to motability insurance Direct Line and they informed us he wasn't on the insurance policy.  
I'm the designated extra driver. Always have been and do most of the driving.  
We were shocked to realise he'd been occasionally driving for 2 years without insurance. 
Sometimes with our son and grandson in the car.
We've never had a problem before, they'd always insured both of us. 
We've now been told we should have checked our policy when picking up the new car. 
This is our 4th car and never had to worry before or  check as motability have always sorted this out. 
I can't understand why my husband wasn't put on the policy this time! Nothing has changed in our circumstances.  
They are now saying we will have to pay for the damages to the other vehicle.  
What I am really annoyed about is if we'd have had a serious accident with our family in the car and not been insured it would have been a catastrophe.  
Any idea what we can do please 🙏 

Who's name is the policy in?

Ultimately it's your responsibility to ensure all drivers are covered. Renewal documents should clearly show who is covered to drive.

DullGreyGuy

JeanyG said:

My husband has a motability car for the past 15 years. 
We've had this one for 2years.
My husband backed into another car at a carpark recently.  
We reported this to motability insurance Direct Line and they informed us he wasn't on the insurance policy.  
I'm the designated extra driver. Always have been and do most of the driving.  
We were shocked to realise he'd been occasionally driving for 2 years without insurance. 
Sometimes with our son and grandson in the car.
We've never had a problem before, they'd always insured both of us. 
We've now been told we should have checked our policy when picking up the new car. 
This is our 4th car and never had to worry before or  check as motability have always sorted this out. 
I can't understand why my husband wasn't put on the policy this time! Nothing has changed in our circumstances.  
They are now saying we will have to pay for the damages to the other vehicle.  
What I am really annoyed about is if we'd have had a serious accident with our family in the car and not been insured it would have been a catastrophe.  
Any idea what we can do please 🙏 

Have you checked the policy documents? Does it name him? 

Whilst I know the motability scheme conceptually I dont know the practicalities of how it works in terms of ordering a new vehicle, how the insurance is setup on it etc. Is it a new policy with a new car? Do they transfer the old contract to the new car? Do you deal with the insurance or does the scheme? 

JeanyG

DullGreyGuy said:

JeanyG said:

My husband has a motability car for the past 15 years. 
We've had this one for 2years.
My husband backed into another car at a carpark recently.  
We reported this to motability insurance Direct Line and they informed us he wasn't on the insurance policy.  
I'm the designated extra driver. Always have been and do most of the driving.  
We were shocked to realise he'd been occasionally driving for 2 years without insurance. 
Sometimes with our son and grandson in the car.
We've never had a problem before, they'd always insured both of us. 
We've now been told we should have checked our policy when picking up the new car. 
This is our 4th car and never had to worry before or  check as motability have always sorted this out. 
I can't understand why my husband wasn't put on the policy this time! Nothing has changed in our circumstances.  
They are now saying we will have to pay for the damages to the other vehicle.  
What I am really annoyed about is if we'd have had a serious accident with our family in the car and not been insured it would have been a catastrophe.  
Any idea what we can do please 🙏 

Have you checked the policy documents? Does it name him? 

Whilst I know the motability scheme conceptually I dont know the practicalities of how it works in terms of ordering a new vehicle, how the insurance is setup on it etc. Is it a new policy with a new car? Do they transfer the old contract to the new car? Do you deal with the insurance or does the scheme? 

The scheme always provides the insurance and pays. We've never had to worry or check before. You'd think as no different from last time they'd just transfer.

DullGreyGuy

JeanyG said:

DullGreyGuy said:

JeanyG said:

My husband has a motability car for the past 15 years. 
We've had this one for 2years.
My husband backed into another car at a carpark recently.  
We reported this to motability insurance Direct Line and they informed us he wasn't on the insurance policy.  
I'm the designated extra driver. Always have been and do most of the driving.  
We were shocked to realise he'd been occasionally driving for 2 years without insurance. 
Sometimes with our son and grandson in the car.
We've never had a problem before, they'd always insured both of us. 
We've now been told we should have checked our policy when picking up the new car. 
This is our 4th car and never had to worry before or  check as motability have always sorted this out. 
I can't understand why my husband wasn't put on the policy this time! Nothing has changed in our circumstances.  
They are now saying we will have to pay for the damages to the other vehicle.  
What I am really annoyed about is if we'd have had a serious accident with our family in the car and not been insured it would have been a catastrophe.  
Any idea what we can do please 🙏 

Have you checked the policy documents? Does it name him? 

Whilst I know the motability scheme conceptually I dont know the practicalities of how it works in terms of ordering a new vehicle, how the insurance is setup on it etc. Is it a new policy with a new car? Do they transfer the old contract to the new car? Do you deal with the insurance or does the scheme? 

The scheme always provides the insurance and pays. We've never had to worry or check before. You'd think as no different from last time they'd just transfer.

I know it comes with insurance and the scheme pays but clearly someone has to tell someone about who's to be insured to drive the vehicle etc and I dont know if you tell mobility and mobility tell DLG or if you tell DLG directly. Likewise when selecting the vehicle you are at that point asked who'll drive or if they just assume it will be the same until you tell them otherwise etc etc. 

Without understanding the process flows it's impossible to say how/where it could go wrong or who may be responsible if it isnt you. 

born_again

https://www.motability.co.uk/get-support/faqs/add-drivers

Only drivers listed on the Certificate of Motor Insurance can drive the vehicle.

Is he listed on that?

How to add or change a driver

You can add your drivers when you apply, or later.

You can see, add or change your drivers during your lease in the ‘Insurance cover’ section in your Motability Scheme online account.

sheramber

I
Have you had to claim before?

If not. you may not have been aware who was covered by the policy unless you checked the paperwork you got. 

winterwellies

Hi JeanyG
I appreciate this was back in April and you may not see this, but we are just experiencing the same thing  and I’m just wondering what the outcome for you was.
Our hearts completely sunk when we were told and it has absolutely sickened us. 

I am wondering as it sounds like you got your car in 2023, and so did we. But also in 2023, mobility changed from using RSA as their insurer to DLM, and I’m wondering if this transfer has maybe not gone as smooth as expected, and thrown out some issues for the unlucky few.
So yes if you do see this it would be great to know your outcome as we are currently going through this and can now unfortunately empathise with your situation. 

I hope you got this resolved.

chrisw

When you sit down with the dealer to order the car, part of the process which can't be avoided, is going through the drivers, noting their driving and claims history, etc. These will be listed in your online Motability account. If this is incorrect then something went wrong at this stage. 

However, if this is correct but DLM are saying someone listed isn't covered then this could be a result of the RSA change. Unless they're not covered due to other issues coming to light such as an undeclared conviction.