Seven things which could see your car insurance CANCELLED – here’s what to look out for
MOTOR experts warned drivers to beware of seven sneaky things that could get your car insurance CANCELLED without you realising.
Vehicle owners need to be crystal clear about their policy's terms and conditions - because some common lifestyle changes could completely invalidate their car insurance.
If you've moved job, changed address or made a small change to your car, you better make sure you've read the fineprint of your insurance policy.
Not only could you risk losing your insurance - meaning you can't make a claim - but you could even find yourself slapped with a hefty fine or even legal trouble.
A spokesperson for the car leasing company, said: “It can be easy to gloss over the terms and conditions of many things, especially your car insurance – but this could in fact put you at risk of invalidating it.
“Small changes to your lifestyle may seem trivial but it is important that you notify your insurance provider as to avoid any charges and be fully covered.
“There are also things to bear in mind whilst driving to ensure that if the unfortunate occurrence of an accident does occur, you can claim."
Misjudging your mileage
When filling out any insurance policy, you will be asked to estimate your annual mileage - and this needs to be as accurate as possible.
Take your commute as well as your leisure activities into account to provide a semi accurate number, but it’s good practice to allow some tolerance for those unexpected trips as well.
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New job
How you earn a living could make a big difference to the total price of your car insurance.
This is because some jobs like taxi drivers, food delivery drivers and couriers spend more time on the roads, so are more likely to be in an accident.
Make sure you're accurate about your job title because even a subtle difference can affect your policy.
Change of address
Where you live also has an effect on your premium for a variety of reasons.
The amount of crime or traffic in your local area could affect your insurance price, so make sure you keep this updated.
If you forget to inform your insurer after a move, you could be getting a cheaper premium which might completely invalidate your policy.
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Looking after the vehicle
Keeping your car roadworthy is not only crucial for road safety, but is also necessary to keep your insurance policy valid.
Make sure you carry out regular MOT’s and services for your car to keep the policy valid.
Window tints
If you or the previous owner of your car made any modifications before taking out a policy, you have to report it to the insurance provider – no matter how the change might seem.
Any modifications must stay within the legal limit, for example, window tints on side windows must let at least 70% of light through - so check the rules.
Fronting
This cheeky trick is in fact illegal - when parents or older drivers falsely claim they are a vehicle's main driver but it's actually a younger, less experienced driver.
Although this often makes insurance policies cheaper for young drivers, it's illegal and could render your insurance completely void.
Declaration of points
Insurance providers must be aware of any current points on your licence - which usually stay on your licence for four years.
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If you try to claim on your insurance and the provider finds out you've declared your points incorrectly or forgotten them altogether, they can refuse to pay out.
Driving penalties increase the perceived risk on the road, so it’s best to think twice before trying to get a cheap quote.
