Help with query

  • Sikane91's Avatar
    Basically, my gf just passed her driving test, she crashed the next day, she exchanged details and offered to pay repairs, the TP wouldn't wait untill payday so went through insurance, my gf insurance was void because she said she was going work, ( she actually was driving home from tesco first to drop shopping back) because she was shook up and phoned her insurance immediately she said she was going work (not driving to work) so her insurance voided her for not having commuting, she's so scared that the insurance will void it and report her to dvla and she will loose her licence due to having it only 2 days, is this true?
  • 4 Replies

  • Best Answer

    TC1474's Avatar
    Best Answer
    Many insurance companies will look at all sorts of ways to void a policy, but I am surprised either way that the policy does not include commuting to work as for most it is a standard level of cover as in Social Domestic and Pleasure including commuting to and from work.

    So firstly, check the policy. Does it include commuting? Is it in the T's and C's?

    If it isn't and your insurers insist that she was not covered, then you can try and persuade them to accept that she was shopping and being a very inexperienced driver she was in shock and simply made a mistake.

    It is unlikely that they will report her. The DVLA cannot revoke her licence on their own, it can only be done if convicted by a court which means that the Police will have to have been involved, or if there is a medical report in lace recommending that the licence be suspended.

    What might happen though is she may, and I repeat may get a bill to cover the third party costs, however, even if your insurers decide that her policy was breached, they still usually provide third party cover which should cover the third party costs.

    You need to talk to you current insurers, eat humble pie, explain the situation and hope that they accept the explanation and continue to provide cover.
  • Sikane91's Avatar
    Thankyou for reply, she is so gullable and scared bless her that someone told her to cancel her policy, now they charging her £1600 cancellation fee. :(
  • TC1474's Avatar
    Thankyou for reply, she is so gullable and scared bless her that someone told her to cancel her policy, now they charging her £1600 cancellation fee. :(

    That someone should be shot! 🙄

    Cancellations fees are standard practice and they hit you for a big proportion.

    She (or you) need to talk to your insurers. Explain the situation and be guided by them and not some idiot who clearly has no idea what he/she is talking about.
  • olduser's Avatar
    Car insurance policies, often exclude cover for vehicles used for work simply because they consider working vehicles are a higher insurance risk.
    But these are vehicles used at work or for work, not vehicles used to get to work.

    Travelling to work (same place each day) is not normally regarded as work.

    Help your girlfriend to send a letter to her insurers stating what actually happened, starting with something like, On Xday whatever date and time, I was on my way to/from supermarket to do the shopping when the incident happened and so on, avoid speculation just stick to the facts as she remembers them.
    Leave out offering to pay, unless the insurers already know.
    She can explain that as a new driver on her own she had very little idea of what to do, and she was panicking.
    Also mention she doe's not use her car in her work.

    The intention is to give the insurers a clear statement of what she thinks happened, and making it clear the car is not used for work, and to cancel the cancelation.
    Also it forces the insurers to write back, you will need this if you have to resort to using the Financial Ombudsman Service (find them on the internet) they cover disputes between customers and insurers when there are disputes.

    Hopefully, this letter will clear-up the confusion, and let the insurers (hers and the other drivers) decide which of them has to pay for the damage on behalf of their respective customers.

    If it decided she caused the incident she will have to pay any Excess the policy may have.

    I hope that helps.
    Last edited by olduser; 19-01-25 at 14:17.