Accident declaration and Insurance

[mike]

When shopping around for insurance and they ask " any accidents, claims or convictions " what does this mean ? I know it sounds like a stupid question but last year a woman drove into me putting a dent in my car. I reported it to my insurers as she was to hers, in the end the damage was so small no claim was raised. Now they are charging me about 100 quid more than my normal renewal price because of this. Do I declare this when getting quotes from other companies ? I have asked a couple of the large insurers [Direct Line etc] and they said you only need declare claims ? So why are Elephant penalising me ?

Merry Christmas !!

 

[paddymph]

its a funny one and i get asked this all the time at work.

Normally you have to disclose accidents in the past 3 years + Convictions in the past 5 (unless it a DR offence - [drink drive] ).

Convictions is straight forward enough, u get done, u let the insurers know. Accidents is a bit different, especially if its a case like yours. They ask you to report ANY incident to them so that they can indemnify you as legally a Third Party can claim from your policy up to 3 years after that accident! Harsh I know, some insurers will even withhold your NCD until the 3 years are up (Highway recently did this with a car vs pedestrian case-they left it open just in case the pedestrian claimed, barmy!).

Anyway, theres no system in place that records insurance claims unless its a TOTAL LOSS CLAIM ie write off, so theres no way for your new insurers to know or find out unless you disclose it.

If I were you I wouldnt disclose it, it was settled outside of your insurance, your insurers didnt need to pay anything out.

Normally they ask to see if youve got a long stream of incidents, if its just the one, forget it.

phew!

 

[mike]

Nice one, cheers mate. Just one thing though. I was just about to pay for a new policy with Bell when the bloke said hed just spotted the accident on his system as Elephant have put it on some database that all insurers share. A bit out of order as no claim was made !?! This then bumped his quote up by 120 quid !! I just hope its a system that only some insurers use !!

Thanks again.

 

[paddymph]

must be? We (Carole NAsh) are the 40th biggest broker about and Ive not heard of a system that records all claims logged, just a system called MIAFTR, Motor Insurers Accident Fire + Theft Register, ie write offs.

Dont tell em!

 

[mike]

Ok I wont, thanks a lot !!

 

[Martin]

Anyone know how long a DD40 stays on a licence? Is it 3 years for points and if I do have anything on my licence I dont have to mention it if 5+ years ago? Help anyone?

 

[paddymph]

convictions you disclose for 3 years, unless its DR10, they go on for 10!

All at each insurers discretion, some may be arsey and say 5 for everything.

 

[Martin]

Cool Im going to have cheap(ish) insurance next time round.

 

[paddymph]

just make sure u read the small print when your docs come through.