Unusual Car Insurence Question

[MJRacing]

Anyone in the industry that could offer some advice?
A long story short my farther in law used Go Compare to get a quote to renew my the insurence on a car that he and my mother in law use. (It belongs to the mother in laws mother who has dementia).
When entering their details they selected they were not the legal owner of the car and proceeded to get a quote that they accepted. Payment was made (£160) and confirmation email sent. It asked for the usual proof of no claims that was emailed back to the insurers with no issues.
He has now today received an email to say they have voided the policy as they are not the legal owner and have lost £140 in a cancellation fee.

Does this sound right giving my farther in law declared he was not the legal owner of the car when entering the details in the first place?
Thanks in advance.

 

[jamesycc]

@Neil@greenlight

Can you help?

 

[Peperami]

Who is on the v5? Legal owner and registered keeper are two different things. She may be the legal owner of the vehicle, but unless your father is the registered keeper on the v5 of the vehicle insurance may be voided, as per their terms. Most insurers will only insure to a registered keeper.

 

[Mbeau]

I can't see how they can void it if you told them you are not the legal owner when getting the quote.They don't normally void a policy without notice.
Have you phoned the insurer. A call or email to the insurance company will hopefully shed some light on it. If not I would complain as that cannot be right. The insurance companies are regulated and if you get nowhere you can complain to the regulator.
Would be difervent if you had not stated the truth when taking out the policy.

 

[R3k1355]

Sometimes not all the details are carried over from the price comparison site onto the insurers so you have to check all the details you have entered are present.

 

[MJRacing]

Who is on the v5? Legal owner and registered keeper are two different things. She may be the legal owner of the vehicle, but unless your father is the registered keeper on the v5 of the vehicle insurance may be voided, as per their terms. Most insurers will only insure to a registered keeper.

The mother in law's mother is the legal owner and on the v5 (think this might be the issue as she insured the car last year) but she has dementia thats got a lot worse this year so obviously can arrange cover like previous years.

I can't see how they can void it if you told them you are not the legal owner when getting the quote.They don't normally void a policy without notice.
Have you phoned the insurer. A call or email to the insurance company will hopefully shed some light on it. If not I would complain as that cannot be right. The insurance companies are regulated and if you get nowhere you can complain to the regulator.
Would be difervent if you had not stated the truth when taking out the policy.

Yes farther in law spoke to them and they said they cant insure a car that he does not legally own (fair enough). The issue he has with this is he did make it known when he got the quote that he was not the owner so should have been declined the policy there and then before they took his money.

 

[charltjr]

IIRC it’s one of the conditions of using the site that you have to check the details that actually get sent through on the policy and warrant that they’re correct before accepting the policy.

It sounds like a c**k up transferring the data over, it’s unfortunately not foolproof as things don’t always go across perfectly. I doubt there’s much your in-laws can do unless the actual policy sent over from the insurer that they accepted stated that they weren’t the owner and that’s then been reversed after the fact.

The killer is going to be having to say “yes” to the “have you had insurance cancelled” question from now on, it’ll send the premiums through the roof

 

[Peperami]

The mother in law's mother is the legal owner and on the v5 (think this might be the issue as she insured the car last year) but she has dementia thats got a lot worse this year so obviously can arrange cover like previous years.

Yes farther in law spoke to them and they said they cant insure a car that he does not legally own (fair enough). The issue he has with this is he did make it known when he got the quote that he was not the owner so should have been declined the policy there and then before they took his money.

The way around this is to transfer the v5 into his name, but write out a document stating that she still has rights over the car. The value of the car is hers, but he is the registered keeper, so responsible for the upkeep and any issues pertaining to the vehicle.

It was brought in to prevent fronting, ie sons owns car but dad insures it with him as a named driver to save money. Which isnt the case here.

Regarding your issue with them, if you're sure you've read and have the documents and it does state that he does not own the vehicle in the policy schedule, you have a claim through them, and if this fails the insurance ombudsmen. If not, then you're stuffed and you'll just have to write it off as a loss.

 

[ashtons99]

There are 2 parts to the price comparison procedure. The first part where you enter all your details on for example GoCompare. That does the searching but if you choose to go ahead with one of the quotes you are taken into that insurers portal. Often you are asked additional questions but importantly there is a declaration you have to accept before they proceed to payment. It sounds as though your relative hasn't fully read the insurers proposal page before going ahead and paying.
The ownership/keeper resolution issues are irrelevant now really. They may have a case with the ombudsman if they claim the insurer hadn't acted properly but it's a thin one. Didn't your relative know you can't insure a car of which you are neither owner/keeper?
It does seem a bit of an innocent mistake really but does show how important checking stuff online is.



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