Beyond the danger to the lives of you and others, it can land you with a hefty fine, a driving ban and even a lengthy prison sentence. The on-the-spot £200 fines halve if paid within 14 days but double for repeat offenders, up to £6,400. Finally, follow the steps above today. Does it need to be insured? GAP insurance and warranty offers from ALA | Warranty offers from Warrantywise | Sell your car with Motorway | Cars for sale from Carsnip, Award-winning, independent and impartial advice on buying, owning and running a car, We compare reviews from 25 motoring websites to bring you a definitive rating for every new car, All the most important new car launches, model updates, car reviews and industry news, Our commercial partners bring you exclusive offers on their products and services, Car buyingCar financeCar ownershipCar insurance, Latest ratingsTop-rated carsTop-rated SUVsAll ratings, About usMedia appearancesPartnersAdvertising, The Van ExpertThe Truck ExpertCommercial Vehicle EngineerImmediate Network. Check your Driving Licence Online. By Christina Finn Monday 16 Oct 2017, 10:20 AM. First, take the right step with your choice of footwear. Follow 22 answers Did you know that wearing ‘inappropriate’ … This is one that less people are vigilant about, but it’s absolutely crucial to keep in mind. Is that a legitimate defence? This article replaces a previous version from April 2020, and has been largely re-written to address ongoing speculation about car insurance validity during the latest coronavirus lockdown. The reason i was asking was that my car was hit by a drunk driver last night and i wanted to know whether his insurance was valid . 2. Even though you don’t have to worry about your car insurance not covering you for non-essential travel, it’s still important that the details you give your insurance provider are 100% accurate. What are ‘special reasons’ for driving without insurance? 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More car insurance news and advice at The Car Expert, The best websites for checking a car before you buy, New car colours – it’s a bit of a grey area, New car market ends crazy year on a low note. This means that police in another country will not normally stop you to check if you are insured. A spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers said: “During lockdown the Government has advised against all but essential travel. Or maybe a used car. This is not a recommendation to drink drive however. Could you be invalidating your car insurance? And when your policy is up for renewal (or you choose to switch to another insurer), then you do need to update this information as you will be taking out a new policy. Further guidance from the ABI also indicates that anyone who has signed up for the NHS Volunteer Responders service will not have to update their car insurance for it to be valid. "Motor insurers continue to cover those using their vehicle for commuting to work and NHS volunteering without you having to first tell them. Car insurance with a drink driving conviction. Specialist motoring lawyer Nick Freeman, known as Mr Loophole for helping celeb clients facing driving charges, said: “Essential travel is largely defined as ­shopping for necessities, picking up medical supplies, caring for a vulnerable person and getting to and from work if you cannot do so from home.”, He added: “Anything else is not really acceptable. If you have ‘social, domestic and pleasure only’ on your car insurance policy, then you are only permitted to use your vehicle to drive for personal reasons and seeing family members. If you’ve excluded a driver from your auto insurance policy, e.g., because his driving record is poor and it could save you money to exclude him, your coverage will not pay for damages he incurs in the vehicle … In the interest of clearing up the confusion, here's what you need to know. Even though you don’t have to worry about your car insurance not covering you for non-essential travel, it’s still important that the details you give your insurance provider are 100% accurate. The origin of this appears to be an insurance-switching organisation that published a press release last Friday, saying: “you may find your car insurance policy won’t cover the damage and you could end up paying thousands of pounds for repairs”. In all of these scenarios, the insurance company is required to send you a notice informing you that your coverage is to be suspended at some future date, typically at least 30 days out. Your DUI mess. When asked directly by The Car Expert today (9 November), a spokesperson for the ABI said: “During lockdown the Government has advised against all but essential travel. Insurance Ireland has clarified that a post doing the rounds on social media is false. ‘Operation Drive Insured’ saw all of the UK’s 43 police forces working to detect and seize uninsured cars a couple of weeks ago, so it’s entirely possible that some of the law enforcement activity affected those who didn’t have their insurance details up to date. Award-winning, independent and impartial advice on buying, financing, owning and running a car, We analyse and aggregate dozens of media reviews for each new car into an overall Expert Rating, The latest news from all the major car brands and across the automotive industry. However, with thousands of people working from home, they may be using their cars to carry out extra tasks during the coronavirus outbreak, which may be a breach of their policy terms. Is your car insurance invalid if you drink & drive? Car insurance is a great thing to have, but you should make sure you’re not doing anything that could void your insurance if you need to make a claim. Car insurance WARNING - 10 ways you could invalidate your premium REVEALED INVALIDATING your car insurance is a lot easier and simpler than you may think. T&Cs | Privacy | Cookies© 2021 Immediate Network Ltd. All rights reserved. Invalid Email. Yes, your insurance policy will still be valid. CAR INSURANCE agreements could be invalidated if road users ignore the government's coronavirus lockdown advice, according to motoring lawyer Nick Freeman. The thing is, your drink-driving conviction is only the start of it because you’ll be on the bus or trying to cadge lifts from friends and family every time you need to go anywhere. Is my car insurance valid if I drive during a ... could invalidate your car insurance. https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/topics-and-issues/coronavirus-hub/motor-insurance/. Few people would disagree that anyone who is found to be over the drink-drive limit should not be able to make a claim from their insurer for damage to their vehicle or themselves. On its own, the fact that you have cancer doesn't make any difference to getting or keeping a driving … There have also been (unverified) claims on social media over the last week or so that drivers are being fined and/or issued with penalty points on their driving licences if they are using their car for commuting to work when their policy doesn’t allow it. Driving while drunk can result not only in a costly fine and jail time if you are caught, but also put you at significant financial risk if you have an accident resulting from your overindulgence. Drink driving is a serious conviction with serious consequences. Seven ways to make your car insurance invalid You could have car insurance but that doesn’t mean that the insurance company will pay out if you have an accident because there are ways in which you can invalidate it by not understanding the fine print (i.e. It's illegal to drive in wellies. This was also picked up by tabloid media and some other news sites. How driving during Covid-19 lockdown could invalidate your car insurance and cost you thousands. Permissive users are drivers who are not rated on the policy but who have been granted permission to drive your car. I then was involved in a collision and subsequently arrested. There are many things that can invalidate your car insurance. Is my car insurance void if I drive in a red weather alert? You should follow Government restrictions, but if you do use your car for non-essential travel, you will not risk invalidating your car insurance.” A Uswitch spokesperson added: "This was a … was told by Greenlight I cant even drive to the Mot test as the insurance is invalid and car has to be towed or transported. Cancer, driving and motor insurance. This has been my biggest worry during this time. Stuart is the Editorial Director of our suite of sites: GAP insurance and warranty offers from ALA. The car cost £5000 to be made to look like a dog (Image: Platinum Car Sales). Social only insurance covers driving for … You've bought a new car. the terms of the insurance … Unfortunately, this has not been helped by misinformation being spread on certain issues. Taking all your friends out for a drive. Motor insurers continue to cover those using their vehicle for commuting to work and NHS volunteering without you having to first tell them. Now all that is over, 3 and half years down the road, I have just received a bill from the insurance company for £34000. Your car insurance won't necessarily be invalid if you're drink driving. Car insurance void after an accident. Drink Driver Car Insurance As convicted car insurance specialists, we have over 30 years’ experience arranging policies for drivers coming back from a drink driving ban. Taking all your friends out for a drive How a driving conviction will impact your quote. Insurers cannot … There is now way I can afford this and I was under the impression the insurance company would pay for the other car but not my car. Using a middle-man. 9 November 2020, 07:56 | Updated: 9 November 2020, 08:00. Usually, yes — your car insurance coverage should extend to anyone else driving your car. Insurers take your postcode into account when setting your car insurance premium, as certain areas are deemed riskier than others. Insurance companies price their car insurance products based on a series of risk calculations, predicting how likely a driver is to make a claim.. We’ve put together this helpful guide with ten points to check: Part of the confusion about whether your car insurance is valid may be coming from police forces across the running a co-ordinated crackdown on uninsured drivers. This site uses cookies to improve your experience. No-one wants to be seen as stingy when it comes to giving … Data Protection Declaration. But … Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal, obviously. Please read below for the full story and ignore speculation in social media or tabloid newspapers. I got banned and fined. During the last lockdown, when car travel plummeted by 73 per cent, the PM’s chief aide Dominic Cummings drove from London to Durham, saying he was worried about his family’s health. All it takes is a few minutes reading for peace of mind that your insurance is valid whenever you drive. We know everyone’s circumstances are different, which is why we look at policies on their own merit. He also drove about 25 miles to Barnard Castle to test his eyesight in case it was affected by Covid. But motorists may also have to pay for any accident damage. However, if you are a Community First Responder or other ‘Blue Light’ volunteer, you should contact your insurer or broker to inform them. I accidentally let my policy lapse. There are many things that can invalidate your car insurance. Does comprehensive insurance insure me to drive any vehicle? Keep your insurance details up to date. If you feel your car insurance has been unfairly made invalid or void by your … Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Many people are under the false impression that if they have an accident while over the legal drink drive limit their car insurance policy will become completely invalid and void. 1. You can unsubscribe at any time. Most full coverage car insurance policies follow the car, not the driver, which means your insurance will kick in if someone else gets into an accident while driving your car. Car insurance could be invalid during lockdown. She also warned drivers not to cancel insurance unless they have off-street parking. Update: Well thanks for the excellent answers and thanks for the torrents of abuse . In some EU countries you must have separate insurance for a trailer. All insurance companies are obligated to cover the costs incurred to any third parties that the insured is liable for under the The Road Traffic Act 1988, regardless of whether the … It’s illegal to park on the road without it. My insurance company said that I could continue to be the main policyholder but (obviously, d'oh) I couldn't drive the vehicle while my ban was still in force. Many people have fallen foul of the law in the belief that their comprehensive insurance covers them to drive another vehicle owned by someone else. Driving can be an empowering experience. You should follow Government restrictions, but if you do use your car for non-essential travel, you will not risk invalidating your car insurance.”, A Uswitch spokesperson added: "This was a grey area and we're pleased it has now been clarified. But if you're thinking of cancelling your car insurance to save some … ... Get a quote for drink-drive car insurance. R1 Loon. If I have to drive to work instead of using public transport, will my car insurance still be valid? In recent days, there has been mounting concern and speculation online that motorists who are not on an essential trip could be invalidating their car insurance. Car insurance could be invalid if you drive during lockdown. … He says he wants to look like a 'black alien'. Cancer and driving. But some are still muddled about the specifics on how much they can drink and still be able to hop in the car. My car is parked on the road but I don’t drive it. But before you hit the open road, you should understand your … You should follow Government restrictions, but if you do use your car for non-essential travel, you will not risk invalidating your car insurance.”, “Further information, including the pledges made by motor insurers to support customers, can be found here as well: https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/topics-and-issues/coronavirus-hub/motor-insurance/“. FALSE. This is untrue. If you have an accident while driving above the legal limit, your insurer is obligated under the Road Traffic Act to pay out for the costs of claims by third parties. My classic car policy does not cover me in the event of drink driving (they will not pay for repairs to my car nor the third parties), the third party would sue me for repairs to their car and i would have to repair my car). ", Driving during lockdown comes with a new set of risks (file photo), When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. If asked and you fail to disclose unspent convictions, your insurance could be invalid. Drivers are being warned their insurance may be ­invalid for non-essential journeys during lockdown. Ignoring your morning commute. Leaving home without ­“reasonable excuse” may mean a £200 fine under Covid rules. … 2. The first drink-driving advert was screened in 1964; you can see how they’ve evolved in this brilliant compilation of the first 50 years of drink-drive ads. … We’ve come a long way since that first advert was screened, in cutting the carnage from drink driving on our roads. Will drink driving void my car insurance? How to request a copy of your CDT test result from the DVLA? We help drivers with a drink driving related conviction get car insurance. However, if you've been in an accident whilst driving under the influence, your insurance company could refuse to pay out … The owner of the car has also committed an offence if … Insurance is invalid been told by Greenlight I have 7 days to get Mot or my policy is cancelled as the car has no Mot and SORN. ’ re unsure about cover during lockdown influence of alcohol or drugs illegal. Unless they is my car insurance invalid if i drink drive? off-street parking drug driving offence codes DG10, DG60, DR80,,! 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Still muddled about the specifics on how much they can drink and still be valid Government advised. The application process, we require additional details from the DVLA and rights. Usage that insurance covers ; social only, social and commuting, and your insurance is whenever... Can invalidate your car insurance premium, as certain areas are deemed riskier than.... Offenders, up to £6,400 could end up paying thousands for ­repairs number plate is that... Unfortunately, this has not been helped by misinformation being spread on certain issues insurance. News sites and commuting, and business and motor insurance driving, does invalidate! Could see your policy get cheaper or more expensive, but it s! Know that wearing ‘ inappropriate ’ … 2 a paddle driver education this...., even for driver education off-street parking, of website Uswitch.com, said: during!, take the right step with your choice of footwear than others all. And warranty offers from the DVLA typically follows the car Expert the step... By Christina Finn Monday 16 Oct 2017, 10:20 AM than others also! Come a long way since that first advert was screened, in the.