Notify insurer of points?

cheesyboy · 27 Jul 2016 at 12:59

Obviously need to let them know, but is it now or next renewal?

Wife has today received notification of points for an offence last week. it's a fair cop.

My insurance renewal went through today (she's a named driver). Do I need to get them to add it to this year's policy (since the offence was pre-renewal), or should it be left until next year's renewal?

My intention had been to just phone them and get it done, but thought I'd check if there's any particular knowledge on the issue here first.

sparkymark75 · 27 Jul 2016 at 13:00

Why leave it to chance, just phone them now and tell them. It's up to them to tell you if it affects your premium now. Better to find out now than be in an accident and find your uninsured because of undeclared points.

tom_e · 27 Jul 2016 at 13:01

You're supposed to tell them as soon as you get them.

SS-89 · 27 Jul 2016 at 13:01

You need to notify your insurer of any change in circumstances as soon as possible not at the next renewal irrespective of whether it occurred pre-renewal.

cheesyboy · 27 Jul 2016 at 13:03

sparkymark75 said:
Why leave it to chance, just phone them now and tell them. It's up to them to tell you if it affects your premium now. Better to find out now than be in an accident and find your uninsured because of undeclared points.

Well yes, I'll phone them later. It struck me as a somewhat interesting academic point, though.

I rather hope I won't be faced with an admin fee for amending the, now running, policy on top of any additional premium, though.

Semple · 27 Jul 2016 at 13:04

Don't do what this guy did!

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18742406

Nasher · 27 Jul 2016 at 13:04

When I got some I phoned them straight away, but they didn't want to know until renewal time. Not all are the same though (that was with Greenlight).

cheesyboy · 27 Jul 2016 at 13:04

SS-89 said:
You need to notify your insurer of any change in circumstances as soon as possible not at the next renewal irrespective of whether it occurred pre-renewal.

Is this correct? I've never had any points on my own license, so have never had to deal with it. Lots of people seem to think you just tell them at next renewal.

sparkymark75 · 27 Jul 2016 at 13:08

cheesyboy said:
Well yes, I'll phone them later. It struck me as a somewhat interesting academic point, though.

I rather hope I won't be faced with an admin fee for amending the, now running, policy on top of any additional premium, though.

Depends on the insurer, some charge an admin fee, some don't.

SS-89 · 27 Jul 2016 at 13:09

cheesyboy said:
Is this correct? I've never had any points on my own license, so have never had to deal with it. Lots of people seem to think you just tell them at next renewal.

Maybe it isn't then. It was the case when I got points with a prior insurer.

Housey · 27 Jul 2016 at 13:09

At the moment you have an intention to prosecute notification yes?

Well right now nothing is different so tell nobody anything.

When she gets her points if she gets them, she might not as she might get a driving course, then you notify them as at that point her risk profile has changed.

Gaygle · 27 Jul 2016 at 13:15

Housey said:
At the moment you have an intention to prosecute notification yes?

Well right now nothing is different so tell nobody anything.

When she gets her points if she gets them, she might not as she might get a driving course, then you notify them as at that point her risk profile has changed.

This.

She hasn't received the points yet. Only tell your insurer when she has actually received the points, otherwise it is just speculation.

mysticsniper · 27 Jul 2016 at 13:25

SS-89 said:
You need to notify your insurer of any change in circumstances as soon as possible not at the next renewal irrespective of whether it occurred pre-renewal.

I've just done this myself, better to be upfront and honest when it comes to car insurance.

Finglonga · 27 Jul 2016 at 13:51

Your policy will say on it they need to know material changes to the circumstances straight away or it may effect your cover (they will not pay out). As soon as the points go on the licence the insurers need to know.

TacticalFish · 27 Jul 2016 at 14:12

SS-89 said:
Maybe it isn't then. It was the case when I got points with a prior insurer.

As others have said it depends on the insurer, when I last got some I called them up to tell them, bloke on the other end of the phone more or less said "you can tell me, but you don't have an obligation to until renewal, so it's up to you".

Liquidfox · 27 Jul 2016 at 14:14

SS-89 said:
You need to notify your insurer of any change in circumstances as soon as possible not at the next renewal irrespective of whether it occurred pre-renewal.

Not always, mine doesn't care until renewal.

Glanza · 27 Jul 2016 at 14:29

Wait until she actually has the points on her licence before ringing your insurance, if it's a first offence they may offer other options like a course instead.

[TW]Fox · 27 Jul 2016 at 14:31

Read your policy documents. They tell you exactly what you need to do. Nobody here knows as you've not told us who the insurer is so they are just guessing and passing it off as fact.

cheesyboy · 27 Jul 2016 at 14:32

[TW]Fox;29835658 said:
Read your policy documents. They tell you exactly what you need to do. Nobody here knows as you've not told us who the insurer is so they are just guessing and passing it off as fact.

I'll do that.

It's Elephant (Admiral Group) in case anyone's clued up on them.

E:
seems they need to be notified when you take out or renew policies:
http://www.elephant.co.uk/car-insurance/buyers-guide/what-if-you-have-convictions.php

However, what does that mean for Mrs Cheesyboy - the offense is pre-renewal, though obviously she hasn't responded confirming driver yet. So she's not yet convicted, I guess that means wait until next year.

Abyss · 27 Jul 2016 at 15:20

Surely your bet option would just have been to read your policy document first?

If you are on Elephants standard policy document:
http://www.elephant.co.uk/policyDocs/EL-012-009 - Your Car Insurance Guide.pdf

"Please tell us when you renew your insurance

●of any motoring offences including fixed penalties, convictions, driver awareness course you or any driver on your policy had during the year or any pending prosecutions you will need to tell us of the DVLA offence code if applicable"

So in short I read that as if you knew about the pending prosecution when you renewed you should have told them. The only question then is what classes as "renewall", is it the date the new policy starts or the date you speak to them. This is also conveniently in the policy document:

"our contract of insurance is based on the information given by or for you when this insurance was applied for. This information is shown on your Motor Proposal/Renewal Confirmation Form. You promise, as far as you know, that the information you have given us is true"

I am no expert but my personal opinion is that if you are on this policy you need only tell them if you knew at the point you agreed to renew that she had a pending prosecution.