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Skoda fabia - Car insurance claim- mileage issues - Will R

Hi,


I have a slight concern. The other day was involved in an accident in the ice. The car was totaled as the air bags deployed.

Insurance company have been informed and are dealing. However we are worried because our annual mileage is down as 6k. However we have had to do considerably more already and policy renews in October. This is due to having had a sick relative who lives 60 miles away that we have had to visit 3/4 times a week since December, adding about 4.5k to the clock. I have told the insurance company about this, but only after the accident. They have said it should not invalidate the claim but they can't say 100%.... She has also said that they would have checked mileage anyway and that it could result in increased premiums... I'm terrified it will invalidate the claim and policy and leave us with no car and no way to get insurance again..


Any thoughts?

Edited by Avant on 05/03/2018 at 11:25

Skoda fabia - Car insurance claim- mileage issues - skidpan

In my limited mileage policies it says that if you expect to go over the figure to contact them. If as you appear to suggest you have done 4500 since October you are still under 6000 miles. If you had stopped using the car today at the end of 12 months you would not be over 6000 even though you had been covering miles at a higher rate duting the first few months

Take one of my cars as an example. Its on the road for 6 or 7 months a year and does about 2000 miles. Its insurred for 3000 miles. If I used it for 12 months I would exceed the policy limit but this does not affect my cover since the insurers are only interested in how many miles you have done during the period of the policy.

So please make it clear to us, have you already exceeded the 6000 miles you told them. If you have you will still have insurance but I am pretty sure there is a clause in mine that says thet any cover will be reduced by the excess miles.

Its very important to tell insurers of any changes before they happen but if you have not exceeded 6000 miles there is no change.

Skoda fabia - Car insurance claim- mileage issues - SLO76
If you’ve exceeded that 6k allowance then the insurance firm will probably charge back an additional premium for this from any pay out. It’s unlikely to be catastrophic and you do have a genuine reason but you should always inform your insurer of any change of circumstance.
Skoda fabia - Car insurance claim- mileage issues - Will R

Already over the 6k. By about 2-3k and policy ends October

Skoda fabia - Car insurance claim- mileage issues - skidpan

Already over the 6k. By about 2-3k and policy ends October

You are at the mercy of your insurers now.

Skoda fabia - Car insurance claim- mileage issues - Will R

Think it would be extremely unreasonable to cancel it or refuse to pay out though, surely?

Skoda fabia - Car insurance claim- mileage issues - Bromptonaut

Think it would be extremely unreasonable to cancel it or refuse to pay out though, surely?

Repudiation of claim in these circs would indeed be unreasonable as on face OP can show reason and no intent to under declare. I think insurance Ombuds would look at it that way too.

Ironically the premium my actually be less if miles per year go up. Low declared mileage might attract a loading as suggesting short urban journeys and/or an infrequent driver. ISTR mine dropped a bit when, after a period as station hack doing under 4k miles pa, my Xantia was allowed to stretch its legs again.

Skoda fabia - Car insurance claim- mileage issues - RT

If the 6k was a reasonable estimate at the time you made it then it's down to terms & conditions that might turn that estimate into a limit.

Skoda fabia - Car insurance claim- mileage issues - Will R

When I've gone through the Pdf of the terms, and searched the term 'mileage' the only thing that has come up is a bit about them taking mileage of the car into consideration when they do a valuation...

Skoda fabia - Car insurance claim- mileage issues - 520i

Something many drivers must surely wonder at renewal time. When you state your anticipated mileage, does an insurer nowadays fully expect to see evidence provided in the event of a claim? Presumably they are now in a position to validate it using the MOT history. I'd always thought it was, frankly, just a rather pointless question, given I'm always asked the question but have never been asked the corresponding question about what the current mileage is. But in this digital age I suppose it could carry an unexpected sting in the tail...

Edited by 520i on 08/03/2018 at 12:24

Skoda fabia - Car insurance claim- mileage issues - RT

Something many drivers must surely wonder at renewal time. When you state your anticipated mileage, does an insurer nowadays fully expect to see evidence provided in the event of a claim? Presumably they are now in a position to validate it using the MOT history. I'd always thought it was, frankly, just a rather pointless question, given I'm always asked the question but have never been asked the corresponding question about what the current mileage is. But in this digital age I suppose it could carry an unexpected sting in the tail...

My annual mileage can vary between 8,000-14,000/year depending where I go on holiday (I'm retired) - at insurance renewal time my best estimated plan for the next 12 months would probably be 10,000-12,000 but until I've firmed up holiday plans in the spring I really don't know what it'll come out as.

Insurers/brokers need to make clear whether they're asking for a genuine estimate or a contracted maximum limit.

Skoda fabia - Car insurance claim- mileage issues - skidpan

Presumably they are now in a position to validate it using the MOT history.

The Caterham insurers used to send a form with the renewal that had to be filled in with the mileage, signed and sent back.

Then they changed to asking for a copy of the MOT, I guess this was a bit more official even though the dates did not align.

Now they don't ask, would guess they get it from the MOT history on line. But they do state that if you are likely to exceed the allowance you need to contact them to ensure your insurance is not affected.