Insurance. Declare or not ?

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Thu 16 Nov 2023 19:44
Insurance. Declare or not ? - Dag Hammar

Apologies if this has previously been covered but I would appreciate some guidance based on facts rather than opinion.

I gained a speeding ticket this year, first and only one in fifty years with a clean licence. I paid the £90 fee and attended a speed awareness course so no fine and no points. The car insurance is due and I have received the renewal notice and the renewal price is perfectly agreeable. MUST I inform the insurance company of my transgression or not ? If it makes any difference I am a named driver on the policy and not the actual policy holder which is my wife. We only have the one car which we share.

Thanks in advance.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 16 Nov 2023 19:55
Insurance. Declare or not ? - RT

If they ask the question you have to answer truthfully but if they don't ask the question you don't have to provide the information - some insurers only ask about "accidents, claims or convictions" - others ask about awareness courses as well.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 16 Nov 2023 20:03
Insurance. Declare or not ? - movilogo

No need to voluntarily disclose this - one insurer clearly says this.

www.lv.com/car-insurance/speed-awareness

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 16 Nov 2023 21:00
Insurance. Declare or not ? - Dag Hammar

Thank you for your answers, I have found an interesting paragraph on the Aviva website and copied below.
As the policy is being renewed as opposed to being a new policy with a different provider there are no questions to be answered so I am going to just go ahead and renew the policy.

‘’* It is unlikely that attending a speed awareness course will have a major impact on your car insurance premium. You will be able to attend one of these courses if you only narrowly exceed the speed limit.

Drivers should always check with their insurer for any specific criteria. A speed awareness course is not a driving conviction, and so if asked by your insurer if you have any previous driving convictions you will be able to answer ‘no’

However, if an insurer asks you specifically about attending a speed awareness course, you will need to answer truthfully’’*

Edited by Dag Hammar on 16/11/2023 at 21:03

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 16 Nov 2023 22:22
Insurance. Declare or not ? - Ethan Edwards

Personally I'd tell them, even if they "say" no need. It's one less thing an ambitious claims person can latch onto, in the event you make a claim.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 17 Nov 2023 08:38
Insurance. Declare or not ? - skidpan

Recently did a speed awareness course and after got an e-mail confirming that it has been agreed with the Financial Ombudsman that there is no need to mention this at time of renewal since it is neither a conviction or a prosecution.

But it goes on to say that if you are asked about a Driver Awareness course you must give the info.

My renewal is due next week, be interesting to see what Aviva ask.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 17 Nov 2023 10:08
Insurance. Declare or not ? - Dag Hammar

Thanks to all the responders.

I now have the answer in black and white ( or rather, a screen shot ) and this will assist skidpan in particular as Aviva are also the insurers that my wife has her policy with.

I typed in my query on Aviva’s website and this is their answer. “ If you’ve completed a speed awareness course, and therefore not received any points on your licence, you don’t need to inform us”

Notably my question was directed to Aviva, other insurers may take a different view.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 17 Nov 2023 11:27
Insurance. Declare or not ? - Manatee

Just to note that you do need to review the questions on a renewal. Usually when you accept the renewal you get a page to review/check with your proposal details. If you have picked up another ticket you should put it on there. Technically I think you should advise them when you get it.

I was guilty at some point of just renewing without adding a speeding ticket I got 4 years ago.

We have two other cars and I had actually declared it on those (same insurer). The insurer picked this up and said I said I should add this on the third policy (actually my wife's car on which I am a named driver). When I added it, I had to pay about £20 extra.

I thought they would go back another 3 years, but they haven't demanded any more money - yet.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

We give you the low down on how to save on insurance, little-known tricks and tips, what insurance groups mean and how to use insurance aggregators to beat insurers.

Insurance group finder and how to save on insurance