How does my step daughter stand with her car insurance company?

Question

My step daughter recently had a fairly minor car accident when she turned a corner and clipped the rear of another car. The police were called and during all of the checks she was informed that she had no car insurance. This was a complete surprise to my step daughter as she had been paying her premiums and so believed it to be a mistake. On contacting her ins company it transpired that her husband had cancelled the house insurance and the ins company took it upon themselves to also cancel their motor insurance. They have now got the transcripts of all their communications with the ins company which proves they did cancel the policy and notified my step daughter my post. The problem is the company sent the letter to their previous address, and so she believed she was insured. She is now facing prosicution for driving without insurance. Does anyone have similar experiences or any advice for her?

Answer 1

Did they know her new address? If they sent the cancellation notice to the only address they had then there is nothing else they could have done to inform her. If they sent it to the wrong address she may have a defence that she honestly beleived she was insured.

If she failed to give the company her new address, which would be a requirement of her policy, best thing would be to plead guilty, explain to Mags and hope for a lenient punishment. £200 and 6 points is the going rate.

Answer 2

The only advice I have is, quite frankly, "Hire a good lawyer and listen to what he says". Good Luck.

Answer 3

She needs to talk to her agent.

Go ahead and turn the claim in against the auto policy. The adjuster will do an investigation into the coverage question. IF it's an honest mistake on the companies part - then they will probably reinstate coverage - charge your step daughter the back premium and cover the claim.

Your step daughter needs to speak to her agent as well. He may be able to help - especially if he recalls the conversation with the husband and that it was only the homeowners to be dropped.

As far as the letter goes -- the insurance company is only required to send letters to the last known address. If the prior address is the one the have on file - that's where they send it. They are not required to hunt you down and make sure you get the letter.  It is your responsibility to notify your insurance company if you move so that your updated address will be on file.

Coverage Investigations are too complex for us to tell you what the insurance company will decide to do.

Answer 4

your only defense is to show in writing what you describe and present the court with a policy   even though its to late . and if the damage was minor.. it would pay you to fix it.. if the other companys insh pays they will hound you to your grave.. a new bumper on a car is only about 200 and you do the labor ok.

Answer 5

It depends on who's name the insurance was in for the car, if was in her husbands name (hopefully her ex hubby) then she hasn't a leg to stand on im afraid.  However if it was in her name they have no right to cancel the insurance without her say so, but a majority of insurers request that the Certificate of Motor Insurance is returned to them to cancel a policy so it all depends on what has happened along the line.

Email me if you want to explain further and I will try to help more.

Answer 6

If your step daughter did not inform the Insurance company of her change of address, then she is guilty of driving without insurance cover. The Insurance company fulfilled all their obligations. Your daughter must also return the Certificate of Insurance to the insurers.

I am sorry, but that is the law. On any Insurance policy you are told to inform the Insurance company of any change of address, or circumstances.

Answer 7

All I can say is good luck to her