What invalidates my car insurance?
Making sure your car insurance details are up to date and valid is vital. Not doing it could mean your insurance becomes invalid. Invalidated insurance means your policy has been voided – so is treated like it never existed. This leaves you open to many problems like tickets, prosecution, the ability to obtain insurance and a lack of protection if you get into an accident. But, more importantly - it's illegal to drive without insurance
Ways your car insurance can become invalid
It's really important to be open and honest with your insurer, as this is the best way to make sure you don't invalidate your insurance.
Your insurance can be cancelled for various reasons, including the following:
Details
Making sure all your personal details are up to date is something quick to do, but easily forgotten. It’s a common mistake to forget to change your address on things after a move. Your insurer will need to know the address you’re currently residing at, and where the car is kept. If you have multiple homes, it should be the one you’re staying at the most.
Making sure everything you’ve selected on your policy is also correct is very important. Take care when selecting how you use your vehicle to ensure you have the right level of cover.
Modifications
Not making your insurer aware of any modifications you've made or have been previously made to a vehicle could cost you. For example, modifications can make your vehicle more valuable and therefore more desirable to be stolen, or if you get into an accident, it may be more expensive to fix. There are some modifications that we can't cover - so it's important to disclose any changes to ensure you're fully prtoected. On the other hand, if you’re not an experienced mechanic you could botch doing a modification and actually cause damage to your car.
Keeping your vehicle roadworthy
Not having a valid MOT can not only get you in trouble with the law but can also void your car insurance. Making sure you’re also getting your car serviced can help too.
Fronting
'Fronting' for someone on insurance means you take out a policy in your name as the main driver but a named driver is actually the sole driver of the vehicle.
The sole driver does not have to be the registered keeper of the vehicle.
Fronting can also include the scenario where both the main and named drivers drive the vehicle, but the named driver is the main user. This could be classed as fraud and can lead to having your policy voided. As the the person who took out the policy and allowed the policy to be fronted, any consequences or voidance will rest with the policyholder and not the named or sole driver.
Undeclared accidents
Being honest about previously being in a accident will help reduce any issues, it's beneficial to be truthful and open with your insurer. Even if you haven’t made a claim, your insurer still needs to know.
It's really important to be open and honest with your insuer, as this is the best way to make sure you don't invalidate your insurance.
What happens if my car insurance is invalidated?
You must be insured on any vehicle that you operate, not being insured is illegal. You can be prosecuted; you could get a fine or your vehicle could be taken away. Your insurer may refuse to pay any claims, past, present or future, and in some scenarios, may not refund any of the premiums you have paid.
If you have had an insurance policy invalidated, then you could struggle to get insurance in the future. You may also find that if you do find an insurer that will take you on that your premiums are more expensive to cover that risk.
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