Page 6 | To think it’s fine to drive uninsured if it’s just a short distance?

MourningEveryone · 2022-10-26T20:35:54+00:00

My car has a flat tyre. My dad wanted me to borrow my mum’s car to drive home in, rather than one of them having to give me a lift. I’m not insured to drive her car. However he says it would be fine as it’s only a very short distance. I refused, saying this would be against the law. He’s now not speaking to me. AIBU?

TheTeenageYears · 27/10/2022 01:22

Your Dad is a massive twat. He is not having to feel the effects of a situation he had a massive hand in causing and wants to continue playing fast and loose with your life. I would never listen to him again and probably wouldn't want to spend any time with someone happy to be so reckless of others. He may or may not take huge chances himself, he may or may not ever get or have been caught out. You have and are paying the price - I would have zero respect for someone who is supposed to want to protect you (regardless of age) but does the exact opposite.

curiousierandcouriser · 27/10/2022 01:56

MourningEveryone · 26/10/2022 21:57

Seriously though, not many cars carry spares these days.

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Really? Genuinely surprised at this - all the cars I've ever driven or my friends / family have a spare.

Angelou79 · 27/10/2022 02:31

I work in insurance and having an accident should not stop you from getting insurance. When they ask have you ever had a policy cancelled they mean has an insurer cancelled due to non disclosure, or fraud, not if the car was written off therefore the policy was no longer needed. Have a look a motor brokers they should be able to help.

sayanythingelse · 27/10/2022 03:28

You're going to need even more specialist insurance if you get slapped with an IN10. No normal insurer will touch you.

sashh · 27/10/2022 03:44

Lots of car insurance has third party cover for you to drive another car. Check your policy.

But your dad is being an idiot.

curiousierandcouriser · 27/10/2022 04:52

Angelou79 · 27/10/2022 02:31

I work in insurance and having an accident should not stop you from getting insurance. When they ask have you ever had a policy cancelled they mean has an insurer cancelled due to non disclosure, or fraud, not if the car was written off therefore the policy was no longer needed. Have a look a motor brokers they should be able to help.

@Angelou79 - the OP has said that the reason they had the policy cancelled was because they didn't declare an accident.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 27/10/2022 05:54

curiousierandcouriser · 27/10/2022 01:56

Really? Genuinely surprised at this - all the cars I've ever driven or my friends / family have a spare.

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How do you know that? Do you routinely question people you know about their spare tyres?

That is plain weird, I have driven for decades and never spoken to anyone about whether I have a spare tyre, I'm thinking you don't actually know this

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 27/10/2022 05:56

JennyNotFromTheBlock · 27/10/2022 01:20

I'd be more worried about not having a spare tyre, than the insurance. I didn't think it was legal to drive without a spare tyre? Everyone has a spare tyre, it's part of the car being road worthy, it's irresponsible not to and I think illegal.

Are you in the UK? That's not the case here and as several PPs have said lots of cars don't have spare tyres

deliverooyoutoo · 27/10/2022 06:44

JennyNotFromTheBlock · 27/10/2022 01:20

I'd be more worried about not having a spare tyre, than the insurance. I didn't think it was legal to drive without a spare tyre? Everyone has a spare tyre, it's part of the car being road worthy, it's irresponsible not to and I think illegal.

My cars haven't had a spare for at least 10/15 years. Small cars. I carry a can of the tyre stuff at all times and drive on run flats that cost a fortune.

Penners99 · 27/10/2022 06:52

OP you were right.

Anyone caught driving without insurance should be banned for life.

ivykaty44 · 27/10/2022 06:53

Fine and points on licence

According to MIB, there are around 1 million uninsured drivers on UK roads. It's estimated that every three days someone has an accident involving an uninsured or 'hit and run' driver.13 Jun 2022

it’s not unusual for drivers to be uninsured

Heyisforhorses · 27/10/2022 06:59

You are right not to drive the distance.

You're an adult when you drive, you complete your forms and its up to you to have the right info. Your dad told you not to declare non fault accidents, you should have checked that. That's your fault uou have specific insurance and not "him again"

balalake · 27/10/2022 07:04

You are 100% right. Your dad and the 10% on this thread are part of the problem who think it is OK to do things in a car that would never be supported in any other situation. Language and attitude does not help. Car crashes should not be described as accidents (many are avoidable), motoring crimes are crimes not just offences, for example.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 27/10/2022 07:16

it is illegal or you would fail an MOT without a workign spare tyre surely?

deliverooyoutoo · 27/10/2022 07:18

MrsLargeEmbodied · 27/10/2022 07:16

it is illegal or you would fail an MOT without a workign spare tyre surely?

I've never failed an mot in any of my cars without a spare. They are on run flats and I have tyre weld. They're not designed to have a spare?

Itloggedmeoutagain · 27/10/2022 07:21

My car was written off less than two miles from home

Itloggedmeoutagain · 27/10/2022 07:28

MourningEveryone · 26/10/2022 21:46

I have a specialist policy so unfortunately I’m definitely not insured to drive other cars.

The reason for this is that I had a cancelled policy because my dad (yes, him again) incorrectly told me it was OK not to declare accidents if they were non-fault. It’s now very difficult for me to get insurance and there are only about three insurers who will take me on.

How did you get to 40 without knowing you have to declare things like that?

MrsLargeEmbodied · 27/10/2022 07:28

your dad is particularly unhelpful

ivykaty44 · 27/10/2022 07:29

Your dad and the 10% on this thread are part of the problem who think it is OK to do things in a car that would never be supported in any other situation. Language and attitude does not help. Car crashes should not be described as accidents (many are avoidable), motoring crimes are crimes not just offences, for example.

this ^

committing crimes makes people criminals, for some unexplained reason people don’t see themselves as criminals if they break the law in a car related crime

ivykaty44 · 27/10/2022 07:31

@Itloggedmeoutagain Where did op say she was 40 when that happened

Angelou79 · 27/10/2022 07:40

That makes more sense I missed that bit thanks

Hoppinggreen · 27/10/2022 07:43

If your Dad wants to break the law that’s up to him (and wrong) but he shouldn’t try and make you do it and then have a tantrum when you won’t

Itloggedmeoutagain · 27/10/2022 07:49

ivykaty44 · 27/10/2022 07:31

@Itloggedmeoutagain Where did op say she was 40 when that happened

That's a very good point I suppose.
But even so, if she'd previously been in an accident while driving it's a safe assumption that she should be adult enough to sort her own insurance out. The question about accidents does not say have you caused an accident it says something like have you made a claim or have you been in an accident. Then you have to say if it was fault or non fault. It still has to be declared. They make this perfectly clear

thelobsterquadrille · 27/10/2022 07:54

MrsLargeEmbodied · 27/10/2022 07:16

it is illegal or you would fail an MOT without a workign spare tyre surely?

Of course it's not illegal.

Most small cars don't have spare tyres. My car passes it's MOT a few months ago and it doesn't even have room for a spare tyre!

LookItsMeAgain · 27/10/2022 07:55

MourningEveryone · 26/10/2022 21:46

I have a specialist policy so unfortunately I’m definitely not insured to drive other cars.

The reason for this is that I had a cancelled policy because my dad (yes, him again) incorrectly told me it was OK not to declare accidents if they were non-fault. It’s now very difficult for me to get insurance and there are only about three insurers who will take me on.

Just to clarify - your dad has now given you bad advice on more than one occasion in relation to car insurance and you still have to ask if he is right or not about car insurance???

🙄