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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Lying re car accident

117 replies

Crikeyalm · 10/02/2024 17:05

DP son has written off his car but so insurance doesn’t go up is not telling insurance company he has had accident , his dad is going to buying him a new car and they will just insure this . Aibu to thinking this is awful ?

OP posts:
gillefc82 · 10/02/2024 21:55

All insurance policies require you to report any incidents which “could” give rise to a claim and there is a 3 year time period during which a claim can be lodged.

I would suggest he notifies it as an “incident” to cover his back, but be clear no claim is being made.

I would always err on the side of caution with this as you don’t want to end up being refused insurance in the future for failure to declare a material fact. It would make getting any insurance at a reasonable price virtually impossible.

This is coming from someone who used to manage the corporate Insurance programme for a FTSE Top 20 company with a significant motor fleet and was fully aware of the implications of not declaring pertinent information to insurers.

Sadly it didn’t help me when I added my boyfriend to my policy as a named driver but he failed to disclose a prosecution for driving without insurance. When he crashed my car into the back of another and it came to light it was only my ignorance to this that meant the policy wasn’t cancelled outright which would have left me personally on the hook to pay all of the third party costs. Luckily I was able to demonstrate I was unaware and the insurer agreed to meet the other party’s costs but repairs to my car (£3k) I had to pay myself.

Lesson learnt- if in doubt, tell the insurer!!

spanishviola · 10/02/2024 21:55

I’m amazed as to how many people seem to think it is ok to walk away from an accident where some property was damaged. It’s both illegal not to report it to the police and fraudulent not to report it to the insurers. People seem really content that a young man can get away with it and not suffer the penalty for risky driving. I don’t want drivers like that on the road and a higher premium may just concentrate their minds a bit. If the OP’s suspicions are correct it is even worse. It could be your property that is damaged next time or a loved one of yours that loses their life in an accident. The premiums for risky drivers are high for a reason.

DistinguishedSocialCommenator · 10/02/2024 21:56

YuleDragon · 10/02/2024 18:43

Lets clear something up.

If you have a single vehicle accident, you are not legally obliged to report it to your insurance, and you can scrap the car and replace it. This is perfectly acceptable to do.

If he hit a lampost, he DOES need to report it to the police and his insurance. THAT is the issue here.

If he hadn't hit the lampost, i'd be telling you to mind your business because scrapping it and not reporting it is absolutely fine.

Never read so much rubbish in my life.

Everyone, just look up taking out insurance and declaring every accident you have been in within a certain period.

so many people have np idea about driving and their responsivities and what ever insurance co asks when takig out new isnurance

PhoenixStarbeamer · 10/02/2024 21:57

Happens all the time op.

DistinguishedSocialCommenator · 10/02/2024 21:58

spanishviola · 10/02/2024 21:55

I’m amazed as to how many people seem to think it is ok to walk away from an accident where some property was damaged. It’s both illegal not to report it to the police and fraudulent not to report it to the insurers. People seem really content that a young man can get away with it and not suffer the penalty for risky driving. I don’t want drivers like that on the road and a higher premium may just concentrate their minds a bit. If the OP’s suspicions are correct it is even worse. It could be your property that is damaged next time or a loved one of yours that loses their life in an accident. The premiums for risky drivers are high for a reason.

Just read your post and its my 3rd here- I told people here its fraud if you dont tell the insurance co what they ask but so many people have no idea whatsover and I'm hoping they dont drive

PerfectTravelTote · 10/02/2024 22:03

Is he lying or did no one ask the relevant questions?

DelilahsHaven · 10/02/2024 22:22

Anyhoo OP. Lampost Drug Gate aside, would it help to talk about your son and DP, it sounds like a difficult dynamic.

WhatIsHeThinking · 10/02/2024 22:41

An insurance company doesn’t have to ask ‘relevant questions’ to find out a driver’s history. It’s the driver’s legal obligation to disclose anything material, including single party incidents. It’s a rarity in contract law where one party can be guilty by omission.
Clearly that fact is inconvenient for all the posters who think nothing of not fully disclosing to an insurer, but that is the fact.
If you fail to disclose something, you aren’t insured. That would include driving your car into a lampost.
OP, your DP sounds a big part of the problem.

boopboopbidoop · 10/02/2024 22:44

OP you don't seem to realise that every day people have accidents that they decide aren't worth reporting to their insurers. They just pay themselves. This is normal when you scrape your car or have a small accident as it's often not worth reporting as the amount you get will be less than you end up losing in no claims bonus and premium increase.

This is effectively exactly the same as this man is doing.

By your reasoning everyone should always inform their insurer of every single thing even when not claiming. That's not normal.

spanishviola · 10/02/2024 22:56

boopboopbidoop · 10/02/2024 22:44

OP you don't seem to realise that every day people have accidents that they decide aren't worth reporting to their insurers. They just pay themselves. This is normal when you scrape your car or have a small accident as it's often not worth reporting as the amount you get will be less than you end up losing in no claims bonus and premium increase.

This is effectively exactly the same as this man is doing.

By your reasoning everyone should always inform their insurer of every single thing even when not claiming. That's not normal.

Good lord. RTFT.

EbonyRaven · 10/02/2024 23:34

Sounds a lot like you are trying to get your DP's son in trouble to be honest @Crikeyalm You clearly dislike him. You will also get your DP into trouble too you know. Don't you care?

rhubarbby · 11/02/2024 01:07

the whole insurance industry is codology anyway, don't give it a second thought.

Weedoormatnomore · 11/02/2024 06:53

This reply has been deleted

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Bythefireside · 11/02/2024 07:05

BoredWithLife · 10/02/2024 17:30

When he applies for new insurance he'll be asked "have you had an accident in the last X years" so he'll have to knowingly lie, technically making his insurance invalid.

However in reality no one will know.

I’m pretty sure they ask if you’ve claimed for an accident not had one, as long as he hasn’t made a claim hes not lying.

doilooklikeicare · 11/02/2024 07:23

So you're with a man who encourages his DS to drug drive? Why are you with him?

YuleDragon · 11/02/2024 10:48

ShoePalaver · 10/02/2024 19:59

Surely crashing so hard a car isn't repairable will always involve damage to some other object? What could you crash into that wouldn't be damaged? And whatever you hit would belong to someone.

Depends on the condition of the car, if you've hit a curb and snapped the suspension its often not worth the repair.
Writing something off is weighing up the cost of the repair against the value of the car, it's why you can buy cars that were insurance write-offs.

BadLad · 11/02/2024 11:15

Yogatoga1 · 10/02/2024 17:38

I thought you were asked if you’d had a claim, rather than an accident?

an accident could be anything from a tiny scrape of a wing mirror, to running over a cat or hedgehog, or coming into contact with a fence or bollard when reversing, but causing no damage.

i don’t recall ever thinking about that when renewing my insurance or I’d have dithered about the time a stone kicked up and left a mark on the bonnet…

I’m sure the last time I insured in the UK I was asked if I had had any accidents, claims or convictions.

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