Has anybody been able to continue driving after having an insurance policy cancelled? I’m in bits

[GraceyBeaker]

I’m mid 20s. Passed my test yesterday, absolutely over the moon. I have a car ready for me, my partner’s old one. It’s a 2007 Yaris. The car did fail its MOT a month ago but it’s only a small part replacement that we will get round to doing now that I’ve passed. It’s essential I drive ASAP for various reasons. It’s too far to walk to most places and I can’t do buses, within 5 minutes of being on a bus I have to get off to be sick. I have severe motion sickness on buses.

Problem is, I don’t think I can afford any insurance. When I was 18 I tried learning with my dad and used a monetary gift from my grandparents to buy a little car. We arranged learners insurance, a black box policy. When filling in the forms we said we’d be practicing 2x times a week. However, my dad never kept to his promise of practicing with me, constantly fobbing me off when I asked and so we went months without using the car. This made the insurance company think we had turned the black box off and were driving without it, which resulted in them cancelling the policy. I received notice at the time that they were cancelling the policy but being a naive 18 year old I never realised it would affect me going forward, so I just let it happen.

Now when applying for insurance I have to declare I’ve had a cancelled policy, and my quotes are all £8000+. I have no idea what to do, I feel like I’m being treated like a criminal.

Any advice?

I got a block box but never ended up putting it in as I didn't drive the car in the time frame so they cancelled it and I just used a different insurance company with no bother at all

I would advise to give Direct Line a call.

when I was a young driver (I was old, but just got my licence) they were amazing.
all my quotes were in the £9K region and direct line did it for I think £2.5K in the first year.

I would explain the situation and they may be understanding.

i wonder whether there is a time out thing about the cancelled insurance after which you don’t have to mention it anymore?

I believe the question is see is usually followed by: in the past x years?

My son is turned 17 a few days ago. He is now a Provisional license holder taking driving lessons We bought him a Ford Fiesta. 2020 reg. The lowest brake horse power . Cc you can get for insurance group reasons. If you tied a tow rope round your undies? It would struggle to tow them off!! Anyway. We had quotes of £2,700 whilst learning on his provisional license and £14,200 once his test has been passed. We had other quotes of over 6k as well. This is happening to young people right across the country depending on where you live amongst you young drivers who want to get on the road. If its Manchester Liverpool or London your going to get insurance quotes to keep you off the road as the companies don't want to insure young drivers any more. I think this is due to girl/boy racers claims due to their bad driving fraudulent whip lash claims and not just on cars . Fraudulent claims of lost stolen mobile phones. House insurance claims over whats actually been lost. So this is the product of all these claims combined. Young people will now suffer extortionate in the thousands quotes which is unrealistic to pay. I can't see anyone getting on the road until they are 25 and then as you will have no no claims built up, you will still suffer ridicules quotes even at 25. There are some suggested small noddy cars by the insurance companies, but no young lad will be seen in any if them, as my lad says he would rather walk or get the bus as they are lady like vehicles!! Good luck with your search for a reasonable cover.

Seriously?

Just answer "no" when they ask you. They have no way of knowing whatsoever.

You answer the questions on the quote "to the best of your knowledge" Again, insurers have no way of knowing if it was to the best of your knowledge or not. As far as you're aware your father could have been handling the policy for you and told you it was him that cancelled it...

You think you're the only person who's had a policy cancelled?

From experience, just tick "no" pay the price and crack on.

lol It definitely doesn't. So much BS on this thread it's unreal.

How is this her dad's fault? it's the insurers fault for assuming. Fuck me.

I'd contact the insurance ombudsman to explain and ask them to intervene to have this taken off the records. I've had to use them once when a car insurance company were being CFs and they were very helpful... and when you tell your original insurer you've contacted the ombudsman, they'll sit up and take notice. Good luck.

Nor sure that is good advice as insurance companies share data.

Such stupid advice. This is what i do for a living before you disregard the following as BS, and really I'm saying this for the benefit of anyone who reads your post and thinks oh ok I'll do that.

Every time you take an insurance policy out, it tells you over and over again on the website, policy documents, policy booklet - that insurance companies share information to prevent fraud. You say something to one insurance company, you can safely assume that it's shareable with any other insurance company.

You might think you're really clever and that you've got away with lying about it, but wait till you need to make a claim and they've got a reason to look at your policy history - not only could your policy be cancelled but they could refuse to indemnify you for any third party claims if you lie about any previously cancelled insurance - hope you've got deep pockets to pay for all that (could very easily be tens of thousands of £s), or that a CCJ won't adversely affect your life.

The policy was in her name, it's her responsibility to know the terms and conditions of the policy and to adhere to them - not her dad's. The insurance company also doesn't have to assume anything - they work on the principle of utmost good faith. I'm assuming you know what that is, as you're an expert on the intricacies of motor insurance fraud.

Thank god it looks like the OP is doing things the right way and speaking to the insurance co concerned to clarify what happened - not just blindly following advice to commit insurance fraud.

your making a mountain out of a molehill. They have confirmed you don’t have to declare so don’t. I don’t think insurance companies have the time to check everyone’s search history, and if they did you have the email to send them. I’m hoping you have already got a new quote 😄

Do you care to provide an official document that proves your statement? Perhaps a relevant policy and clause?

Not sure any recent posters have actually read the ops latest updates regarding the insurance company confirming that they don’t treat cancellation due to lack of use as the same as a cancellation due to speeding/other offences and that the policy would have been reinstated if contacted at the time and so as a different type of cancellation does not get declared, and that they have confirmed in writing from the insurer they don’t need to declare?

Try acorn insurance. They specialise in hard to write risks. I think they ask "have you ever been refused cover".

I know; it's bizarre.

Speak to a broker and explain the situation or contact your previous insurers and inform them of the facts and request they amend the record you can then go to the insurance ombudsman to appeal

No, it is fine to do that.

Can you use someone else's car for a bit and be a named driver on their insurance? Will probably be cheaper. Since you've literally just passed and you're (I think) young it'll be a lot more expensive for those reasons as well. Mine was 1200 when I first passed and went down to 600 after about 6 months but I was mid 30s/passed in 2019.

@Craftier there is no good faith with insurance companies , they are awful. They state prices based in their stats etc but don’t share them, someone could have a policy cancelled s they missed a direct debit or something silly and then your punished for life ? Most other records other than criminal have to be wiped after x amount of years and even criminal ones will be looked at differently after so long.
yet insurance companies should do all the checks before taking your money if they won’t insure you not look into when there is a claim, could of been taking your money for 20 years !!! Where is this list on everyone thats kept for years and years , data protection means we have rights to see whats held on us so where can we all check we have no issue like this from 30 years ago when 18 and we did mot realise ? My son just had his black bix fitted and now broke arm so can’t drive, insurance being a pain as black box not being used , because he can’t drive.
recently written to my mo about insurance companies and their lack of transparency and prices they make up , everyone needs to do this and get this industry more regulated . My son got a job in warehouse from a student somehow his insurance went up £300 ?? No reason just how they risk it , so he drives car twice a day now instead of 6 / 7 times to and from college lessons and rides with mates but somehow thats cost him and they have to provide no proof of why this is now a bigger risk, awful industry that preys on the fact e have to have it.

I know you said you need to drive straight away but insurance tends to be cheaper if you take it out a few weeks before you need have you tried four the furthest away date it lets you select? Also if you have a Tesco Clubcard there’s sometimes the equivalent of a months free also could you get someone else named on your car so you both can drive it , it might bring the cost down if your not the only driver
Good luck

Ok so mid 40 year old guy here with a lot of experience on this!

Firstly...do not challenge the insurance company just yet. You need to have a plan of action regards exactly what grounds you are basing your complaint and also your wording etc. Be careful how you proceed. Don't screw it up for yourself as you actually only do get one shot at this.

First Google Policy Assist...they are very very good people. I'm not based mainland UK so they couldn't really actively help me but they literally sat on the phone with me for 2 hours giving me free advice and it was the only useful advice anybody could give me out of over 280 phone calls over 7 years.

Unlike the financial ombudsman who are actually about as much help as a chocolate teacup...the guys at policy assist can actually help.

They charge a fee as it's an actual service BUT they are pretty genuine....they were honest with me and said they wouldn't take my money as my one is complicated although innocent and they weren't confident enough they could be successful.

They can help you challenge cancellation and if your mainland UK...can help find you a policy.

I'm same as you...never had a clue it was even a thing....

I made an innocent mistake...we are literally talking paperwork and post here...literally nothing else. Nothing withheld, nothing purposefully undisclosed. And very genuinely nothing that I could ever have had control over.

Yet I was left in position where within 24 hrs of recieving an email, I was facing loosing my business. Eventually lost my family as after 2 years it was ruining us.

The worst was that nobody would actually give me details...stating data protection...I had to do a data request...it took 3 months to get info that allowed me to dig and find why my policy was voided.

In the first 6 months after my policy was voided, I spent £14000 on hire vehicles and was actively working from 6am until 10/11pm 6-6.5 days a week for approx 50% of my income to try and keep cogs in motion. I didn't eat much, I didn't buy anything...and I really do mean anything..for myself.

We were already coping with stresses 99% of average families with kids thankfully don't have to suffer.

A profoundly disabled daughter, a young teenage son suffering clinical psychosis.and attempting suicide, a long distance suddenly relocation due to the above, family home at other end of country in half renovated state due to being badly ripped off by a building squad and a Mom who was suffering PTSD.

Eventually I actually had to leave the country to enable me to insure and provide income for my family that was by then, no longer with.

I'm a normal, honest, crazy hard working guy with a clean licence, no accidents, no claims, no points, no convictions...and I'm uninsurable in the UK.

I've spent the past 2 years sleeping in back of my van when away working to ensure I can fund the kids and give their mum money for the half finished house which I intend to keep and repair, sell and eventually (they don't know this yet) just build them a home that they can have forever to be safe in. I intend to just rent for rest of my days when I have it all under control.

All of the above current circumstances are the direct consequence of an insurer voiding my policy over something utterly trivial and actually something that wasn't within my control to inform them off as I did not know. Without allowing me the opportunity to defend myself.

This took place 2017. I'm still suffering the consequences.

Currently stuck with a completely unsuitable vehicle that's now knackered and costing me £4000 average per year on repairs and 1400 tax (yes that's right...1400)due to being stuck with 1 insurer who will only insure me on this vehicle.

Still uninsurable in UK.

At one point during all of this I became so low I had a period where I had an overwhelming urge to end things. But thankfully I was able to pull myself together as became self aware enough to spot the red flags in my thoughts. Never thought I'd be "that" guy.

Desperate to come home and be close to my kids.

Desperate to even come home to be around people.

I've recently been taking steps to prepare something (exactly what...I still don't know) to make noise about this law/policy in general as it's almost cartel like in how it's set up, adopted and put into action.

So yes...rant over...google policy assist. Good people...straight, honest and knowledgeable all about this...every little detail.

This is really good advice.

Haven’t RTFT, so apologies if I’m repeating a suggestion, but you could also include MOT certificates from the year before and after to show that the mileage has hardly changed? This would verify what you are saying and your original insurers would be more likely to act on what you are putting across to them.

Have you run the quotes work and without the cancelled insurance declared? Is it definitely that that's pushing up the price?

Congratulations on passing your test. Sorry you find yourself in this situation but sounds like you've got good advice and close to sorted.

Just a note, you say you're fixing it before insuring it. It needs to be insured to drive to the MOT unless it's already there. You can drive with no MOT to a prebooked MOT but it needs
Insurance. Needs to be taxed too but this is a grey area as you can't tax without MOT so they get it. I'm sure you know this but just in case, I didn't want you to solve one issue and find yourself in another.

I would go back to the original insurer and ask them to clarify if they are classing this as an administration cancellation or a void /one you have to declare and also do a SAR and ask them what they have recorded with whom etc

The insurance was cancelled because the car wasn't used.