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Legal matters

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Original poster

Drove without insurance

33 replies

pleasedontflamemetoday · 09/07/2023 12:35

I changed my debit card but my aviva car insurance comes off that rather than as a direct debit (not sure why). When we moved house I got new house insurance and assumed they had changed the address on both house and car but apparently not- so when the card didn't work they sent me a letter to say my car insurance would be stopped unless I have them an updated card- but I didn't get the letter and so the insurance cancelled. But I didn't know! So I have been driving round for six weeks with no insurance. I damaged someone's car in a carpark and left them my number. She wants to go through my insurance but I have contacted them only to discover I have none! Where do I stand legally?

OP posts:
Waitingforsummer75 · 09/07/2023 12:37

You have another thread running don't you?

Original poster
pleasedontflamemetoday · 09/07/2023 12:39

Yes!! Just about to update that one too- I only just called the insurance company on the advice of the posters and found out it's not covered.

OP posts:
Gooniesnecersaydie · 09/07/2023 12:40

Pretty screwed I'd say. Am not a lawyer though.

Waitingforsummer75 · 09/07/2023 12:42

What have Aviva suggested? Was your insurance cancelled mid term due to non payment or cancelled at renewal?

badluckorbadvibes · 09/07/2023 12:42

Where do I stand legally?

You are basically fucked because none of your excuses are valid.

MissDemelzaCarne · 09/07/2023 12:44

You might to get legal advice on this one, it doesn’t sound good.
I had a similar situation in that my insurance company ceased trading and wrote to me about it, like you I didn’t see/open the letter and my insurance got cancelled without me knowing anything about it.

The police stopped DH when he was driving my car and told him their was no policy for the car so he thankfully was covered by his insurance. The police were aware of this insurance company and said it was a well known issue.

We had to send the new details to the police who said that if it had be me driving when I was stopped then I would have been prosecuted.

I was ‘lucky’ but it made me sick to my stomach, I’m always checking my policy now!

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 09/07/2023 12:46

I’m not a lawyer and you’re probably screwed but I did used to work for a firm who employed lawyers for cases like this.

I’m guessing you’d probably get a fine and ordered to pay for repair etc and costs for the car you damaged, plus increased insurance in future.

Divebar2021 · 09/07/2023 12:48

I’m confused - who did you think would notify the insurance company of the new address and what arrangements did you have in place to redirect your post from your last address ?

I think you’re going to have to be very generous with the financial incentives with the person you hit.

Divebar2021 · 09/07/2023 12:50

The police don’t know about it do they ? Presumably this was an “ accident only” with no injury?

Original poster
pleasedontflamemetoday · 09/07/2023 12:51

I am very ashamed this has happened. I have had a horrendous year and all of what I has said it totally true

OP posts:
Original poster
pleasedontflamemetoday · 09/07/2023 12:51

Scrape in a carpark- I have photos of the damage- just scratches on their bumper

OP posts:
Niftyswiftie · 09/07/2023 12:52

Did you not redirect your post from your old address?

Original poster
pleasedontflamemetoday · 09/07/2023 12:52

I told the jnsirance company about the change of address when I took our house insurance with them. They do our car insurance as well as house insurance and they didn't update the car but but I thought they had

OP posts:
Original poster
pleasedontflamemetoday · 09/07/2023 12:52

We redirected for six months

OP posts:
violinviolet · 09/07/2023 12:53

Personally if it's only a few scratches I'd see if you could come to an agreement outside of your insurance to pay for the works.

AuntieJune · 09/07/2023 12:55

Well it's done now - if it's just a scrape you'll have to pay up yourself.

You're lucky it was a bumper scrape not a proper collision, with £££ compensation and police involvement. This is a couple of hundred maybe and a lesson you won't forget.

QueenFree · 09/07/2023 12:55

Personally, I would offer a decent sum of money as an incentive. I'm thinking double the repair price. It's worth a shot, OP.

Lucyintheskywithadiamond · 09/07/2023 12:55

What do you mean by where do I stand legally? It is a legal requirement to have car insurance.

Waitingforsummer75 · 09/07/2023 12:56

pleasedontflamemetoday · 09/07/2023 12:52

I told the jnsirance company about the change of address when I took our house insurance with them. They do our car insurance as well as house insurance and they didn't update the car but but I thought they had

So what did Aviva say when you told them this? They can't just update your address on a car policy, it would have been an endorsement, potentially with an increase in premium.

Justwingingit2005 · 09/07/2023 12:57

I had a similar. We have home and car through same company. We swapped banks. Car insurance sent a letter saying couldn't take the payments so rang up and paid, assumed home insurance would automatically as same company. Kept my eye know bank account and it didn't show payment so rang up and they said it has to be done separately. Good job I kept an eye on it else we would have assumed you ipdate once and all done but its not that way.

HopelessEstateAgents · 09/07/2023 13:53

OP some posters just love to stick the boot in! Ignore. Just tell whoever you hit you'll be paying out of pocket. They can't make you use insurance. And make sure your insurance is sorted going forward.

Your insurance company will still record the incident, if it's your first time doing this and you're otherwise an upstanding citizen they will record it as an innocent mistake. Unlike Mumsnet, the world isn't out to get you

LosingMyPancakes · 09/07/2023 13:58

Surely a lot depends on how muchy the repairs will cost? If it's just a few hundred, you could say you've spoken to your insurer but they won't cover it as you have a high excess on your policy and that you'll be paying directly? Makes no difference to the person as long as it's done.

Waitingforsummer75 · 09/07/2023 14:05

HopelessEstateAgents · 09/07/2023 13:53

OP some posters just love to stick the boot in! Ignore. Just tell whoever you hit you'll be paying out of pocket. They can't make you use insurance. And make sure your insurance is sorted going forward.

Your insurance company will still record the incident, if it's your first time doing this and you're otherwise an upstanding citizen they will record it as an innocent mistake. Unlike Mumsnet, the world isn't out to get you

They can report this to their insurance company, and they absolutely can make you go through insurance.
The insurance company won't just record the incident as there is no policy to record it against.

PoseyFlump · 09/07/2023 14:08

If it were me I'd be honest with the other car owner and explain to them as you have done here and ask to pay directly.

MissDemelzaCarne · 09/07/2023 14:12

Has the other party already contacted their insurers?
If the other insurers discover you were driving without insurance they may be obliged to report it to the police.