Drove without insurance

[pleasedontflamemetoday]

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?

Have you seen this?

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/driving-without-insurance

@Waitingforsummer75

They can't make her go through insurance as there is no insurance to go through!!

Yes she has to tell her insurance company what happened when she get re-insured but the chances of any consequences for an innocent mistake are slim, the world simply isn't as vindictive as Mumsnet.

I did tell my insurer- they told me I wasn't insured at the time

This was an admin error and an accident. I have got myself insured immediately on discovering it. Are the police going to spend time chasing someone for this?

Interestingly I was stopped by the police during the six weeks for having a break light out. They didn't have any idea that I wasn't insured and nor did I!

Presumably they won’t cover you for the incident in question?

Sounds like you have a narrow escape with the recent police interaction? I know how relieved I was that it was DH and not me in the car when they stopped him!

Did the insurance company say that it was an admin error? If so they should be covering the claim as they are saying it's their error.

I read it as it was OP's admin error, not insurance company's.
If it was a legit oversight I hope she lets you pay directly, but I guess we'll never know.

It seems incontrovertible that you were driving uninsured. Fortunately, the only issue is a carpark scrape.

All you can do is tell the other driver you'll settle any claim personally. If she insists on going through her own insurer then, I guess, you'll have to sort it with them. Unfortunately, from your point of view, people increasingly let their own insurer sort it as (a) they've not the time/energy to faff the paperwork and (b) people who offer to pay rather than claim extend the time/energy thing by hook wriggling, disputing quotes or being straw men.

I had exactly that reaction with a no fault claim when a Council's car park barrier dented my car's roof. Too many other issues etc.....

It is your responsibility to insure your assets

House insurance
Contents insurance
Car insurance
Travel insurance
Life insurance
Pet insurance
Etc

Some insurance auto renews

Some has to be renewed each year