car insurance: How to stay legal with car insurance

car insurance legal: 10 things you need to know about car insurance.

Best 10 things to know about car insurance. These 10 guidelines will help you avoid losing your car insurance. All car drivers in the UK must have minimum third-party coverage.

You can easily compare with Uswitch to find a cheap car insurance policy. 

However, there are certain requirements that you must fulfill to ensure you are covered in case of an accident.

Always tell the truth

The cost of your car insurance coverage will depend on many factors. 

This is typically your driving record, age, and where you live. 

Also, your claims history . Also, the car you drive and the job you dowitch.com/car-insurance/compare-job-titles/.

Your insurer is legally bound to know all these details. Don’t lie to lower your insurance costs.

Falsifying your application (misrepresentation), is an example of insurance fraud. You will lose your coverage if you try to make a claim. It will be difficult to obtain insurance in the future. You cannot drive without it.

Do not make it easy for thieves

Most fully-comprehensive policies will cover theft of your vehicle and any items within it. However, they won’t cover theft if you are found to be negligent. 

The insurer might not pay your claim if you leave valuables visible, such as on the seat of the passenger, or if they believe that the vehicle was stolen.

Although it may seem obvious, you should never leave your car without locking the doors and the keys in the ignition. 

If you are:

• To pay for gasoline or groceries, you can go to a garage.
• Leave your car unattended to heat up in the morning
• Delivering a parcel to a house

You may have to replace your vehicle from your savings as your insurance will not cover the cost of such an accident.

Be open about the driver named

High-risk drivers ( young and as well as those who have had previous convictions or claims) might find insurance more costly than others.

Some lower-risk drivers might offer to help out by purchasing an insurance policy in their names, and adding the risky driver as a driver. 

This can reduce costs. Parents may declare themselves the primary driver of a policy that covers a car for their children.

This is also known as fronting. 

• Getting a payday loan in Australia?
• Bad credit car loans? Australia
• How much does lasik cost with insurance?

These are three good reasons to not front. Fronting is:

• This is a form of insurance fraud that is illegal.
• High-risk behavior can result in your policy being cancelled and all claims dismissed.
• Expensive as you could face a fine of up to PS5,000 and six penalty points. In addition, you may have to pay a higher premium as well.

Use reasonable care

Your insurer expects that you take reasonable care of your vehicle. Accidents do happen, and insurance is there to cover them. However, if you are negligent or reckless, the insurer may reduce or deny payment.

You won’t be covered for damages to your car if your ignore warnings, drive through floods, or leave your keys in your car when your car has dangerous faults.

All drivers should be covered

You should ensure that your vehicle is fully insured if you allow someone to use it. You will need to add the other driver to your policy to ensure that they are legal.

They may also take out temporary coverage for your car, or have their own comprehensive policy that includes ‘driving other vehicles’ (DOC) coverage. 

DOC is not as common as it once was and includes many exclusions such as no coverage for cars purchased through hire purchase agreements.

DOC coverage is typically only third-party so if you are involved in an accident, your car will not be covered.

It’s best to add to your policy as a named driver if you are teaching someone how to drive .

Declare any modifications or “mods”

Most modifications to a car made after the manufacturer have been deemed . 

Your insurance policy will be invalid if you fail to make any modifications.

These’mods can’ include:

• Brake and exhaust upgrades
• Paintwork and fancy wheels
• Body graphics and stripes
• Engine tuning is often called “chipping” or .
• LED lighting
• Window tinting and pedal racing
• Sports seats
• Suspension upgrades that could alter ride height might be an option.

Your insurer should be notified if you make any changes to your vehicle after you have taken out your insurance.

Use your car only for the purpose it was intended.

You will need to provide information about the use of your car when you purchase insurance. It will be asked if you use the car for business, social or commuting purposes.

If you don’t agree to the use of the car, your policy will be invalidated and you won’t be able to get your coverage. Even if you only drive part of your commute to work, you still need coverage for commuting.

It is also forbidden to make a profit by driving your car, unless you explicitly state it in your application as a driver. Don’t accept cash for lifts unless the money is to pay for petrol costs.

Keep your insurer informed

Your obligation is to notify your insurer if your circumsatances change, as it may be necessary to adjust your premium.

This includes:

• When you move into a new house
• If you are considering changing careers
• If your use of your car changes, such as if you commute more frequently
• If you decide to park your car somewhere else during the day or night, it will be a problem.
• If you drive more, it is a good thing.

Your insurance policy could be invalidated if you do not inform your insurer about any changes in your life.

All accidents should be reported

No claims discounts offer significant reductions in yearly premiums so most people won’t claim for a minor incident .

Even if you do not wish to file a claim, it is mandatory to notify your insurer about an accident. 

In the event of a more serious accident, you may not be eligible to make a claim for damage to your vehicle.

Keep to the mileage you have disclosed to your insurance

Although they know that it is a rough estimate, if you drive significantly more than this, your insurance could be invalidated. Some insurers may only offer coverage if you keep within a certain mileage limit.

You can see your MOT certificates to get a picture of your driving habits. 

You should factor in any changes in your driving habits, such as if you move to a better job, or notify your insurer if this happens.