Not only is car insurance a legal requirement, and has been since the implementation of the Road Traffic Act in 1930, it is also crucial in protecting you and your family in case of an accident or incident whilst you are driving. If you allow your policy to lapse, you could find yourself disqualified from driving without valid insurance, as well as being liable for any costs incurred in an accident.
Third party insurance is the lowest form of insurance you are allowed to have to enable you to legally drive your car on public roads. Another oversight people often make is not adding the names of other drivers onto their insurance, with many making the mistake of ‘fronting’ drivers for whom insurance may be higher; for example, new drivers or those with points on their licence. This is an illegal practice, constituting insurance fraud, and can result in providers hiking their quotes, or refusing to insure you in the future.
If you drive your car without valid insurance, your can expect to receive a fixed penalty fine, as well as six points on your licence. If you get 12 or more points on your licence over a period of three years, you will be disqualified from driving for a minimum of six months. Not having valid insurance can also result in a court appearance, during which you could be banned from driving. The police can also impound your car and may obtain authority to destroy it.
If your car is declared as off the road and you are not driving it on public highways, you can declare it as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) and you will not need to insure it. However, should you take it out on the road, you must make sure that you insure it beforehand.
If you want to discuss your car insurance requirements in more detail, speak to one of our experts today.
