ChatterBank17 mins ago
Speed Awareness Course
I was caught for speeding and offered a speed awareness course instead of points on my licence. The instructor was quite specific that it was unnecessary to notify my insurance company. I'm now having second thoughts and wondering if I should tell them. I'm insured with R.I.A.S. and am a senior driver.
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.The following guidance comes from the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS), who are responsible for developing the National Speed Awareness Course.
The insurance industry is becoming increasingly interested in NDORS attendance and completion. A frequently asked question from people being offered and attending courses is whether or not an NDORS course offer and attendance should be notified to their insurers. Legal advice is that attendance on an NDORS course is not a conviction, nor should it be treated as a conviction, unlike a fixed penalty. However, as always, the detail is in the small print.
There appears to be a very inconsistent approach by the industry to NDORS, with some insurers adjusting premiums once notified and others displaying no interest whatsoever. If an insurance company has asked, on its proposal form, at the time the insurance policy is first taken out, whether a driver has attended or is about to attend an NDORS course, then an honest answer must be given. Failure to do so would render the policy void. Similarly if, having answered “no” to such a question, the driver subsequently accepts an offer of a course, it is advisable to notify the insurance company as, by asking the question at the time the policy began, the insurance company has shown that they consider the answer to be material. Conversely if the insurance company has asked no questions about a course and has limited their questions purely to accidents and convictions within specified periods, then it is difficult to see how they could later suggest that attendance at a course designed to improve driver skills represents a material change.
The insurance industry is becoming increasingly interested in NDORS attendance and completion. A frequently asked question from people being offered and attending courses is whether or not an NDORS course offer and attendance should be notified to their insurers. Legal advice is that attendance on an NDORS course is not a conviction, nor should it be treated as a conviction, unlike a fixed penalty. However, as always, the detail is in the small print.
There appears to be a very inconsistent approach by the industry to NDORS, with some insurers adjusting premiums once notified and others displaying no interest whatsoever. If an insurance company has asked, on its proposal form, at the time the insurance policy is first taken out, whether a driver has attended or is about to attend an NDORS course, then an honest answer must be given. Failure to do so would render the policy void. Similarly if, having answered “no” to such a question, the driver subsequently accepts an offer of a course, it is advisable to notify the insurance company as, by asking the question at the time the policy began, the insurance company has shown that they consider the answer to be material. Conversely if the insurance company has asked no questions about a course and has limited their questions purely to accidents and convictions within specified periods, then it is difficult to see how they could later suggest that attendance at a course designed to improve driver skills represents a material change.
This situation is currently being looked at on a national level between the Course providers (NDORS) and the insurance industry governing body.
Until a satisfactory resolution is developed, we recommend that you keep your insurance company appraised of any re-education courses that you’ve attended. Failure to do so could invalidate your policy with some companies.
Until a satisfactory resolution is developed, we recommend that you keep your insurance company appraised of any re-education courses that you’ve attended. Failure to do so could invalidate your policy with some companies.
Your policy wording implies that you don't need to tell them but I think you're being very wise in doing so. It eliminates any chance of them wriggling out of a claim and, if they do increase your premium next time round, you are still free to look around and honestly state that you have never had a conviction etc. Youy can't be too careful with insurance.