Car Oddometer Reading

[Bazile]

Car oddometer reading display not working

Would that invalidate the insurance cover ?

Work from home - car used mainly on weekends
Estimated mileage - 25 miles per week .

Up to 6k per year declared on insurance documents

[davebro]

Probably not, but - it's often just the illumination that fails & if you shine a torch on it you can still see the numbers. I've had that with a couple of cars.

[roadman]

if you have an accident and there is milage discrepancies then it could cause some issues but everyones insurance policy is slightly different to the next i advise you to call them asap and explain the situation they may say dont worry or they may say you need to get it fixed yesterday but as long as you report it and are honest and enquire with them then there wont be a problem

[ToraToraTora]

No, it's a myth that the slightest illegality invalidates insurance. If it were true then just about every motoring offence would be accompanied by one for no insurance.

[Bazile]

So what are you saying in this particular case TTT?

[douglas9401]

I think even the chiselling insurance companies would think twice about invalidating cover on such a technicality.

[bhg481]

I would guess that the odometer reading is hidden somewhere inside the car's computer and probably could be got at were it required for legal purposes eg, the MoT.

[Bazile]

It's passed the MOT

It's recorded on the MOT certificate as 'No Odometer '

I was just wondering if insurers require the Odometer digital display to be working , as proof of mileage

[davebro]

it's not a legal or MoT requirement.

as roadman said - ask your insurer

[davebro]

anyway I'm lead to believe that with the right equipment odometer readings can be changed so never a totally reliable record of miles covered.

[ToraToraTora]

bazile: "So what are you saying in this particular case TTT? "- it's not an issue.

[bhg481]

I think that logging the odometer reading at MoT time is a simple means of reducing clocking.

[Canary42]

Insurance company's do try all sorts of tricks to avoid paying out.

One of the first tricks they try is sending a letter with some flimsy (and irrelevant) reason. Rather surprisingly IMO they sometimes get away with this (some naive folk about). A quick rebuff usually has them backing off and paying up (I know, it happened to me).

[Bazile]

Ok
I thought I needed to get it fixed for insurance purposes as evidence of yearly mileage for insurance cover , for the insurer

[Peter Pedant]

it's a myth that the slightest illegality invalidates insurance.

erm - dont listen to that one

if you are insured only for 1000 mi and the odometer ( one d!) is broken it may well be material ( as in this case)

so the slightest irregularity to Mrs Mopp darn da road or your mum may be material. watch out.

I was one digit out on a number plate and their view was - difft car - and my view was " Oh come on boys, we all know I was trying to insure..." - ( clerk's finger had slipped, not me)

[Peter Pedant]

it's not a legal or MoT requirement.
as roadman said - ask your insurer

chrissakes he has said 6000 mi so it IS material
as your teacher said in form 3 so many times
read the question damn you !

[davebro]

//I thought I needed to get it fixed for insurance purposes as evidence of yearly mileage for insurance cover , for the insurer//

Did you try reading it with a torch? (or has it stuck on a particular figure)

[Bazile]

The little display is lit , but no information is displayed including the oddometer reading .

When it's working it gives , mileage , average mileage per gallon , mileage to next fill ,air temp outside and some other things

Ford Focus 2010 1.6 Zetec

[ToraToraTora]

18:26,load of carp, they may use any irregularity to reduce pay out but insurance is NOT invalidated.

[New Judge]

//...erm - dont listen to that one//

You should listen.

There are two aspects to motor insurance: firstly the Third Party cover required by law and secondly the remainder of the "Comprehensive" cover which most policies provide - cover for fire, theft and damage to the policyholder's own vehicle.

As far as the first, there are very, very few reasons why an insurer can repudiate liability for third party cover - and having no working odometer is certainly not one of them.

Their responsibilities for the second are not quite so onerous and they can reduce or decline payment for more reasons, including defects in the car. However, they will have to show that the defect either had a material effect on the reason a claim is made (e.g. faulty brakes causing an accident) or that it had a significant effect on the insurer's risk - and hence the premium paid (e.g. the vehicle having non-standard modifications which influenced performance).

They would struggle to do either for a non-working odometer. Yes, it may be difficult for the policyholder to prove the mileage of the vehicle, but that would not be a reason by itself to reduce a payment.