Sort of driving without insurance

[dt1987]

When I renewed my insurance policy, I specifically asked the question "am I able to drive other vehicles?" I explained that I would need this on my policy, as I have access to several vehicles. I was told that I did.
I recently got stopped by the police doing random checks, while driving another vehicle and it was discovered that I do not have this feature on my policy, despite being told that I did.
When i called my insurance company to query this, I was told, again, that I do not have the ability to drive other vehicles.
I requested that the call be listened to, from when I was told I did, only to be told that calls were not recorded to the branch, and also, the agent who sold me the insurance, no longer is with the company. Where do I stand for fighting this?

And before any of you say i should have checked my docs, they were sent back to the insurance company 4 days earlier, because i had already found a large discrepancies in the docs.

Note: the guy who sold me the insurance also made a large mass of other errors on my policy, which the insurance company have already accepted liability for, and corrected these ones. Should this help with my case aswell?

[andy-hughes]

Hopefully it will serve is mitigating evidence, but sadly, ignorance of the law is not seen as an excuse by the law.

They will say that as a drive, the responsibility for having appropriate insurance is down to you, and you alone. I would certainly plead your case with the fact that your policy was generally messed about, but it may simply reduce your fine, rather than nulify the original offence.

Good luck.

[dt1987]

fair point on that one, but obviously, that is most likely something that would be spotted when the new docs come back to me? apparently, the guy who sold me the insurance was actually sacked from the company.

[dt1987]

cheers guys and gals. got a meeting with my solicitor tomorow about it, as he has dealt with, and won cases like this in the past. he rekons, the fact that the insurance company have already taken liability for the other errors when renewing (as it was same call, not recorded) he thinks there is a high chance the insurance company will back down, and if they admit liability for this one, then the case SHOULD get thrown out. so fingers crossed.
will keep you updated though

[New Judge]

If yor solicitor is worth his salt (and not simply after some of yours) he will advise you to plead guilty, but with the mitigation you have explained.

No Insurance is an "absolute" offence, which means it is absolutely your responsibility to ensure you have cover. You either have it or you have not, and you did not.

[ummmm]

What's the name of the insurance company??

[dt1987]

Its with swinton insurance.
in response to NewJudge's comment
"it is absolutely your responsibility to ensure you have cover" i did take the appropriate actions to ensure i was covered. i.e. ask the insurance company, and look at my docs.

On my docs, under the schedule of insurance, the one endorsment that is NOT on my policy is E168 Excludes driving other vehicles - wording: we will not insure you for use of vehicles other than your own.