Motor Insurance Points vs. Speed Awareness Course

[anon_private]

If a motorist is caught in a speed trap and is given the choice of points or attendance on a Speed Awareness Course, then I think that the insurance company will have to told in either case because both options are material.

In either case, if the premium is increased, I think that it will be increased in either case, ie,
Increased for points, or
Increased since the motorist opted to attend the Speed Awareness Course.

Do you agree.

A

PS. As a matter oif interest, if a motorist is caught in a speed trap would the insurance company be likely to issue a request for some extra payment immediately?

[bednobs]

yes, they would ask for the extra premium straight away.
I think you are probably right in both of your assumptions, but you would need to check the wording of the policy. When you renew, they dont ask you about speed awareness courses as far as i know

[anon_private]

Thanks for responding.

I don't think it would necessary be so that insurance companies would ask for an additional payment, since there are so many speed traps around nowadays that the offence is becomming all too common.

They (insurance companies) probably would not ask about speed awreness courses on renewal, or if obtaining a new policy. However, i believe that insurance companies would regard these courses as 'Material', and therfore failure to disclose could lead to the driver being uninsured. Hence it is probably safest to be honest since being uninsured could have drastic consequences.

Best wishes.

A

[jg96]

I went on a speed awareness course. Someone in the room at completion asked does the insurance company need to be informed that I have attended this course the answer was no as there are no points on your licence.

[anon_private]

Hi,

I have read a number of posts where advisors on speed awareness courses have said that insurance companies do not not need to know that a motorist has attended the course. There may be no legal requirement, but I think that insurance companies would almost certainly want to know (the motorist was caught speeding) and could use this withhold of information (a material fact) to cancel a motoris't insurance policy. Bear in mind that the speed awareness organisers do not speak for the insurance companies.

[flip_flop]

An insurance company would not charge extra mid-term.

They may do so at renewal, but it would be highly unlikely for a single speeding offence.

[Skyline D]

Isn't the question asked by insurance companies "Have you had any motoring convictions in the past five years?"

If so then presumably the answer would have to be yes. They don't specifically ask if you have been given any points, they ask about convictions. Being sentenced to take a course instead of points doesn't change the fact it's a conviction does it? Or am I missing something?

[Skyline D]

Flip flop - Insurance companies can and do charge additional premiums mid-term if the risk has changed sufficiently. It is, I agree, unlikely that they would do so for a single speeding offence but it would depend on the individual circumstances. I received no extra charge when I got 3pts in 2005 but I DID get an extra premium (£10 or so) when a second 3pts followed in 2007. My wife also had her excess increased (though no extra charge) because I am a named driver on her policy.

[anon_private]

Skyline raises an interesting point.

If the police offered a speed awareness course, does this prevent a conviction. It prevents the points?

[woozer]

It is not up to the insurance company to ask you every single question that they possibly can to arrive at an underwriting decision. It is up to the policyholder to tell the insurer everything that they could reasonably be expected to think would influence the underwriters decision. In this instance, I would say you should tell your insurer and let them decide how they view the matter.
Flip Flop is a bit behind the times - most insurers now make it a condition that you tell them of any motoring offence, accident, illness etc etc as soon as they occur and they no longer wait until renewal to amend the premiums.
There have been several peple who hvae posted on this site who have had trouble getting their insurers to deal with claims because they have have not disclosed convictions as soon as they happened and then have had the bad luck to have an accident.

[anon_private]

Woozer, I agree.

Can you clarify this point:

If a motorist elects to go on a speed awareness as an alternative to points. Does the motorist have a conviction? I assume that you mean the insurance companies should be told if the motorist attended such a course?

Best wishes.

A

[woozer]

I honestly do not know if electing to go on a course counts as a conviction but if nothing is put onyour licence then I presume not. Yes, I think you should tell your insurer about electing to go on the course whether or not it counts as a conviction if they do not need to know they will ignore the info.

[alexanderd]

I have been on a speed awareness course, informed insurance, they said not to worry as it was not a conviction and I had no need to inform them