Knowing the rules of the road is part and parcel of passing your driving test. But while it’s not immediately obvious, your car insurance also comes with a set of rules you need to abide by. Not following the terms and conditions set out by your provider, can mean you unwittingly invalidate your policy. It can also hinder your chances of getting cheap car insurance quotes in the future.
To make sure you don’t get caught out, comparison site mustard.co.uk, share some of the surprising ways you could be invalidating your car insurance.
1. Not keeping your insurance provider updated
Whether you’ve recently got yourself a new job, moved home or even bought a different car, it’s crucial to let your insurer know. This is because your policy has to accurately reflect both your vehicle and your circumstances. If it doesn’t, your policy becomes invalid, as it won’t be a fair representation of your risk profile.
2. Letting your dog travel unrestrained
Most insurers will specify that dogs (and other animals) must be appropriately restrained, for example, with a doggie seatbelt, cage or dog guard. If your pet creates a distraction and causes you to have an accident, this could invalidate your policy and your insurer can refuse to pay out.
3. Wearing inappropriate footwear
Insurers aren’t concerned about your fashion fails, they simply want to ensure you’re wearing shoes that give you proper control of your car. If you’re wearing high heels, platforms or trainers with particularly chunky soles, they could cause you to misjudge pedals which could result in an accident.
4. Not declaring modifications to your car
Modifications are any changes to your car since it left the factory, for example, tinting the windows, changing the exhaust or updating the paintwork. Not telling your insurer about modifications means your policy no longer reflects the car you’re driving and invalidates the cover you have.
5. Grossly underestimating your mileage
Driving considerable distances can increase the chance of you being involved in an accident, which in turn raises premiums.
While few insurers expect you to know the exact number of miles you drive down to the last yard, they do expect your estimate to be ‘within reason’. If something comes up that means you’re going to be driving many more miles, just tell your insurer. They’ll either make a note of it or ask you to pay a little extra to cover the increased risk.
6. Eating and drinking while driving
It’s not against the law to eat or drink non-alcoholic drinks in your car. However, fumbling around to open a bar of chocolate or packet of crisps can mean you take your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel. Similarly, spilling hot tea or coffee down your lap can lead to a lapse in concentration and cause an accident.
If you’re hungry or thirsty, find somewhere that’s safe and appropriate to stop. Better still, plan long journeys beforehand and map out suitable pit stops.
7. Having the wrong class of use
Your car’s class of use describes the activities you use your car for. For instance, social, domestic and leisure, commuting or business use.
Your policy will set out the class of use agreed with your insurer and it’s vital to check that it’s right, as different activities pose different risks. The wrong class of use fundamentally means you’re not covered and your policy can be voided.
8. Not maintaining your car properly
Your insurer will expect you to keep your car properly maintained. That doesn’t mean you have to hire a car detailer or keep a mechanic on standby, but it does mean you need to fulfil your basic responsibilities. This can include topping up the oil and screen wash, organising MOTs, and checking tyres are roadworthy.
9. Saying you’re the main driver when you’re not
Premiums are affected by who the main driver of a car is. So, an experienced driver with a clean driving licence will pay a lot less compared to someone with penalty points.
With that in mind, it can be tempting to say you’re the main driver instead of someone else in your household in order to get cheaper car cover. However, doing this is called fronting, which is a type of insurance fraud and will invalidate your policy.
10. Not keeping your documents up to date
You must keep important documents like your driving licence up to date. Plus, don’t forget you’ll also need to pay your car tax every year and arrange an MOT if your car is more than three years old.
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