Update - Uninsured if SORN'd ? - Check yours !

BRC · Post by **BRC** » Thu Jan 10, 2019 11:55 am

This underscores what I have said all along in regards insurers, they make it up as they go along. Frankly a bit like speed camera's, insurance is legalised robbery.
Reminds me when my daughter had her car broken into, no claim made but advised the insurer nonetheless. Upon renewal and because of this solitary incident, the road had been classified as a "theft hot spot". Needless to say she moved on to another insurer.

Number5 · Post by **Number5** » Thu Jan 10, 2019 6:47 pm

Well.....
Complete U turn today. I referred them to SRHutch's email this morning and a few hours later I got a call from the very same Department at Admiral that turned me down yesterday, and they've now agreed to fully cover me, even whilst SORN'd. (Not even just Fire & Theft. I thought they'd at least exclude Third party road cover if it wasn't taxed!)

I asked if this was a general U turn across the board and they said, no. It was a one-off in light of the evidence I had provided, so it seems its each for their own now !

Post by **srhutch** » Thu Jan 10, 2019 8:11 pm

There obviously is no set policy, otherwise they would have said no to you and then contacted me again. Be interesting to see if their website, t&c etc get updated going forward.

I doubt it though.

firebobby · Post by **firebobby** » Thu Jan 10, 2019 9:42 pm

This scam needs bringing to the attention of BBC watchdog programme

Post by **srhutch** » Thu Jan 10, 2019 9:55 pm

I was thinking about Martin Lewis. But yes watchdog and the insurance ombudsman even for those hav8ng insurance cancelled without warning she’ll we say.

Ewazix · Post by **Ewazix** » Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:29 pm

Unless it's stated in the policy, schedules or T&Cs that the car must be taxed I cannot see a refusal to pay-out on that basis could be upheld. They can't just make up exemptions after the claim or what next? The car wasn't clean, it wasn't serviced by BMW, I was wearing a hat?

Nictrix · Post by **Nictrix** » Thu Jan 10, 2019 11:19 pm

Does it say in T&Cs that the car must be road legal?
They could say that without tax the car is not road legal.

Post by **srhutch** » Fri Jan 11, 2019 12:01 am

Nictrix wrote: ↑Thu Jan 10, 2019 11:19 pm Does it say in T&Cs that the car must be road legal?
They could say that without tax the car is not road legal.

No, road worthy condition, but not road legal. Car is legal off the road if declared as sorn. They can’t have it both ways.

Post by **srhutch** » Fri Jan 11, 2019 12:02 am

Ewazix wrote: ↑Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:29 pm Unless it's stated in the policy, schedules or T&Cs that the car must be taxed I cannot see a refusal to pay-out on that basis could be upheld. They can't just make up exemptions after the claim or what next? The car wasn't clean, it wasn't serviced by BMW, I was wearing a hat?

That’s the view I put forward to them, referencing the t&c of my policy and the sorn page of their website that’s states you might be able to reduce the level of insurance cover whilst declare sorn.

ChrisKnottIns · Post by **ChrisKnottIns** » Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:08 am

Interesting one. I'm not aware of any hard and fast rules except that if you haven't got insurance on a vehicle it must be SORN'd according to the Continuous Insurance Enforcement. Additionally, most car insurance policies will state that not having a current MOT Certificate (if required by law) would invalidate any claims - nothing about VED though.

Certainly with us, insurance can continue even when a vehicle is on SORN but by definition there'll be no road risk cover during that period.

Hope that helps.

Number5 · Post by **Number5** » Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:15 am

ChrisKnottIns wrote: ↑Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:08 am Interesting one. I'm not aware of any hard and fast rules except that if you haven't got insurance on a vehicle it must be SORN'd according to the Continuous Insurance Enforcement. Additionally, most car insurance policies will state that not having a current MOT Certificate (if required by law) would invalidate any claims - nothing about VED though.

Certainly with us, insurance can continue even when a vehicle is on SORN but by definition there'll be no road risk cover during that period.

Hope that helps.

Thank you. When you say 'with us', can you vouch that the above is the case for all Companies you broke for ?

Crazy Harry · Post by **Crazy Harry** » Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:04 am

ChrisKnottIns wrote: ↑Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:08 am Interesting one. I'm not aware of any hard and fast rules except that if you haven't got insurance on a vehicle it must be SORN'd according to the Continuous Insurance Enforcement. Additionally, most car insurance policies will state that not having a current MOT Certificate (if required by law) would invalidate any claims - nothing about VED though.

Certainly with us, insurance can continue even when a vehicle is on SORN but by definition there'll be no road risk cover during that period.

Hope that helps.

I don't think the issue is entirely around 'road risk'.

Firstly having to inform your insurers is one more task. An "automatically covered for road risk if taxed - unless going for or returning from prebooked MOT" would be less hassle.

Secondly - and perhaps more importantly would you require policy holders to inform you of SORN? Would you then reduce cover to TPFT for cars on SORN?

ChrisKnottIns · Post by **ChrisKnottIns** » Fri Jan 11, 2019 6:05 pm

I've taken some time to look through the policy wordings of all the insurers we use. None require notification if you SORN the vehicle and want full cover to continue but if you do drive in a situation where a tax and MOT is required by law during that period your road cover will not be valid.

Crazy Harry · Post by **Crazy Harry** » Fri Jan 11, 2019 7:43 pm

ChrisKnottIns wrote: ↑Fri Jan 11, 2019 6:05 pm I've taken some time to look through the policy wordings of all the insurers we use. None require notification if you SORN the vehicle and want full cover to continue but if you do drive in a situation where a tax and MOT is required by law during that period your road cover will not be valid.

Thanks for your response - sure that we make a few people happy

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Sat Jan 12, 2019 6:09 am

Crazy Harry wrote: ↑Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:04 am but if you do drive in a situation where a tax and MOT is required by law during that period your road cover will not be valid.

...slightly off topic Chris, but can you clarify if underwriters are still obliged to cover third parties if for example the car is driven with no MOT? I ask because had a debate with a colleague the other day who was convinced that driving a car on the road with an expired mot could also lead you liable to prosecution for no insurance. I was of the opinion that you still were covered by the minimum required by law.... i.e third party only, even if you had no tax or mot.

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