Insurance - how long you've had your license.

C

cj_eds

Senior member
 Stirling
Recently renewed my wife's insurance and on the phone was asked how long she'd previously had her provisional (only had full license a year or so). When the documents came through the policy was for someone with full UK license for the length of time I'd said she had the provisional. Phoned to check, and apparently this is how they do their quotes and it's correct.

I always thought if there was a claim I'd be told I was being fraudulent and not telling the truth if I'd said one of us had a license for longer than we've held the full license. It doesn't really make a difference for me - would take it from about 13 years to about 13 years and a few months, but for people with only a year or two, adding an extra year or two on a provisional is a bigger difference. What's everyone else do - do you always quote it from when you first got your provisional, or do you do it from when you had the full license? Have I been doing it wrong for 13 years?!!!
 
No expert but that sounds wrong to me, I would say it should e from when you had your full licence. Aside from the fact it seems like it *should* be that way it is also very unlike insurance companies to do anything but rip us off, so it seems odd they would figure it out that way.
 
Very interesting question. I would discuss fully with your insurer, and that way let them decide, so you can't be caught by the small print :thumbsup:
 
Just done that - phoned them up and got told that's how it's meant to be. Must say I was taken aback! I'd been annoyed when the paperwork came through because I now needed to phone them so they could lighten our bank account as a result of the change. Was all geared up for a fight to be told there was none to have :D
 
cj_eds said:
Just done that - phoned them up and got told that's how it's meant to be. Must say I was taken aback! I'd been annoyed when the paperwork came through because I now needed to phone them so they could lighten our bank account as a result of the change. Was all geared up for a fight to be told there was none to have :D
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... as long as they don't deny it if there is ever an issue... I would be happier if it was in writing to be honest.
 
Which insurance company was it? Sounds wrong to me. I had a provisional for about a year prior to my license and my brother has had one for about 4 years and still hasnt passed!.

My old boss is 38 and has had provisionals on and off but never passed, so I cant see them giving him 10 years experience or so based on that?

So long as your calls to them are recorded and are clear in your questions and their answers you should be safe though.
 
i work for an insurance company and to me that sounds wrong, you want to make sure that the quote is based on the correct "risk" and a person with a full driving license will pay more premium than someone who hasnt passed yet, makes me think they are trying to get a more exspensive premium from you by putting her down as having a full lisence?? also if i had a case come to me where we had the driver down as a full lisence and it turned out it was only a provisional i would send the case to the investigation unit
 
Is there an online contact form or email address you could use to confirm? "I phoned to confirm" will not count for anything in the event of an accident.

Written letter is best, but email should suffice providing the company itself is legit.
 
I got my provisional on my 17th birthday, and passed my test 2 weeks later, so not much of a difference for me... :P

I agree with getting written confirmation of anything the insurance company says over the phone. Either that or record it yourself and ask for the persons name etc. Long story but I was told I was ok to drive another car over the phone, I wasnt, i got stopped by the police, massive stress, phoned the insurance company back, they had no record of the conversation where they told me I was ok to drive another vehicle (surprise surprise).
 
Yes, written confirmation is better. However, all calls with insurance companies should be recorded, and may be relied upon. I stress "may", as the insurance company "may" not be able to find your call in the event of a dispute.

I had a dispute over a phone contract once, and they recovered the call and refunded an excess charge. Some other companies won't be as honest.
 
Adamski said:
Yes, written confirmation is better. However, all calls with insurance companies should be recorded, and may be relied upon. I stress "may", as the insurance company "may" not be able to find your call in the event of a dispute.

I had a dispute over a phone contract once, and they recovered the call and refunded an excess charge. Some other companies won't be as honest.
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I work for a call recording company and if they state they are recording your calls and then cant provide it they are liable. Many of them are liable if they cant provide a recording anyway these days..

I had an issue with MCE insurance who quoted me and charged me for a modified policy for my scirocco and I was very happy.

When the paperwork came through, none of the mods were listed or covered so I kicked up a fuss. 2 months and several several calls later, I finally got my money back after they agreed I stipulated all the mods on the call recording.

They wanted to charge me an extra £200 to cover the mods and I told them where to go as they had basically lied to get me to sign up..

In the end I got 2 months insurance from them for £35 which cant be scoffed at and they would have had to cover me in any circumstance as I was disputing it with them.
 
Too old ago to remember how long I held a provisional... just hope they never ask me in the future...
 
For those that asked, it's 'the aviva deal'. I am still dubious at having only had this confirmed over the phone!
 
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