Personalised Number Plate - Insurance

[bewigged1972]

Hello all,

Yesterday my car developed engine trouble as I was driving it. The engine started to smoke and so I pulled over to the side of the road. The engine then caught fire (I don't know why) and all the front of the car was ruined. I should say that the fire brigade put it out ! It looks like the car will be a write off.

I have let my insurance know about the incident and this is the rub. I had a personalised plate on the car at the time of the incident, but not when I purchased my insurance. My insurance company have flagged up that I should have told them about the personalised plate and so my insurance policy may be void. Maybe I am naive, but the thought of telling them that I had changed the number plate never crossed my mind. My car has not been altered in anyway. I've looked at my policy documents and they do advise that material change's must be notified to the insurer. However, change of number plate is not included in the list, which includes things like modifications, convictions, health issues etc.

Does anybody know the position ? Any help will be very much appreciated. Thank you.

[tillyh345]

My family have all got personalised plates and we do make sure we contact our Insurers to advise of change of plate. I think it advises on the DVLA documents to ensure you contact your insurers. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news...

[kempie]

Insurers should be made aware of all "material changes" to a vehicle. It is then for them to decide whether the premium should be amended to reflect the changes.

The primary method of everyday identification of a vehicle is its registration plate. It seems very odd to me why you would think it not necessary to inform your insurance provider that a policy allowing you to drive a car identified as XYZ should be amended if you change its identity. You are now driving a car identified as ABC and any policy related to XYZ is rendered nonsensical.

[Mister.L]

This attitude is just typical of the arrogance of the T W A T S who have a vanity number.

How could someone be so STUPID that they could have insurance for a different registration number than is on the car?

The mind boggles at what else this idiot thinks that does not apply to him/her/it.

[ChuckFickens]

Maybe I am naive, but the thought of telling them that I had changed the number plate never crossed my mind.

Yes you are naive.... The number plate is how they know what car they are insuring.

If you had purchased a different car but of the same make and model would you have thought "oh no need to tell the insurance company as it's pretty much the same car"

My car has not been altered in anyway.

Yes it has, you've changed the registration number...

[figure]

A number plate is used for identification purposes of a vehicle.

[gouldc]

This shouldn't be an issue in regards to voiding your policy - we see this a lot.

However, it could have caused you major issues as previously noted, we insure the registration showing on the certificate of insurance, so if you change the plate, the car is technically uninsured.

It's not a big deal about having a private plate - it shouldn;t affect your premium.

People have a tendency to think the car is insured (which it is), but obviously the car is idenitifed by the plate.

I wouldn;t worry about it - I've never seen a policy voided or claim refused due to a failure to notify us about a change of plate - I think they're overreating there

[bewigged1972]

Thank you very much for your help tillyh and gouldc. I genuinely appreciate all that you have said.

As for the rest of you, I read your responses with interest. My heart sank at the patronising, almost vitriolic, responses that you gave. You folks obvioulsy never make mistakes. How nice it must be to be perfect !

[R1Geezer]

They'll probably pay out in the end if they can satisfy themselves that it is in fact the car they have been insuring. Insurance companies like to use any detail they can to avoid or reduce payout. Just be persistant, produce all the relavant docs etc and I think you'll be ok. Take no notice of the prats above they are sadly lacking the wisdom of the geezer

[hamsterhouse]

I'm sorry to hear of your misfortune bewigged1972, one thought that springs to mind is what might have happened should you have been involved in an accident. Would your insurers once again have considered your policy void and resulted in you being prosecuted for driving without insurance.

Good luck with your dilemma, I hope all is resolved satisfactorily.

[chas2008]

the plate doesnt alter the handling,speed,safety or value of the vehicle, its still the same traceable car,
out of interest which ins.company is it ?
you would be surprised how many payouts are on far more dubious and in some instances downright fraudulent motor claims, certain ins. co's. seem to be more interested in retaining customers than throwing claims out. I see it on a day to day basis and it becomes very frustrating

[4getmenot]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Phrases-and-Say ings/Jokes/Question569157.html

[bewigged1972]

Geezer, Hamster and Chas, thank you for your help as well. Chas, it's Sabre Insurance.

[eyebrows]

if teh feds pulled you, you would have been in an uninsured vehicle....

therefore you are not gonna get paid....

personlised plates are tacky anyway.....

[chas2008]

the feds ? this is England...
you insure the vehicle not the number plate, the chassis/vin number would identify the vehicle and its previous reg number/history on a police check.
Not had any dealings with Sabre so cant comment on them as a company.

Exactly why are personalised plates tacky ?????

[4getmenot]

Because eyebrows cant afford one lol

[kempie]

By all means wallow in self pity over statements which highlight your lack of common sense in this matter but also count your blessings that the police didn't seize your car whilst you were driving it with a registration number not on the Motor Insurance Database.

[chas2008]

that was i was thinking 4getmenot , just didnt want to say it

[4getmenot]

I think by now he knows he was silly can everyone stop having a go

[eyebrows]

i have NEVER given a vin number to my insurance company....

the po-lice would have done you for driving uninsured.....end of story....

what is to stop me buying two identical cars, and having one number plate between the two? it doesnt work like that...

personalised number plates are for peopel who want to say look at me, im an idiot...

i think my 57 plate car says i have money, not that fact that plates could be 'AR5EH0L3' if i wanted it to be....

or perhaps 'UN1N5UR3D'