Millions of drivers who’ve taken speed awareness course warned ‘car insurance is invalid’
Drivers who have previously taken a speed awareness course are being cautioned that they might be paying too much for their car insurance. Motorists could face higher premiums due to "sub-standard driving behaviour" putting millions at risk. In 2022, nearly 1.5 million drivers completed a national speed awareness course, and an additional 168,000 participated in a national motorway awareness course.
Mark Tongue, joint CEO and founder of Select Car Leasing, highlighted the potential consequences: "The reality is that some insurers might view the need to attend such a course as indicative of sub-standard driving behaviour, which could mean they charge slightly higher premiums despite the motorist having no formal penalty on their record." He also stressed the importance of transparency with insurers: "It is crucial to understand the legal and contractual consequences of nondisclosure. If your insurer specifically asks if you have attended a speed awareness course, and you fail to provide the correct information, it could invalidate your insurance policy."
Mr Tongue's advice to drivers is clear: "If you're unsure whether you need to disclose your attendance at a speed awareness course, it's best to always answer any questions with honesty to ensure any insurance you have in place remains valid and that you don't fall foul of the law." "Each insurer will operate in different ways so it is perhaps important that you do your research if you have been on a speed awareness course before choosing a particular provider.", reports Birmingham Live[1]. shared Mr Tongue. He also encouraged drivers to be transparent with their insurance providers about any past speed awareness courses.
In cases where drivers are caught speeding, they might be given the option to attend a speed awareness course instead of being assigned points or fined.
However, he stressed that if asked by an insurer if they have attended these courses, they must be "100 per cent truthful".
References
- ^ Birmingham Live (www.birminghammail.co.uk)