As a matter of law and principle, your car insurance is very important. As long as you’ve paid for your insurance, you’re covered and that’s it, right?
No, unfortunately not!
There are several ways you could invalidate your car insurance so we’ve picked out 11 ways for you to be aware of, to ensure that you’re always covered.
Changing Your Job
You might be wondering what your job has got to do with your car insurance, but if you remember correctly, your insurer would have asked what your profession was before insuring you. In accordance with AA Car Insurance, “Factors such as your occupation title and the distance you commute to work are relevant when determining your premium. Failing to keep your insurer up to date with any such changes will likely invalidate your insurance cover. “
Moving House
Depending on where your house is situated, your insurer might deem the area less or more risky in terms of a potential accident or damage. If you move house, it’s important that you inform your broker of the change. The change might even lead to a cheaper car insurance premium!
Overloading Your Vehicle
As well as being completely frowned upon and illegal, overloading your vehicle will also invalidate your insurance. For everyone’s safety and to comply with the law, all passengers must be safely belted in.
Natural Disaster
In terms of freak natural disasters like the eruption of a volcano or a flood, it’s unlikely that your cover will stretch to cover this extreme. If you’re unsure about what situations you will ordinarily be protected from by your car insurance, contact your insurance broker for a quote or with any question you might have.
Parking near airports
Several insurance providers have evolved and learned that aircrafts flying at high speed and the resulting pressure can cause damage to nearby vehicles. So if you’re planning on parking as close to the airport runway as you can for your next holiday, think twice!
Fronting
A sneaky way for young drivers to try and reduce the cost of the insurance policy is by having a parent named as the main driver of the young adult’s vehicle. This is a sure way to invalidate both the parent and child’s insurance policy should any form of accident occur.
Modifying Your Car
If it’s your intention to modify your car with a new spoiler, a louder exhaust, or a more powerful engine, the first thing you should do is contact your insurer. While all these flashy modifications might cost an awful lot, it could end up costing you even more unexpectedly if it invalidates your insurance cover.
Leaving Your Windscreen Unattended
As well as affecting the safety of your car for yourself, your passengers and other road users, having a clogged up windscreen can lead to your insurance being invalidated. Braving the elements on a frosty morning or having your windscreen splashed with dirt during a rainy day can affect the visibility of your vehicle. If your visibility is significantly impaired, it’s unlikely that you’ll be covered by your car insurance.
Speeding
One sure and certain way to invalidate your insurance is by speeding. Just like overloading on passengers, when you speed you are breaking the law; and insurance companies don’t take kindly to their insured drivers breaking the law.
Parking on the Street
Parking on the street outside your home might not sound like a big deal, but if you’ve already informed your insurer that your car is stored away safely then leaving it elsewhere might invalidate your cover.
Getting Valet Parking
The simple act of passing your keys to someone else to park it for you can also invalidate your cover. If you think about it logically, you’re the person who’s insured to drive your vehicle and not some random valet driver. Valet services are becoming more popular nowadays but you could end up paying for more than you bargained for if your car is damaged by a valet driver.
Have you ever been in the situation that your car insurance didn’t cover damage you thought would be included?
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