Uninsured drivers

I think there is an Insurance Industry fund to cover exactly this situation, contact your brokker / insurer doe details.

Scum, I agree.

Regards

Mike

Spending money I don't have on things I don't need.

Perhaps the Motor Insurer's Bureau can help.

Truly sorry to hear about the prang, it's a massive inconvenience - and problem on the increase. IIRC an estimated 1 million in the UK drive without insurance. Fortunately, this time, only a car was hit...

We need to copy the French.

All vehicles have a badge in the windscreen detailing current insurance cover, next to the road tax display.
Would allow spot checking to be carried out more easily.

What is really frustratingis that the bill for this incident, and all the others, gets added to the premiums of those who do abide by the law.


regards

Richard S

Friends of mine have suffered through this as well. At the moment, the only time a vehicle's insurance is routinely checked is when it's retaxed and then the insurance could run out the next day.

Perhaps there should be a system whereby the insurer has to advise the DVLA, when a vehicle's insurance runs out and is not renewed within a set period of time. DVLA could then issue a letter to the miscreant requiring them to produce a valid C of I or cover note at the local police station. If they don't comply DVLA could then advise the peelers to do something useful for a change and follow it up.

Just an idea .............. thought I'd run it up the flag pole and see if anyone salutes it!

David

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Presumeably, Ken's congestion camera's could identify uninsured vehicles

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Sounds like a neat idea but wot about the uninsured who don't drive in London?
Also the silly bitch who ran into my friend head-on wasn't registered either and the plates were false!

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Originally posted by Patrick Dixon:
Only two things you can do (if you can be bothered)

i) press it with the police - he's committed at least two crimes

ii) sue him for the damage - you'll need his name and address

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And don't forget (if you can establish his address):

iii) send the boys 'round!

Seriously though - two things need to happen to put a stop to this:

1. Make identifying uninsured cars easier - insurance disks/better sharing of information.

2. Crush the cars of the uninsured otherwise they'll simply get back behind the wheel whisly paying off their paltry fine in weekly instalments.

Sterilisation might also be worth considering in a bid to phase these low-lifes out but it would probably fall foul of that blessed 'human rights' legislation.

Matt.

'doc,

The police *should* be interested. This time, it's just a little damage to the car (no offence), next time, the arse could cause physical injury and that's far more important. Get back down there and see if you can push them into doing something.

As for your damange, you have a few options:
1a. Claim on your own insurance, your insurers will probably chase the culprit assuming that they can get hold of him. It's liable to screw your no claim discount as the chances of making a full recovery instantly are low, the chavscum who drive uninsured are unlikely to have the cash ahndy to re-imburse.

1b. Claim on your insurance, if the insurers don't seek compensation then there's nothing to stop you issuing Small Claims proceedings to at least recover your Excess. But before you go down that route, check with your insurers - they may wish to join in your claim and he can only be sued the once.

2. Pay for the damage yourself, track down the culprit and issue Small Claims Court proceedings. Downside here: you have to pay up-front for repairs and again, expect to get any judgement repaid in dribs and drabs.

Sorry I can't offer more help, but that's the best that two years of insurance claim processing work 15 years ago can dredge up.

Steve.

It's a grand old team to play for...

Uninsured and/or untaxed vehicles are more likely to contain a person wanted for questioning or carrying carrying unlawful items.

Perhaps the police know your new "friend" and are waiting to drop on him real hard for serious offence

Derek

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Originally posted by David Stewart:
Perhaps there should be a system whereby the insurer has to advise the DVLA, when a vehicle's insurance runs out and is not renewed within a set period of time. DVLA could then issue a letter to the miscreant requiring them to produce a valid C of I or cover note at the local police station. If they don't comply DVLA could then advise the peelers to do something useful for a change and follow it up.
David

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Nice idea but I can't really see the police being in the slightest bit interested - this will prevent them playing with their speed cameras.

Mike

"Nice idea but I can't really see the police being in the slightest bit interested - this will prevent them playing with their speed cameras"

What utter rot -- the police would be delighted at a scheme that enabled them to keep uninsured drivers off the road.

Matthew

Surely the answer to dealing with uninsured drivers is:

1. Crush the car driven by the uninsured driver.

2. Publicly flog the uninsured driver (sod off Human Rights industry) if it has been remembered to remove him from the vehicle before 1. above.

3. The RFL should be paid for at the time the insurance policy is renewed and a singleRFL/insurance disk must be displayed - easy to spot if the police can be bothered to get off their lardy arses and do police work. Heavens above they may even catch dangerous drivers (surely the real menace rather than those caught by speed cameras) at the same time.

Having said that itwould be better doing away with the RFL and increasing the duty on petrol -but that is a different argument altogether.

But then again this government would rather waste time on fox hunting

Mike

Matthew

Have you tried reporting a crime to the police?

And what was their reaction?

Complete indifference perhaps?

Sorry - but I am somewhat disillusioned with the forces of law and order.

Mike

When we were burgaled a few years ago the police were extremely professional and helpful.

They do a difficult job in the face of lots of unjustified and often moronic criticism from Daily Mail reading wannabe racing drivers.

Matthew

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They do a difficult job in the face of lots of unjustified and often moronic criticism from Daily Mail reading wannabe racing drivers.

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so the officer who told me I was better off writing to my mp if I wanted something done about the fool in the 4wd who tried to run me (on my bike) off the road because "there's nothing we can do, human rights you know" was doing a good job was she?
Quite frankly, Mike is 100% correct, they just don't give a damn. I've reported several cases of people either deliberately running me off the road and/or trying to thump me (obviously dangerous people us cyclists) and in every case they've declined to do anything whatsoever.

Sorry folks but I am going off topic now. To be fair to the police, when they do a good job they then get badly let down by the CPS and the courts. It is no wonder that good policemen are disillusioned...which is perhaps why they become disinterested. A vicious circle perhaps.

Mike

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Originally posted by Matthew Robinson:
They do a difficult job in the face of lots of unjustified and often moronic criticism from Daily Mail reading wannabe racing drivers.

Matthew

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Does that mean I should read the Daily Mail and pretend to be Michael Schoesmacker?

I have in the past informed the Police of two separate incidents involving damage to my car,on both occasions I was asked by the police if I was going to claim on my insurance
when I replied that I was I was given a crime number and that I was informed was all they could/would do. On the second occasion when I reported the incident at the local police station[ after waiting 3/4 hour to see the reporting officer I was told that they do not record motor vehicle accidents anymore and I had no need to report them, the law had been changed, unless there is injury to one of the parties they were just not interested/no time to investigate/to much other work to do etc. For my 2p's worth It's just not worth the stress involved just let the insurance co.pay up ,pay the increase due to loseing some of your no claims and then get a no claims protected policy.Regarding the Small Claims Court,one must also remember that although you might have the court find in your favour and award "damages" they have no power to force payment[this happend to a friend of mine] so you may obtain a morale victory but you would only further out of pocket.
oldie.

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Originally posted by oldie:
It's just not worth the stress involved just let the insurance co.pay up ,pay the increase due to loseing some of your no claims and then get a no claims protected policy..
oldie.

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I've already decided this is the way to go and have stopped ranting. Nobody got hurt, my kids won't go without shoes due to me paying the excess. At the end of the day it isn't worth letting the sod live in my head for another day.

My insurers (Direct Line) have been very slick and efficient. The damage has been assessed and the replacement parts ordered. A loan vehicle is ready and waiting.

BTW my aluminium Evo crumpled like a fag packet, while the criminal's old heap of a Rover barely showed a dent. Anyone want to buy a nice clean Mitsubishi?

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Sorry - but I am somewhat disillusioned with the forces of law and order.

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FWIIW a year or so back, on a warm summer`s day, some kids were playing in the wooded ground which adjoins my house, tossing lit firework bangers into my (and other gardens)

When I rang the Police, they stated that they did not have the resources to come and deal with it.

I suggested that I could deal with it myself(I could actually see the younger-than-ten year olds lighting and throwing the bangers.)

I was sternly warned that If I dared to take any action myself, then I would be at risk of arrest for assault ( no problem with resources here!!)




Laurie S

Laurie's story reminds me of the "urban legend"

Namely - a woman became aware of some people attempting to break into her shed in the garden - she rang the police who said thy were too busy to come at the moment

A few minutes later she rang the police to tell them not to bother as she had shot them. Within seconds there was screaming of police syrens as a fleet of the police turned up

They wanted to know where the gun was - she commented that wasn't one - then she commented how all of a sudden they found the resources to come.

Re RD's new friend - get your pals to call crimesetoppers and report that the car was seen involved in a car park and that strange packets wre being exchanged.....

At least it will make the persons life a bit uncomfortable.

Derek

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If involved in an RTA always, always find that you are injured as the police will usually only attend if their is an injury involved.

That way they can take statements and if the uninsured driver refuses to wait for the police then they can be charged with leaving the scene of an accident.

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Originally posted by Derek Wright:
Laurie's story reminds me of the "urban legend"

Namely - a woman became aware of some people attempting to break into her shed in the garden - she rang the police who said thy were too busy to come at the moment

A few minutes later she rang the police to tell them not to bother as she had shot them. Within seconds there was screaming of police syrens as a fleet of the police turned up

They wanted to know where the gun was - she commented that wasn't one - then she commented how all of a sudden they found the resources to come.

Re RD's new friend - get your pals to call crimesetoppers and report that the car was seen involved in a car park and that strange packets wre being exchanged.....

At least it will make the persons life a bit uncomfortable.

Derek

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Sad But True, though I must admit I found the Shed story very amusing.

Graham George Of Vigilantieville

Unfortunately the insurers don't know that your son is sensible and responsible. The reality is that young and newly qualified drivers have an exceptionally bad claims record compared with older more experience road-users and premiums reflect this.

The price-hike to cover uninsured drivers is probably spread reasonably equally across all classes of driver and is unlikely to affect young drivers disproportionately.

David

It also works the other way.

I used to run a Jaguar and because of my age, occupation and driving record, my premiums were peanuts.

I am a very safe risk because I drive cautiously and the insurance companies reward me as a result.

Regards

Mick

According to this the "price hike" about £30 per premium.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/your_money/3540652.stm
BTW my brother was in the same same position as rockindoc, but by pure chance found out who the driver / owner was. Were the cops interested - not a bloody chance!
Martin