Motor insurance news

Cheap car insurance company reveals motorists' willingness to lie over penalty points

Research by a cheap car insurance company has revealed that an average of one in eight motorists would take on penalty points that actually belong to a close friend or relative if it would prevent them from being banned.

The study was carried out by Swinton, the UK motor insurance broker, who asked drivers for their opinions based on the situation that their friend already had six penalty points on their licence and it would be impossible for the authorities to be able to know who had been driving.

The results also showed that the willingness of motorists to accept others' penalty points depends on the age of both parties. Fewer than one in twelve over-55s would consider taking on someone else's points compared to one in five drivers aged 24 or under.

There was also a regional effect noted, with drivers in the South East and South West of England being more willing to take on points than those in the East Midlands and North East England.

Nick Bowyer, spokesman for Swinton, said: "This is potentially a serious problem which needs to be addressed. From a motor insurance point of view, it means that brokers like Swinton could be insuring some drivers who otherwise might have been banned from getting behind the wheel altogether. There is only so much checking the insurance brokers can do."

Commenting on how points affect the chance of getting cheap car insurance, he said: "Until a few years ago, many insurance brokers would increase premiums for drivers with as few as three penalty points.

"Today, however, we look at each case individually and do not automatically increase insurance premiums when our customers exceed six points acquired through speed camera traps."

 

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