What happens if you miss a car insurance payment?

ken613uk

Yet again we have someone asking a question plainly stating that they are in England and we get replies from correspondents giving their opinions although they are from the US which renders their answers worthless.
If you have watched any of the current TV programmes showing the work of the Police road patrols you will have seen the driver who has been stopped and claimed that they are insured.
When the Police driver checks with the insurance company involved and finds that the driver has defaulted on an insurance policy on which they had been making payments they are immediately deemed to be uninsured and their car is seized on the spot.
Apparently it is a common ruse to take out an insurance policy, paying the premiums monthly.After getting the insurance certificate the payments cease leaving the driver with a certificate which they can then produce.

With the present proliferation of ANPR cameras this can be picked up immediately so is unlikely to succeed for any length of time.
For the benefit of our American cousins, ANPR cameras are Automatic Number-plate Recognition Cameras which can detect cars which have no Vehicle Excise Licence, MOT or insurance. It also finds drivers who have no driver's licence and cars which are reported as stolen.
Big Brother is alive and well in Britain!

meanolmaw

here in NC if your insurance is cancelled for non-payment, they notify DMV right away and you get thirty days to turn in your tag ... if you don't there's a chunky fine, about 200 bucks, I think,, might be more now, and then you have to get new tags and insurance, too...

David W

If the company cancels your insurance, you are not insured after the cancel date, but the company normally doesn't notify the DMV. If you're involved in an accident after the cancel date, your fault or not, the company/agent can't verify your insurance to the DMV and you may get suspended.

Call the company or your agent and ask if you can work out some breathing room on the payment; if your payment record has otherwise been good, you might get some slack.

fishstix

Depending on the state you live in, you have some time after you miss a payment to get it in before your policy is cancelled. If it does cancel, then yes your car is considered uninsured. Even after your auto policy cancels, your company may allow you to reissue your policy with a lapse for a few days.

I would recommend contacting your insurance company. In a lot of states, an insurance company has to report to the state when an auto policy is cancelled. If it is reported to the state, your license can be suspended and can cause all kinds of problems.

Edit: Hey Ken, I answered before he posted that he lives in England. Thanks for insulting us Americans, though. Geez.

candice

most of the time they cancel your insurance and you have to start all over again

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