Milage for insurance purposes

[gac]

When I got an insurance quote for the Cupra, I put in the number of miles I expected to do as part of the quote. However, I've just had the certificate out, and there's no mention of any milage limitation, is this correct?

I think I'm possibly going to be doing more than I thought, however if there's no mention of the original amount on my insurance certificate (or schedule) then am I in fact covered for unlimited milage? The only limitation mentioned on my certificate is that I'm only covered for social, domestic and pleasure (including commute to single place of work) i.e. no track days, no driving for hire, etc.

[Fl@pper]

they use the considered mileage to guesstimate just how likely you are to be on the road

as they say estimated and never ask for it at the time of proposal i always put 2500 miles

[gac]

I've never actually given them a milage reading but in theory they could figure out how many miles I'd done this year from the milage when the car was sold? ie it was sold to me with 60500ish in March, so if I crashed in December on 100,000 they could find out I'd done 40,000 miles in a year instead of the 15,000 I put?

edit - although I suppose even then I could just say that my dad had driven the car a lot with the third party cover he'd have on any car via his own insurance? Would that be a valid claim if the milage was ever queried?

[bartsimmo]

The mileage is recorded at MOT time so they could work out, I guess and if really wanted to, find out your annual mileage if you were making a claim. I guess the chances would be slim but depends if the insurance companies have access to this data?

[gac]

Yeah, it's on the MOT, but the MOT was done before I bought the car so I could claim that it wasn't me who put the milage on (for this year at least, wouldn't work after the car had been MOTed again under my ownership)? Whereas the sale of the car pretty much pinpoints when "my" milage started. I just don't know whether they'd be able to find out stuff like that.

[bartsimmo]

Does it make much of a difference though if you tell them that you may be doing more mileage, I can't imagine so? It might be a few squid but I can't imagine it being 100's. Even if your car is parked on a drive or road its still insured so I would be honest, or as honest as you can? Sorry mate, I can't give a definitive answer....but you've raised a good question.

[gac]

Aye, will probably give them a ring anyway, it's just something that occurred to me as I looked at the certificate. I've shredded/returned all my old certificates, so I don't know if any of them mentioned milage limitations, I do know that for the couple of claims I've made, I've never been asked for any details on milage.

[Ant FR]

Yeah but remember its an insurance contract. Where one party agreas to pay the other party a certain amount if a certain event happens. the risk disclosed is what the fee for this contract is underwritten on.

However if either party fails to disclose something that could affect the other partys decision to enter into or continue the insurance contract then the contract is null and void.

IE if you say one thing and then change your mind without telling the insurance company then your insurance company does not have to pay out.

And to be honest if you say 2500 miles then go and do 10000 miles then there is no way of saying you did not think that was a significant change to the circumstances.

That is a risky way of doing it, and in the climate of insurance companies trying to avoid payouts where possible, a pointless gamble.

Plus milage allowances are usually grouped, ie. 0-5000 miles - 5000-12000 - 12000 to 18000 18000 to 24000 and 24000 or more. Ask the insurance comapny when they quote.

[Pabs]

I was very suprised when my insurers offered me "unlimited mileage". They said there was no tie-in in the contract. I stupidly believed them (and am signed up with them no) but it is a renewal policy, so i suppose they can go by the mileage i quoted them last year, which is very accurate.

(apparently when i turned 25, the insurer wasn't too worried about mileage as I've now got 7yrs NCB and a clean license)

[justlivyalife]

My insurance is 'Unlimited Mileage' with Quinn Direct. Most insurers wanted extortionate amounts to insure me as I was saying 30k miles. I've done 15k in 6 months so I'm set to meet that, but Quinn's policy doesn't state any restriction :).

[edc]

You might want to check whether the mileage asked for is your own personal mileage i.e. miles you have covered. If so it is perfectly feasible for another named driver on the policy to rack up some miles and indeed another driver using your car driving under 3rd party cover under their own policy.

[Jonny]

I always used to say 20k just to cover my own arse, knowing how insurance companies are with looking for any excuse or 'get out' to not pay up.

Last time I renewed I reduced the mileage to 10k just to see how much I'd save... a miserly £18! Put it back up to 20k, just not worth the hassle.

[CLARKY12345]

Unless your mileage is limited on your insurance policy and you have completed a limited mileage declaration at the beginning of your policy - thats when you have to worry about going over. Just phone your insurance compnay and increase your mileage - they will charge you a small additional premium.

Dan

[andycupra]

depends if the mileage you put would qualify you for the low mileage discount. you possibly didnt qualify.

some will ask for a declartion at the start of the insurance, others will only research if you claim.

give them a call.