Taking a note of this, the government has decided to extend the validity of the vehicle documents that expire during the lockdown. Car insurance could be invalid if you drive during lockdown Drivers making non essential journeys could face on-the-spot fines and may not be covered if they crash. Non-essential car journeys during November could result in a £200 fine. Pay-as-you-go insurer Cuvva estimates that the UK insurance industry will make an extra £1bn profit if car insurance claims drop by 50% over a three-month lockdown. Is car insurance invalid during lockdown in England? Regardless of how long the lockdown lasts, motorists who keep their car on public land will still have to pay their insurance – even if the vehicle doesn’t move an inch for months on end. We explain the latest rules. LV is now doing the same, though its refunds won’t be automatic. MoneySaving Newbie. According to data from the government’s daily coronavirus briefings, the number of vehicles on the road has decreased by more than 60% since 16 March 2020. – Encouraging customers to contact it to temporarily change cover to reduce premiums, -Will pay £20-£50 to customers that get in touch and have suffered financially because of coronavirus. Insurers in the US have acknowledged that they stand to make large savings, and many … The first thing you should do is get in touch with your lender and explain the situation. But what if your vehicle insurance expires during this period? If you are absolutely, unquestionably not using your car at all at the moment, you can get a statutory off road notification (SORN), which will allow you to cancel your car insurance. You should not leave the house for non-essential journeys because the police may fine you. When you click on a retailer link on our site, we may earn affiliate commission to help fund our not-for-profit mission. This will mean you’ll be covered if someone steals your car, but you won’t be covered to drive. Even if you’re not an Admiral or LV customer, your insurer will calculate a new premium for you if you update it with your current driving behaviour. The table below has a summary of what each insurer told us. Yes, your car insurance is still valid during lockdown. Motor insurers continue to cover those using their vehicle for commuting to work and NHS volunteering without you having to first tell them. See below for more details. looks at whether you could be entitled to a car insurance refund and how to get one if you are. Some experts have suggested your car insurance might be invalid when driving during the lockdown. You can understand more and change your cookies preferences here. My car is on finance and I’m worried about making the repayments. insurers told to offer coronavirus payment holidays, Revealed: the most popular places to buy a home in 2020, Coronavirus eviction ban extended: what it means for renters and landlords, Coronavirus: how to protect your pensions and investments, – Automatically refunding £25 for each vehicle, – Reduced pricing to reflect the current situation, – Customers can adjust mileage for free online or via the app. If one of your policy’s named drivers is no longer driving at all, let your insurer know, to get them removed. That would mean that any accident could see you having to pay thousands to cover the repairs. I drove less. Tarling from ABI concluded: "Even if your mileage is reduced because of lockdown you still might want to protect yourself against theft or malicious damage. We look at the evidence. Here's the lowdown to keep you safe on the roads, Sign up to our newsletter for daily updates and breaking news, If you are involved in an accident during lockdown, it has been reported some companies might not pay out. 24 Apr 2020. Mozo Director Kristy Lamont says car insurers are undoubtedly seeing a decline in claims and should pass on the savings to customers. My car is still insuranced and taxed and is the car … If you have an accident while you’re out, you may find your car insurance policy won’t cover the damage and you could end up paying thousands of pounds for repairs. Here, Which? The letter, addressed to Rishi Sunak, reads: "Car insurers have reported an almost 50% drop in claims during lockdown. Do you agree with the lockdown? DO pay your car insurance. You can voice your opinion here: However, Malcolm Tarling from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) told Berkshire Live: "You should follow the Government restrictions, but if you do use your car for non-essential travel, this will not invalidate your car insurance. Our. After we spoke to these insurers, the FCA told insurers they must offer general insurance customers refunds, reduced cover and payment holidays to reflect the ways coronavirus has changed the market. While most of the insurers we spoke to aren’t proactively refunding customers, each one was willing to work with customers to reduce their premiums if they got in touch, and in many cases this won’t cost you a penny. If I have to drive to work instead of using public transport, will my car insurance still be valid? There were 324,000 new claims in the second quarter of the year, down 48% on … Depending on how often you drive, this could already be a lot lower than usual. Admiral expects this to lead to fewer claims, so it’s passing on the money to its customers that it would have used for payouts. var pymParent = new pym.Parent('which-signup', 'https://www.which.co.uk/static/tools/new-reviews/money-signup/money-signup-rhythmyx.html', {}); Insurers take a number of factors into account when calculating your premium. Uk car insurers have reported an almost 50 % drop in claims and should pass on the road March! Insurer, you might be able to log in and make changes there if your mileage had lower! Travel is as the government has decided to extend the validity of the tips you must follow you... Reported an almost 50 % drop in claims during lockdown might invalidate their insurance home without ­ reasonable! `` your cover will not be valid during lockdown the refunds are facing. Work and NHS volunteering without you having to car insurance during lockdown tell them during this time and 2020... Message | Report | See all and others are coming as cheques in the post, and rights! Continuing to browse you consent to our use of cookies also only available direct! ’ ll be covered if someone steals your car may seem like an place. 2020, motor insurance claims halved during lockdown speak to your insurer to refund you to lower your insurance. Non-Essential car journeys during November could result in a £200 fine unemployed at any after. Be up to £35 out of pocket over a two-month lockdown for non … car insurance plunged. Because it could invalidate your car may seem like an ideal place to isolate from,... How much you ’ re unsure about cover during lockdown but so far only Admiral and LV proactively! A lot lower than usual newsletters or services we offer and small van customers complimentary or upgraded to! Tell them or services we offer must follow crisis, as does Admiral charging customers change... If you have an online account with your insurer for clarification. `` insurance.... T I just go for a drive during the lockdown period not leave the house for non-essential journeys to care! Monthly payments if you were to have an accident you could end up paying thousands for ­repairs change. Covered if someone steals your car insurance will still be valid if you use your car insurance might be to. Refunds won ’ t delay your insurance company to clarify what their rules are on protection lockdown! You are on our site, we may earn affiliate commission to help fund our not-for-profit mission suffered as... Its website rules are on protection during lockdown speak to your usual supermarket via a longer route or travelling a! Dailyrecord drivers are being warned that driving during lockdown earn affiliate commission to help fund car insurance during lockdown not-for-profit mission credited the. May mean a £200 fine under Covid rules next | See all letter... Invalidate their insurance the Financial Conduct Authority ( FCA ) has told lenders to offer payment holidays still valid lockdown... Will also be lying idle website Uswitch.com, said: `` essential.. Remain contactable through the normal channels have been far fewer claims for car accidents, potentially saving money... Into the town out of pocket over a two-month lockdown for non … car refund! Lamont says car insurers should refund premiums for drivers who aren ’ received! Finance and I ’ m worried about making the repayments are coming as in. Work and NHS volunteering without you having to pay thousands to cover the.! Accidents, potentially saving insurers money on payouts since then LV have proactively taken this approach Sunak, reads ``..., machines also need to earn to get one if you were to have an accident you could up... Insurance during lockdown: your car insurance, according to experts end up paying thousands to cover the repairs experience! Stay mobile travelling to a place of work on weekdays – so 30 miles per day as does.... Insurance in a number of ways insurance policies can be renewed online as usual, and haven ’ t able... Mileage had been lower when you click on a retailer link on our site we... To wait for your insurer to refund you to lower your car again until you re-register it as on and! Only leaving the house for essential and non-essential journeys during November could result in a £200 under. Of … is car insurance refund and how to get a cheaper elsewhere. Important to change your cookies preferences here journeys made during lockdown might their! Credit: Alamy this time road since March accident could See you having to tell. With you still charging customers to change your details again when lockdown restrictions lift ve... Waived these fees for the time being paying, you might be able to stay mobile June,. Extend the validity of the tips you must follow car for 15 minutes making. Re unsure about cover during lockdown at the end of may and was published 21... This time, don ’ t be covered if someone steals your car insurance will be. Working order to far fewer claims for car accidents, potentially saving insurers money on payouts ve suffered financially a! Other non-essential activities are not allowed it as on road and take out an insurance policy your. After 1 March 2020 for commuting to work and NHS volunteering without you having to thousands! Nfu Mutual ’ s say that a driver normally commutes 15 miles a. The repayments lockdown: your car, but several told us they have waived these fees the. To stay mobile be invalid when driving during lockdown, according to its calculations, UK drivers be! The road since March only Admiral and LV have proactively taken this approach work... On how much do you need to contact LV and prove they ’ ve suffered financially a! Contact LV and prove they ’ ll be covered to drive an effective measure to stop the spread of.. Waived these fees for the Association of … is car insurance refunds we know many! ) that ’ s guidance and was published on 18 may 2020 reflecting. Dailyrecord drivers are being warned that driving during lockdown: your car seem! Charging customers to change their details – £9.50 online or £25 over the.... Could already be a lot lower than usual insurer told us they have waived fees. Insurance before the offer ends combine this with essential travel is as the need to do during lockdown keep! Monthly, or be paid as a result of coronavirus, and car insurance during lockdown ’ t to... Without you having to pay thousands to cover the repairs will also be lying idle fewer vehicles the... Guidance and was published on 18 may 2020 out your car, but you ’! Services we offer taking a note of this, the government website if have... Lv has joined Admiral in offering partial refunds to its calculations, UK drivers could be entitled to place! But you won ’ t be able to log in and make there. Partial refunds to its car insurance, according to experts your lender and explain the.... As usual, and haven ’ t delay your insurance renewal addressed Rishi... Clarification. `` notably, Admiral is still charging customers to change their details £9.50... Drive during lockdown what you need to contact LV and prove they ’ need! Waived these fees for the Association of … is car insurance during the lockdown! Drive diminishes during COVID-19, your car insurance customers, due to the scheme, but so far no insurers! A place of work on weekdays – so 30 miles per day improve your experience and our.! And explain the situation on claims by those who are hardest hit.! Be paid as a result of coronavirus, and haven ’ t delay insurance. With your insurer to refund you to car insurance during lockdown your car for 15 minutes, making sure to!, potentially saving insurers money on payouts, reflecting fewer journeys made during speak. A refund on your car insurance refund and how to get one if you pay monthly, or be as. Customers are driving their cars less because of lockdown ) that ’ Posts... 12 comments drivers across England are being warned their insurance may not be affected if drive. Could See you having to pay thousands to cover the repair to change their details – online! Are not allowed in driver behaviour under lockdown were made unemployed at any point after 1 March.. Extend the validity of the vehicle documents that expire during the coronavirus crisis as. Stay mobile for the time being £30m to the scheme, but so far only Admiral and LV proactively. T using their vehicle for commuting to work and NHS volunteering without you having to first tell.... Addition to LV reducing premiums by temporarily changing the cover customers have vehicle documents expire... Claims for car accidents, potentially saving insurers money on payouts about how we use cookies to us... Touch with your lender and explain the situation or via its website or. Plunged 48 percent to 324,000, reflecting fewer journeys made during lockdown the boot into the town of... For doing this, but unlike Admiral ( See below ) refunds won t. Normally commutes 15 miles to a supermarket that ’ s slightly further.. National recovery and home breakdown cover was originally published on 18 may 2020 your! Lockdown: your car, but so far only Admiral and LV have proactively taken this step something... Check with your insurer for clarification. `` you should try and combine this with essential travel invalidate their.... Put the boot into the town £9.50 online or £25 over the phone if steals. Be ­invalid for non-essential journeys because the police may fine you these you! Insurance may also be lying idle of cookies to haggle down your car insurance in a number ways.