Insurance Companies + Driving License

[Fallout]

For the last 3 renewals I've had to give the insurance company copies of my driving license. I suppose it's for evidence in case I claim so that they can make sure I wasn't fibbing about convictions etc. What this means is more and more companies, some of which come across as unscrupulous, are in possession of my driving license.

It's a really annoying trend. As someone who is quite paranoid about identity theft and makes an effort to keep personal info secure and shred letters etc. the fact a bunch of numpties all have my driving license in their inbox really bothers me.

Anyone else get mildly miffed by this?

[ClunkintheUK]

I can see your point, But I have never had an insurance company ask for my drivers license.

[Sir Trev]

Yep. Even my emplyer wanted a copy of my driving licence before they'd hand over my fuel card. Some bull about corporate responsibility and making sure I was really allowed to drive before they helped me. It's all rubbish - if I say I'm entitled and then something goes wrong it's my fault, not my company's.

[Fallout]

The question is, what can you actually do with a copy of someone's driving license? Obviously the card physically can be used to apply for any number of things including bank accounts etc. but how about the copy? Are there any details on it that are dodgy if they fell into the wrong hands? I suppose it's entirely possible to make a fake ID from the info on it.

Makes me feel like I should sign up to a credit check website to keep an eye on any sudden appearances of credit that I didn't apply for.

[timwilky]

I had a big argument with my company over signing a mandate to allow a 3rd party to make a regular enquiry with the DVLA of my licence status. As a result of my concerns my employer commissioned an audit of the 3rd party who provide driving licence management to companies, and they failed the audit.

Lack of policies, lack of secure storage of details, no audit trail of who is enquiring of who when why etc.

They supposedly fixed everything, But I still get a nasty warning from the UK HR director every year that I haven't provided the mandate. I have told my boss he can have sight of my licence whenever he need to confirm I hold a licence. But that is where it stops.

As for insurance companies wanting a copy. My experience is only in the event of a claim.

[Fallout]

As for insurance companies wanting a copy. My experience is only in the event of a claim.

That was my experience in the past, but I have a feeling times are changing.

[Wideboy]

I was once told by a copper not to carry my licence and keep it at home as it's a crooks wet dream for identity theft. Whether this is true or not I can't say.

And yes I'm forever having to submit copies of my license to international shafters & co. Even been asked resubmit with proof of no claims when I renewed :confused:

[Fallout]

And yes I'm forever having to submit copies of my license to international shafters & co. Even been asked resubmit with proof of no claims when I renewed :confused:

Which of course gives you huge confidence in their processes and storage of your details.

[ClunkintheUK]

I've genuinely never heard of insurance companies asking for a copy of your license. I am also not sure what the theory is behind it. Surely the insurance companies would love to insure an unlicensed driver. They make a claim, the insurance company finds out that they are not licensed and don't pay out. But then I guess they are still liable for 3rd party?

[ClunkintheUK]

driving licence management to companies,

What is this? I mean I understand all the words, but what on earth do they actually do. besides loose your details and help unscrupulous fellows avail themselves of your savings?

[timwilky]

Someone somewhere has put about that employers have a legal responsibility to ensure employees who drive as a function of their employment are legally entitled to drive. So instead of HR asking to see your licence each week/month (just in case you have been banned in the proceeding week), this bunch of jokers query the DVLA against each licence number they hold. and then alert back to their commissioning company anything that should be known.

Edit, it is an interpretation of Section 87 (2) Road Traffic Act 1988 :-
It is an offence for a person to cause or permit another person to drive on a road a motor vehicle of any class otherwise than in accordance with a licence authorising that other person to drive a motor vehicle of that class.

So if you tell an employee to drive and he does not say sorry I haven't a licence. Then you are committing an offence when he gets behind the wheel.

[ClunkintheUK]

DO you know how much they charge for this "Service". Sounds like a great racket even without the slide line.

Does anyone know the precedent or act calling this legal responsibility, or has some bright spark of the underworld come up with this?

[ClunkintheUK]

Just read the edit. Thats retarded. Also this driving license database company doesn't solve the problem at all. They check every week, if your driver does something, then they can be driving for a week before your know. Same as if they had to flash their license in the garage when they pick up the vehicle.

Also can take this further, there is someone driving down the road who does not have a license, and you don't block them, couldn't that be "Permitting to drive".

[Littlepeahead]

Don't forget I've got a scan of your licence Si. I was planning on assuming your identity a couple of times a week and twice on Sundays.

[Fallout]

I haven't forgotten. I was hoping you'd deleted it. Delete please! :)

[Spank86]

If your company asks for a copy of your drivers licence then I'd ask to see their licence from HMSO, otherwise they're in breach of crown copyright.

I would imagine Insurance companies ought to have the licence but you could always ask to see proof.

[454697819]

Yep. Even my emplyer wanted a copy of my driving licence before they'd hand over my fuel card. Some bull about corporate responsibility and making sure I was really allowed to drive before they helped me. It's all rubbish - if I say I'm entitled and then something goes wrong it's my fault, not my company's.

not true,

if they allow you to drive the vehicle with no licence, they can be held responsible by court for your allowing you to drive a vehicle without a license.

[joshwalker094]

Sort of on topic.

I've had my motorbike license since July 2011. Now this Is a driving license with motorbike caterogry on it. Now when my car insurance asked how long I've held my driving license for, I said less than as a month as I passed my car test in feb 2013. Should I have of said up to years?
As this is technically true and could reduce my premium.


Sorry fallout for the thread hijack

[Sir Trev]

not true,

if they allow you to drive the vehicle with no licence, they can be held responsible by court for your allowing you to drive a vehicle without a license.

Quite agree on the facts, don't agree on the sense of it.

I get nagged every month to fill in my business miles by the third company my employers use. Trouble is to do that you have to click several buttons to say you are a good little boy, you will never speed, you will obey the rules at all times and be in bed by 9 every night. I refuse to do this and as I never do any business miles I ignore the voicemails and texts reminding me. It drives them nuts as I'm screwing up their stats but I don't care.

[Fallout]

Sort of on topic.

I've had my motorbike license since July 2011. Now this Is a driving license with motorbike caterogry on it. Now when my car insurance asked how long I've held my driving license for, I said less than as a month as I passed my car test in feb 2013. Should I have of said up to years?
As this is technically true and could reduce my premium.


Sorry fallout for the thread hijack

That's a good question. The insurance company I went with recently made it clear they wanted to know how long I'd had my full motorcycle license. If you're going through a comparison website, the questions are generic crap, and in my experience, they don't pass the data on accurately. I used Confused this time round, and went I was finally referred to my chosen insurer, so much of the info was wrong, I had to restart the premium on their site.

People who say phone up directly I think are right. You just can't rely on webforms these days, especially from confused or compare the rat.com because you're probably gonna have issues with incorrect data when you finally get your paperwork through.

[Doinitmyway]

I've genuinely never heard of insurance companies asking for a copy of your license. I am also not sure what the theory is behind it. Surely the insurance companies would love to insure an unlicensed driver. They make a claim, the insurance company finds out that they are not licensed and don't pay out. But then I guess they are still liable for 3rd party?

If they have taken money from you then they will be liable to the third party no matter what.

A friends wife was hit by an OAP while leaning into her car to secure a kid in a child seat. The old dear bruised her very badly and bent the door back on itself. She hadn't even realised she'd done it but a nearby policeman saw it all and stopped her further up the road. It turned out the driver had not reapplied for her licence when she turned 75. The Ins Co had no option but to stump up as they hadn't checked this when they kept taking her money from her every year.....

Chris

[Bibio]

they ask for a copy of your licence as they they don't have to fork out on a check.. simples.

i have never ever had an insurance company as for a copy of my licence and if they did they would be told 0898 doo one then move onto the next company.

[dyzio]

For the last 3 renewals I've had to give the insurance company copies of my driving license.

I've had to send a copy every time I've purchased insurance since getting a bike license (7years).

Didn't have to for the car though :/?

[TamSV]

Insurers routinely check licence details on the DVLA database in the event of claims but can't do it at quote stage yet.

There is a project underway with DVLA now to do the check at quote stage. I believe this is supposed to be live by 2014 at which point you'll need to provide your driving licence number when you buy insurance.

[Bibio]

Insurers routinely check licence details on the DVLA database in the event of claims but can't do it at quote stage yet.

There is a project underway with DVLA now to do the check at quote stage. I believe this is supposed to be live by 2014 at which point you'll need to provide your driving licence number when you buy insurance.

i think there should also be a database of accident's, losses and convictions so if some numpty crashy happy individual phones for insurance then their quote should reflect this and leave us unclaimed drivers alone.

another this that gets right between the fingernails is the TV adverts quoting insurance 'from' £200 which to me is saying that your not getting insurance less than £200 with us. i have claimed once in 20 years and that was for a theft so why does my premium go up every year........

i'm sick and tired with insurance companies having us bowled over and rodgering us up the arz as it's a legal requirement and it's about time the Gov got their finger out and done something about the insurance companies taking the pizz. how about the Gov giving us an option to insure with them when you buy road tax.... now that would set the cat amongst the pigeons.

[yorkie_chris]

i'm sick and tired with insurance companies having us bowled over and rodgering us up the arz as it's a legal requirement and it's about time the Gov got their finger out and done something about the insurance companies taking the pizz. how about the Gov giving us an option to insure with them when you buy road tax.... now that would set the cat amongst the pigeons.

I think the insurance companies do have reasonable competition with each other.

The problem is the likes of some scouser scumbag I was talking to who was involved with a scam where the busload of c*nts were hit by a car and all claimed for whiplash. It was all organised by the dodgy solicitor who then "managed" the personal injury claims with the obvious fees.

Or the other, legal, scum like the "recovery" firms who charge it out at £200 a recovery plus some ridiculous daily storage rate... thieving hire firms... ambitious repair firms... And dirty, legal ****** of solicitors taking a big slice off the lot...
Of course they're ONLY robbing an insurance company so who cares...


So, you want cheap insurance, next time you hear about somebody getting that "nice" compo payout for that accident where they hardly broke a nail... grab them by the nuts and twist them.

[TamSV]

Link below to some recent propoganda from the Association of British Insurers. There's nothing to contradict on their facts but they are notably silent on insurers own happy participation in what has become a massively expensive claims system.

The split of costs might be a surprise to some.

www.abi.org.uk/Media/Releases/2013/03/66056.pdf (http://www.abi.org.uk/Media/Releases/2013/03/66056.pdf)


If costs get removed then premiums will come down, there's no doubt about it. It's an almost perfect market from a competition point of view.

Changes are afoot which may help but there's so much wrong with the system atm. You can almost forget about fraud when the system surrounding legitimate claims is so comprehensively ****ed.

[Specialone]

When a silly bint hit my previous golf up the rear (car was 2 months old), she just put a little scratch on the bumper but I went through insurance as it was virtually brand new.

Anyway, one of the staff at direct line told me to put a whiplash claim in, despite it being hit at about 10mph, I declined.

My best mate was going round an island in his transit when the car in front driven by some Asians slammed on their brakes (for no reason) and he hit them, guess what, both claimed for whiplash.

The insurance companies complain about whiplash claims etc but it's them who recommend to these third party claims handling companies and subsequently get a fee off them, they all need putting up a post and let the firing squad practice on them.

[squirrel_hunter]

I understand the concern you might have on sending these companies a copy of your license but I also understand why they ask for it.

I had a similar problem a couple of years back when I moved house and changed car insurer at the same time. After going through the quote and taking the insurance a week or so later they wrote to me asking for proof of my address as it wasn't yet updated on my license. So I called them and asked what they needed, a utility bill or bank statement was the reply. I asked why having written to me at the address and me answering they needed this, they said it was for Fraud Prevention.

So I told them I couldn't give them a utility bill as I was yet to receive them (and besides I had an issue with my gas and electric suppliers), and I couldn't give them a copy of my bank statement even though it was at my current address. They asked why I couldn't send them a bank statement, my reply: Fraud Prevention.

In the end they settled for a mobile phone bill after a few weeks wait. But what I sent them was a photocopied redacted version that contained no information other than my name and address, and the company logo. I pointed out to them that I could have easily knocked it up on photoshop, however the lady on the phone luckily didn't know what that meant. They accepted this poor photocopy as proof of my address, though to this day I'm really not sure what it did prove...

[yorkie_chris]

They asked why I couldn't send them a bank statement, my reply: Fraud Prevention.

:smt082 belter

[Fallout]

i have never ever had an insurance company as for a copy of my licence and if they did they would be told 0898 doo one then move onto the next company.

I would've done that, but you don't get asked for the info until you've paid and the paperwork lands on your doorstep with the "send us this stuff in 16 days". Yes, I could phone up and cancel and then try the next company, but since 3 other companies have done the same, it'd be like russian roulette.

Regarding whiplash, that does **** me off, and if I ever meet anyone who laughs about claiming for whiplash when they didn't have it, I will indeed kick them square in the nuts. My Mrs was in a bad car accident 10 years ago and still suffers with back pain to this day. She didn't get much more back then than people get for whiplash today.

Seriously, why do we pay out for whiplash which doesn't result in a permanent injury? You were in an accident, you got hurt, fecking deal with it. Money won't fix your pain. Pay outs should be reserved for people who need private medical care to recuperate and for no other reason.

[85jas]

Whenever my policy has been underwritten by Adrian Flux I've always had to provide my license... and the problems I've had with it!

Last time I renewed I'd just moved house and had an absolute nightmare - no bills with my name on them, license still being updated with the (very slow) DVLA and an already extended deadline on returning the license details after which time the policy was to be cancelled. I get the final phone call, "Sorry sir but we're cancelling your policy as we haven't had your license details". So this would have been loss of my NCB, (a black mark for a voided policy, does this happen?) and, to renew the policy, another £450 instead on £196 which I'd payed weeks earlier. I'm still waiting for the DVLA, they've confirmed that the license is being processed, what more do they want.... Very nicely told the girl on the phone that It's not her fault, but I'd like to make a complaint to her manager and that I would be taking them to court to recoup my costs. "Sorry, the manager's busy, he'll call you back". Like f**k he will, and he didn't. Very despondently rang up the NEXT DAY after my license arrived to buy a new policy and, lo and behold, they'd given me another week to get my license in, and all was well. Very strange, being relieved and furious at the same time.

Moral of that story? Don't move house and try and renew at the same time. No, that's ridiculous. If they try and do you over complain, write, letters, sue, moan, kick, scream and generally behave like a pain in the ass. And b**ger Adrian Flux.

[ClunkintheUK]

Moral of that story? Don't move house and try and renew at the same time. No, that's ridiculous. If they try and do you over complain, write, letters, sue, moan, kick, scream and generally behave like a pain in the ass. And b**ger Adrian Flux.

Sadly I think this is the way of things, not just insurance companies. I have a couple of stories about this kind of thing and have heard hundreds more.

All pointing to company policy being to try and screw you over, as soon as you ask to speak to a manager or point out your rights/threaten to sue then everything starts happening like clockwork.

A flag carrying ex-national company tried to stick me with a £650 business gas bill (on a one bed, single occupancy flat) took me weeks of back and forth.

I phoned citizens advice, who put the record straight that they HAD to give me a residential rate and it was THEIR responsibility to check the occupancy estimated amounts etc. Phoned the company back, got more BS to which i replied with the information that CAB gave me adding "If I have to phone up about this again I will sue for my time in dealing with this and the costs of a full credit check." funnily enough i got the correct bill in two days.

Sorry for the derail and rant, but the company policy of ripping people off really annoys me.

[NTECUK]

I had to e mail my licence and NCD .
but a renewal a month out so its not a 100% proof .
Does worry you who's got sensitive info.

[TamSV]

Does worry you who's got sensitive info.

Tens of thousands of poorly paid, badly trained, mistreated and demotivated civil servants already have access to all your data so adding a few thousand poorly paid, badly trained, mistreated and demotivated insurance company employees probably doesn't make much difference.

Once it's all on wikileaks we'll at least know where we stand. :rolleyes:

[NTECUK]

Tens of thousands of poorly paid, badly trained, mistreated and demotivated civil servants already have access to all your data so adding a few thousand poorly paid, badly trained, mistreated and demotivated insurance company employees probably doesn't make much difference.

Once it's all on wikileaks we'll at least know where we stand. :rolleyes:

Your not helping .8-[
Who's that at me door wanting payment for 10 mobile phone lines .......

[a_monkey_hint]

I only passed my test late last year, already had my bike in the garage come test day, so took out a policy. My license was with the DVLA for 4 weeks. However my insurance company cancelled my policy despite me telling them my license was with the DVLA (my previous phone call a few days earlier hadn't been recorded on my policy). I luckily phoned them the day it was cancelled, and they managed to reinstate my policy.

[Spank86]

Sorry for the derail and rant, but the company policy of ripping people off really annoys me.

Its usually less company policy and more that the low paid worker on the other end simply can't be arsed to jump through hoops for you.

They don't know you and are unlikely to go the extra mile for the 254th customer on their 9 hour shift and so they simply give you the crib sheet line and process your stuff according to formula, if it involves getting up and going to badger a manager it's probably not happening.