Motorists are making nearly 30 million journeys to see loved ones over the Christmas period, with experts warning they could be invalidating their car insurance cover
As an estimated 29.3 million Brits hit the road to visit loved ones in the lead-up to Christmas, experts are warning motorists not to unwittingly void their car insurance or risk hefty fines for breaking the law.
The RAC has revealed that this year’s festive travel will be the busiest since 2013, with nearly half of these – a whopping 14.3 million – journeys expected to take place this weekend alone.
Overloading your vehicle with extra passengers, letting someone else drive your car – even if they’re insured on another vehicle – and using your motor for delivering presents could all render your car insurance null and void.
The AA has also issued a stark warning about thieves nicking phones, wallets and shopping bags from cars, advising people: “Don’t leave valuables in your car. If you really have to leave something behind, hide it out of sight in the glove box or boot.”
Motorists who’ve been tempted to deck their cars out in Christmas decorations could also face fines up to £2,000.
Car dealership Group 1 Automotive cautioned that while decorations might look festive, they could obstruct a driver’s view of the road. “It’s important to decorate your car with all safety measures in consideration so you, and other road users, don’t get distracted or have an accident.”
Legal expert Matt Dolman from Lawsuit Legal News also pointed out the potential penalties for improperly transporting Christmas trees, which fall under strict road safety laws, reports the Express.
He stated: “Rule 98 of the Highway Code is crystal clear: you must not overload your vehicle or trailer beyond what’s recommended by the manufacturer. Additionally, loads must be secured safely and must not stick out in a way that’s deemed dangerous.”
The most common reasons for not paying out a claim on a car insurance policy according to LV were:
Make sure your driver and vehicles are covered
If you are sharing the driving with a partner on your way home this Christmas, make sure they are added you to their policy as a ‘named driver’. It is also always worth checking that any family member or friend you allow to drive your car, has insurance that covers them to use your vehicle.
If your child is driving your car, you will also need to make sure they are covered too and if you are driving another person’s car you may be insured with your own insurance – but it is likely to be third party only so will only cover damage to the other car if you have an accident.
Be honest with how you use your car
If you have a side hustle doing deliveries then make sure your car is insured for business purposes, as social and domestic cover will not cover you if you have an accident.
If you are going to be transporting presents in your car, then either make sure your car is attended or that valuables are kept out of sight as much as possible. Not all car insurance policies will cover you if things are stolen from your car.
Annual mileage
If you give your insurer the incorrect annual mileage, you could also be in big trouble. If you tell your insurer that you drive 2,000 miles per year, but it turns out you’ve actually driven over 1,000 miles in the last year, this may invalidate your policy or suggest that you’re using your car for a different use than that stated in your policy.
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