I Insured A Car That Does Not Exist

Question:

Driving without insurance

I own two vehicles, one is ax, and one is a y. I had to renew the insurance on both vehicles recently. When renewing the insurance on the x, I provided the vehicle details for the x, but accidentally entered the registration number of the y, so technically I insured a car that didn’t exist without realising.

I was pulled over for having no insurance, and when I looked at my insurance certificate I realised what I had done. I have explained the situation to the police and that it was an honest mistake, but they advised I would more than likely be prosecuted (although I have yet to receive a court summons).

I didn’t intentionally drive without insurance, it was an honest mistake. I obviously should’ve checked the documents more carefully, and I accept the blame for that, but I also feel the insurance company shouldn’t have taken my money to insure a non-existent car, and that they too had a duty to check.

I also wouldn’t intentionally take out a policy on a car that doesn’t exist, so the police can see there is no intent to break the law on my part. I also wasn’t trying to scam the insurance company because I had already insured my Golf so there would be no need for me to insure it again.

I require my car for work as I am a x worker and drive people around on a daily basis, so I also wouldn’t intentionally put them at risk by driving without insurance and I also wouldn’t risk losing my job by doing so. Can you advise what my position would be?

I’ve been driving for over 2 years and have no points on my licence, but I want to avoid any penalties if at all possible.

Paula Says:

You have a very good special reasons argument to try and avoid the points.

It maybe possible to persuade the police/crown prosecution service to withdrawn the allegation on the basis that there was no criminality on your part.

I take your point that you had nothing to gain by insuring a vehicle that didn’t actually exist. If it gets to court and the cps agree to withdrawn then you will be entitled to get your reasonable legal expenses back and you will avoid the points.

If the CPS won’t withdrawn then you have a strong special reasons argument based on the fact that you were driving under the genuine and reasonable misapprehension that you were insured.