AXA - Driving other cars - Underwriting change

Pedro K

Hi folks!

Just giving a heads up to anyone insured with AXA about a change to their underwriting. They are removing driving of other cars from all policy holders under the age of 25, (to come into effect at your renewal).

The reason for the thread is because I'm not sure just how well they've communicated it to their policy holders.

The only reason I found out is because I suspended my policy last year (policy started July '11 with driving other cars) for three months when I was away, went to reactivate it in November '11 and asked while I was waiting for my new documents to be sent out, am I still insured to drive other cars, e.g. jump in my Mam's car to drive to the shops in the meantime or something.

The lad on the phone in the call centre seemed to not have too much of a clue about the situation at hand and informed me I never actually had DOC. I have had it since the age of 19 (I'm 23 now), when I was first insured with AXA. Turned out when he went to reactivate my policy his system automatically turned DOC off, so at his viewing it seemed I never had it. So I had actually availed of DOC since 19. Not the lad's fault, and he was as helpful as he could have been.

I sent the Long Mile Road branch manager a letter, expressing my disgust at the change, considering I had only renewed in July for a year and had been told I had DOC, and more particularly at the lack of communication regarding the change. Had I not asked the guy on the phone, I may have assumed that I had DOC, as I always have had it, and it could have caused huge problems if I was stopped driving a car that I thought I was insured in.

I got a call from him the next day apologising and he reinstated my DOC for the remainder of my policy and said to ring him back at next renewal and he may be able to plead my case to the underwriters to keep my DOC due to my length of time on cover and with no claims with AXA.

My renewal arrived today for '12-'13 and there's no mention of the fact that DOC is gone (and funnily enough the premium has gone up even though they're removing a benefit, although I got them to knock €85 off) and unfortunately the underwriters won't budge on their policy change.


TL;DR version;

AXA changed their rules in September '11 and are removing driving of other cars from all policy holders under 25 with effect from your next renewal.

So if you're with AXA, under 25 and have DOC, it is being removed from your policy at renewal. I don't know how well they've communicated it to you so be sure to double check that you're covered before driving any other cars.

kerten

I can confirm that as I got my renewal from axa yesterday and it was written in new certificate as a change in policy.

Pedro K

kerten wrote: »

I can confirm that as I got my renewal from axa yesterday and it was written in new certificate as a change in policy.

Ah ok. I think maybe the letter could be an automatically generated letter and as a result of the removal and subsequent reinstatement of my DOC, the letter was somehow not generated.

Just wanted to let people know, in case they hadn't been informed.

Anan1

Funny you should say that, Aviva recently sent me a renewal quote on which my open drive had quietly disappeared. Guess you need to keep your eyes peeled come renewal.

flyingsnail

I think this might have been their policy for a while, when I took out my current policy (Feb 2012) they would not offer driving of other cars to under 25.

Edit: Talking about AXA

Colonel Sanders

flyingsnail wrote: »

I think this might have been their policy for a while, when I took out my current policy (Feb 2012) they would not offer driving of other cars to under 25.

Edit: Talking about AXA

I think Allianz only offer it to over 25s too

Pedro K

They told me they only changed it in September '11. Which is why when I renewed in July '11 I got it for a full year. Now renewal date is drawing near and there's seemingly no way I'll be able to hang on to it.

MugMugs

Risk equalization really. Once one starts the others fall in line.