Leaner driver [insurance]

sean72

Just rang my insurance company RSA and they tell me not only will they not cover my son as a learner driver but they won't cover him unless he has 2 years driving experience. When searching boards about this yesterday I read a thread that said refusal to insure was not legal. I did say this to them but I couldn't remember the details and I can't find the thread.

Does anyone know the details on this one???

Wossack

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/motor_tax_and_insurance/motor_insurance.html#l1f4da

wee bit there under Rules > "If you are refused motor insurance"

ironclaw

Not quite 'illegal'

If you get three refusals from three different companies, you have grounds to take it to the insurance board. They then have to force them to quote you. They can then mediate if the quote is unnecessarily high. Its not really applicable in this instance as plenty of other insurers will quote you.

Like all businesses, a business does not have to do business with you based on their underwriting conditions.

However, RSA underwrite a number of other schemes and insurers, so its odd they won't quote you. What car is it?

Special Circumstances

I tried a quote yesterday for the lolz, but "non standard radio" condition means I can't be a customer with companies x y and z.
A bit mad but hardly illegal or a violation of my civil rights.

Just try a different company?

bazz26

It's hard to comment on this topic without knowing more information such as what car you are trying to insure him on. If it were a BMW M3 I could understand but it was a 1.0 litre Micra then it sounds odd. Also does your son have any points or convictions on his learner permit, was he refused insurance before or has an open claim with another insurance company?

sean72

Thanks for the feedback. No I was just ringing my insurance company ahead of my son starting his driving lesson next month. The car is an old toyota corrolla verso 2002 which is our family and dogs run around. He has no record, etc, either do I.... Fair enough its a big engine but the conversation didn't get that far. He's just our first child to reach driving age and I wanted to get an idea on the cost.

H3llR4iser

sean72 wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback. No I was just ringing my insurance company ahead of my son starting his driving lesson next month. The car is an old toyota corrolla verso 2002 which is our family and dogs run around. He has no record, etc, either do I.... Fair enough its a big engine but the conversation didn't get that far. He's just our first child to reach driving age and I wanted to get an idea on the cost.

So let me understand please...they actually refused to add him as a named driver on your policy?

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

Rsa insurance are in a bit of a dog house ... they don't want any kind of high risk at all.

When i worked with insurance i tried my absolute best not to put people with them because of the way they operate.

time to shop around op but do expect high prices for him. Insurance is being based on the highest risk now so a young lad can't go under his parents name for the sake of cheap insurance anymore

bazz26

It's difficult to shop around if it's mid policy as you would have to cancel and the insurance company will then charge you an admin fee on any rebate. The only logic I am thinking they are applying is that it's a 7 seater and a young lad with no previous experience is bound to have his mates in the car meaning in the event of an accident there potentially could be more injuries or worse which results in a higher payout for them.

Only real thing you can do is wait until the policy is up for renewal and then shop around.

To Elland Back

sean72 wrote: »

Just rang my insurance company RSA and they tell me not only will they not cover my son as a learner driver but they won't cover him unless he has 2 years driving experience. When searching boards about this yesterday I read a thread that said refusal to insure was not legal. I did say this to them but I couldn't remember the details and I can't find the thread.

Does anyone know the details on this one???

Insurers are not allowed refuse someone who holds a valid licence for a policy in their own name. They are, however, entitled to refuse to add them on to someone else's policy

Spook_ie

sean72 wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback. No I was just ringing my insurance company ahead of my son starting his driving lesson next month. The car is an old toyota corrolla verso 2002 which is our family and dogs run around. He has no record, etc, either do I.... Fair enough its a big engine but the conversation didn't get that far. He's just our first child to reach driving age and I wanted to get an idea on the cost.

I'd like an expanson of this.

Do you mean you don't have an insurance history or driving record or what?

ironclaw

To Elland Back wrote: »

Insurers are not allowed refuse someone who holds a valid licence for a policy in their own name. They are, however, entitled to refuse to add them on to someone else's policy

Of course they can. Why do people think a business has to quote you?

Perhaps if they refused you based on race, religion, age or sex then you may have a case. But they are fully entitled to refused to cover anyone under the clause of 'risk' Live in an exceptionally 'bad' area? Have a patchy criminal record in terms of the Road Traffic Act? Then they are entitled to not take the risk on their books.

To Elland Back

ironclaw wrote: »

Of course they can. Why do people think a business has to quote you?
.

http://www.insuranceireland.eu/consumer-information/general-non-life-insurance/motor1

The practice is for insurers to decline and let a client go to the declined cases committee. The regulation is for insurers with a licence to write motor insurance to offer a quote providing it is not against the public interest

rex-x

ironclaw wrote: »

Of course they can. Why do people think a business has to quote you?

Perhaps if they refused you based on race, religion, age or sex then you may have a case. But they are fully entitled to refused to cover anyone under the clause of 'risk' Live in an exceptionally 'bad' area? Have a patchy criminal record in terms of the Road Traffic Act? Then they are entitled to not take the risk on their books.

Ordinarily yes but because insurance is a legal requirement then you must be able to obtain insurance, so while they can initially refuse you they can be forced to quote you.

ironclaw

rex-x wrote: »

Ordinarily yes but because insurance is a legal requirement then you must be able to obtain insurance, so while they can initially refuse you they can be forced to quote you.

Provided you attempt to find insurance from three or more insurers first.

From a recent correspondence with Insurance Ireland I had, in relation to foreign license holders, this is their generic template for the complaints procedure:

DakarVert

Try FirstIreland.