Car Insurance(Partner)

jeffk

Many years ago when getting a quote from 123 they suggested i put the girlfriend on the insurance, ever since then i have.

I am currently with Allianz and they have her listed as a spouse, i rang to chance my arm on a better renewal deal and the term partner was used.
They dropped my renewal by E100 because my “partners” car is bigger and will be used for longer journeys etc

Is this all ok? I have her and myself down as our separate home addresses(Navan and Dublin), so they know we don't live together.

hullaballoo

Is she your partner? If so, there's no issue.

jeffk

hullaballoo wrote:

Is she your partner? If so, there's no issue.

Define partner in the eyes of insurance company

I'm six years with herself

hullaballoo

I'd say a committed relationship is enough. Could be 6 weeks or could be 6 years but I think you're probably in the clear there.

scamalert

6years might as well put in wife/hooker or whatever relationship you have.

Sue Pa Key Pa

Anything that affects the premium is a 'material fact', so I wouldn't ignore it. I don't know how it is interpreted, but I would expect it to mean co-habitation

Don't give an insurer a chance to be literal with policy interpretation in the event of a claim

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

beechwood55

jeffk wrote: »

Many years ago when getting a quote from 123 they suggested i put the girlfriend on the insurance, ever since then i have.

I am currently with Allianz and they have her listed as a spouse, i rang to chance my arm on a better renewal deal and the term partner was used.
They dropped my renewal by E100 because my “partners” car is bigger and will be used for longer journeys etc

Is this all ok? I have her and myself down as our separate home addresses(Navan and Dublin), so they know we don't live together.

The only people who can tell you for sure that all is ok are Allianz.

hullaballoo

Sue Pa Key Pa wrote: »

Anything that affects the premium is a 'material fact', so I wouldn't ignore it. I don't know how it is interpreted, but I would expect it to mean co-habitation

Don't give an insurer a chance to be literal with policy interpretation in the event of a claim

Contra proferentem.

jeffk

Done some more searching and found this inside a booklet from them

"Spouse / Partner – means husband, wife or partner of the Insured in each of these relationships co-habiting and sharing household expenses or responsibilities."

I fill in separate address on ALL insurance forms and surely the person on the phone offering a spouse/partner offer would/should double check that i meet said requirements?

I mean if someone said here is E100 off as your partners car is bigger, you wouldn't think to say are you sure under your companies T&C I an illegible. Youd take their hand off?

Sue Pa Key Pa

hullaballoo wrote:

Contra proferentem.

I personally don't think there is any ambiguity with the word partner and the definition above would seem to be a reasonable interpretation. I agree that providing 2 separate addresses should have led the insurer to enquire further but I would clarify it specifically rather than assume it was OK

hullaballoo

There's no ambiguity if it's defined and pointed out to the consumer at the time of the offer. If the insurer accepts the addition of a "partner" who lives at a different address, notwithstanding that the insurer's own terms specify that partners must cohabit, I cannot see how a consumer could be liable to a loss of cover in those circumstances.

Of course, the insurer will naturally look to that as a reason to refuse cover in the event of a claim but there is, imo, no way that that reason would ever pass muster in court. I am fully aware that the likelihood of such a case making it to court is slim, therefore, in most cases, the insurer will get away with that underhandedness. But, in law, it's incorrect.

Victor

While we as a country have grown more relaxed about such matters, note that many definitions would accept a partner living at a different address, but not a spouse. For example, Revenue don't allow spouses to each have a principle primary residence.

In insurance terms, having separate addresses likely means your combined driving is likely greater than the driving you would do if living at the same address - both in fewer journeys made and travelling together. Insurers will likely also consider those with partners / spouses to be more responsible as people (Ha!) and in tandem, more responsible drivers.