Fibs and the occasional whoppers some motorists think are acceptable:
• 40% - Using the same no claims discount/bonus on multiple vehicles
• 18% - Reporting a hit-and-run accident when they damaged the vehicle
• 17% - Changing information regarding their occupation or age on a car insurance application to lower the cost of the premium, 35% of 18-34s are most likely to try this tactic
• 17% - Letting a driver not listed as a named driver on the policy drive their vehicle
• 16% - Using a different address (family member or a friend) to lower the cost of their premium
• 14% - Omitting previous claims information on a car insurance application
• 12% - Exaggerating the severity of a personal injury (e.g. whiplash) to increase the amount of money paid out
• 12% - Changing the number of years of valid no claims discount/bonus
• 12% - Exaggerating the damage to a vehicle to increase the pay out
• 11% - Reporting a different driver than the one who caused the damage to make a claim
• 11% - Receiving a payment for a claim made and then re-reporting the damage later
• 10% - Intentionally damaging or abandoning their vehicle to claim a total loss and get the vehicle replaced
Martyn Mathews, Senior Director of Motor Insurance, U.K. and Ireland, at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, said, “Honesty is always the best policy. Drivers risk their policy being cancelled and any claims refused if they are found to be less than truthful with their insurer. Not only does this leave them at risk of funding their own repairs in the event of damage to the vehicle, but it could also make it difficult for them to obtain insurance from any other provider in future.
“Younger drivers tend to pay the highest premiums because they are proven to be the riskiest so it’s easy to see why this age group are more likely to stretch the truth than older drivers. Our research does suggest an urgent need for much more awareness and education of the risks of supplying inaccurate information to their insurance provider.
“In most cases, drivers providing false information do so without realising the potential consequences. As an industry, we need to do more to help consumers understand the value of cover and the importance of providing full and accurate information to their insurance provider.”
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