Forgetting to tell insurers about these key changes could see your agreement invalidated

Car insurance providers could refuse to pay out for car repairs if it turns out road users have not been honest and have missed critical details. This is because small differences can drastically affect your perceived road risk and therefore how much you are likely to pay on your cover. 

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Hiding information may mean you have paid a cheaper rate and therefore not fully covered for the agreement you need. 

Insurers could argue you have broken the terms and conditions of a contract by failing to keep them in the loop about all the details which are likely to lead to devastating consequences. 

An invalidated policy means motorists would be liable for their own car repair bills and could find it hard to secure any future cover. 

Modifications 

Speaking to Express.co.uk, Cuvva car insurance says road users must inform car insurance providers of any modifications or upgrades to a car 

Changes to an engine, suspension, brakes or your bodywork are performance differences and could affect how risky a vehicle is to drive. 

Installing items such as a turbocharger is likely to see premiums increase because there is a higher risk of having a car crash. 

However, even cosmetic changes such as different wheels and paintwork can have a drastic effect on your car insurance policy. 

These changes may increase the value of a car which means it would be more likely to suffer crime. 

According to Cuvva, some insurers do not cover modified vehicles so insurers must check with an insurer how some modifications could impact their level of cover. 

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Driving convictions 

Failing to tell a car insurance provider you have been issued with a conviction could see policies invalidated and penalty points added to your licence. 

A driving conviction will make insurance providers see you as a riskier driver which means you will need to be placed onto a higher premium.

Failing to be honest with an insurance provider could be considered fraud which may even see police action taken against you. 

Go Compare says final warnings, cautions and reprimands are not official convictions and therefore do not need to be disclosed. 

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  • Car insurance can be invalidated by going to work

Changing the use of your car 

The classes of use system are in place to make sure insurance providers know how a vehicle is being used at all times. 

Social, commuting and business policies all offer different levels of cover and usually come with different price bands. 

Social policies are often the cheapest because road users are generally not out on the roads for a long period of time. 

This policy should be picked up by those that use the roads for personal use such as visiting friends and family. 

A commuter policy is for those that need their car to travel to work, while this policy can also be used at stopping at a train station. 

Business use is for those that use the road as part of their day-to-day job and require the maximum protection which is available. 

The policies can be tough to understand and motorists could be caught out for travelling somewhere not covered on their scheme. 

Speaking to Express.co.uk, Freddy Macnamara, founder of Cuvva, said: “Social use doesn’t cover driving to work, even if it’s just to the train station and back.”

If your circumstances change and you begin using your vehicle differently road users should notify their insurance provider as soon as possible. 

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