Do I have to declare speeding fine in Ireland to Car Insurers?

Question

Last year I was caught speeding in a hire car in Ireland.

I was fined and sent a letter telling me I had two points on my licence. However the paper part of my licence was not requested and I do not believe that there is any reciprocol agreement between the Irish and UK police over this issue.

Am I obliged to advise my car insurance over this issue? No points appear on my license and only a letter from the Irish Police exists which has been lost.

Answer 1

There is no law which requires you to declare endorsements to your insurer.

The law simply requires that you have a valid policy of insurance to cover third party risks.

When you take out a policy of insurance the proposal form may ask for details of convictions or endorsements. You must answer this question, however it is phrased, to the best of your knowledge. Failure to do so breaches your contract with the insurer with the result that your policy is invalidated.

When you receive any endorsement or are convicted of any offence you are usually required by the terms of your contract to advise the insurer. Again, any failure to do so (if so required) breaches your contract with the insurer with the result that your policy is invalidated.

In short, you have to give your insurance company whatever information they request, and advise them of any change in your licence status. If they don't ask for this information then it is not essential to the contract and your failure to report wont affect the validity of your insurance.

Your insurance policy is a contract between you and the insurer. Whether the irish speeding offence appears as an endorsement on your licence or not is irrelevant. The only thing that is relevant is what your insurance contract says. Read it carefully, it's the small print usually on the reverse of the schedule, headed "Terms and conditions". If it is a condition of the contract that you disclose uk and overseas convictions, fixed penalties or endorsements then you must disclose. If you dont, you invalidate your insurance and as well as voiding the cover in the event of an accident, you'll be committing an offence under s147 of the Road Traffic Act.

If, however (as is likely) there is no express obligation in the contract to advise of overseas endorsements, or of fixed penalties for speeding, you have no obligation to disclose, and so your failure to do so can't affect the validity of your policy.

Be particularly careful at renewal time when your insurer may change terms and conditions and seek to be informed of any endorsements since last renewal.

Answer 2

I believe CURIOUS above is correct!

By Irish do you mean the Republic of Ireland / the South / Eire ? The Garda are the Police Force in the South, if the fine was issued in the South you may be lucky!

However, if the fine was issued in Northern Ireland by the PSNI Police Force in the North, then is more than likely that reciprocal arrangements exist with most main land UK authorities.

If it was in the Southern Irish Republic then they are usually not too fussed on cooperation with UK authorities.

Answer 3

once you're making a declare for harm, the insurer will the two deliver their very own engineer to study the motor vehicle, or deliver you to their approved repairer who's accredited to study the motor vehicle on behalf of the insurer. they're knowledgeable mechanics who can spot ameliorations, and that they're going to feed it back to the insurer. If the motor vehicle is stolen, and not recovered, insurers in basic terms pay out the marketplace value for the generally used motor vehicle except you have receipts as info of any artwork you have had finished on the motor vehicle, yet why might you teach receipts to the insurer as you may then be permitting them to be conscious of which you have changed the motor vehicle yet not disclosed it? some law enforcement officials, who're thorough will verify around the motor vehicle while they provide up you for the different count, and we generally get calls from them asking if we've been made conscious of ameliorations. If we verify, and say no, you get charged with employing without coverage on the roadside, and your motor vehicle gets seized. Insurers ask approximately ameliorations for a reason. autos are equipped to fulfill risk-free practices standards, and a few ameliorations can breach those standards. Even splendor ameliorations like yours could be disclosed because it could make the motor vehicle better to thieves. Insurers won't tolerate non disclosure. They see it that while you're cheating once you advise coverage, you would be cheating once you declare and probable fabricate broken/stolen products which you never had or declare for non existent injuries. Non disclosure is fraud as you have knowingly withheld textile tips to get greater value-effective coverage. If caught, they're going to void your coverage leaving you to pay for the declare, and that in the time of addition they're going to flow your info to different insurers with the aid of the anti-fraud database, making it very not undemanding to get coverage everywhere else. For the sake of saving some quid, it merely is fairly not worth it.

Answer 4

Well in my book, honesty is the best policy. At least you can sleep easier! Why not be the better person and just mention it to the insurers!
On a separate issue I was just about to compliment you on your spelling until I noticed that whilst you had spelt "licence" correctly twice, you blotted your copy book by introducing that annoying and incorrect spelling "license". Write out licence three times and confess all to the insurers!

Answer 5

When in doubt tell insurers. The relationship is unique in law. One party to the contract relies totally on the other for relevant info. Anything they consider a 'material fact' that you have failed to notify may result in a reduced payout if you claim. Having said that a routine speeding conviction is not very significant. Believe me they have many ways of checking your driving history.

Answer 6

I don't know about the UK, Ireland, or the EU but I can speak to the US. If a US driver were to get a speeding ticket in Canada or Mexico, or any other country (or vice versa) it would be a souvenir. No need to pay it, report it, or anything.

Answer 7

If it's on your licence ,yes.If you do n't then make a claim they will wriggle out of paying as you have failed to declare relevant information.Unfair, I know.If it's not on your licence...you can chance it if you like. Good luck.

Answer 8

you're right as long as the fine was issued in the republic. if it was in northern ireland, it'll be on file.

Answer 9

if there is no reciprocal then there is no need


***and to raymo*** license is a valid spelling of the word. just as labor is a correct spelling of labour

Answer 10

It's their error not yours, I'd let sleeping dogs lie.