Insurance Co. wanting driving license?

[TechMonkey]

My insurance company have asked that I produce a copy of my driving license, both parts, as part of the supporting documentation. I've never had to before and something is niggling at me about having to do it this time. Now it is legit, in that I know it is the company that want it, but wondered if anyone else has to do this or if it is a new initiative by the insurance companies. Would they cancel my insurance if I wouldn't do it?

[tech_guy]

I've never heard of this before except in the case of foreign nationals. Why don't you query it with them? I would be unhappy to send originals.

[mb2k01]

I've chopped and changed a LOT over the years (and recently), and have never been asked to do this.

Is your insurer specialist or a small company? If you are 100% sure about the company being legit then it might be ok... I think you're right to be suspicious though, I definitely would be!

[TechMonkey]

I've never heard of this before except in the case of foreign nationals. Why don't you query it with them? I would be unhappy to send originals.

 

It is just a photocopy or scan. Part of me is feeling slightly overly paranoid but my IT/Data side is thinking why the hell do they need it and where will it go.

[TechMonkey]

I've chopped and changed a LOT over the years (and recently), and have never been asked to do this.

Is your insurer specialist or a small company? If you are 100% sure about the company being legit then it might be ok... I think you're right to be suspicious though, I definitely would be!

 

Yeah I have been with them for ages. They are a broker so maybe the company they are insuring me through have asked for it.

[K.C.Leblanc]

Is it a normal car, or something that requires an additional licence?

[plexer]

I got asked to provide this at renewal when my Aunt put me on her insurance to drive her car.

 

Thing is it proves nothing to them whatsoever any insurer can check your details out with the DVLA anyway.

 

Ben

[TechMonkey]

Is it a normal car, or something that requires an additional licence?

Bog standard car.

 

@plexer: that's what I thought, they must be able to see the DVLA details and anyway someone could in theory insure a car and not have a licence.

[JoeBloggs]

Have you got any points? Perhaps they want to check you don't have points on it so they can charge you more. I've had this done to me before which I presumed was to confirm the amount of points I had at the time.

[plexer]

The common reason I see stated as to why they may want a copy is to check on points that may be showing on dvla but have been cancelled on your licence but at the end of the day the copy is only valid information on the day it was copied. If that copy is 6 months old you may have points on your licence but they won't be shown on that copy.

 

Ludicrous.

 

Ben

[TechMonkey]

No points. I'm a good boy I is.

[plexer]

Have you got any points? Perhaps they want to check you don't have points on it so they can charge you more. I've had this done to me before which I presumed was to confirm the amount of points I had at the time.

 

Make sure you take your photocopy when your licence is clean then like I said it means nothing and the copy is only valid for the day you take it.

 

Ben

[chrbb]

I change my insurance company almost every year and have never been asked for my driving licence (neither have my sons). The DVLA have all the details required including, I would imagine, any points etc. Have you had a change of address recently? Or moved around alot?

 

I would contact the insurance company direct and ask them the reason, might be a request from the broker only.

[MK-2]

do insurance companies get charged for querying thigns with the DVLA? if so this might be a cheaper way for them to query something on your licence without contacting the DVLA

[Robz]

I've had to do this twice, both for my bike and car insurance, I simply scanned them in and emailed them across. These were internet based companies and I've had no problems.

 

I believe it's a way for them to confirm who you are and the details you've provided are correct.

[DT2]

Data Protection act allows you to question any/all info that is held about you and the reason for its requirement. Just ask, if they refuse to tell you you're not obliged to provide that information.

[p3dr0]

im foreign and they never asked me to send them a copy of my licence and im changing my insurance every year as well… as chrbb said it might be a brokers request

[K.C.Leblanc]

do insurance companies get charged for querying thigns with the DVLA? if so this might be a cheaper way for them to query something on your licence without contacting the DVLA

 

I think so, I lost the paper part of my drving license. When I needed a hire car and the tab was being picked up by someone else's insurance the hire company phoned the DVLA while I was on the line, to confirm my license. However when I need to book a hire car for something else it was impossible.

Edited August 18, 2011 by K.C.Leblanc

[jinnantonnixx]

My friend works at an insurance company (in claims); they often have a conference call with DVLA to make sure that the customer's licence is as stated. If there's a discrepancy, the claim is denied ('failure to disclose material facts'). By law, they have to cover the 3rd party liability, though.

 

This sounds like a simple check to make sure you're not fibbing about any points which may (or may not) lurk on your licence.