Speed Awareness Course? Tell Your Insurance or Risk Losing Cover!
Drivers who’ve taken a speed awareness course must declare it when applying for car insurance—or face getting their policies invalidated and paying more. Many motorists don’t realise that hiding this info could leave them exposed to hefty bills and denied claims.
Millions Attend Courses Instead of Getting Points
In 2022, around 1.5 million UK drivers completed a speed awareness course, with another 168,000 attending motorway awareness sessions. These courses act as a get-out-of-jail card, replacing penalty points for minor speeding offences and aiming to improve driving behaviour without ruining records.
Insurance Boss Warns: Honesty Is Key
Mark Tongue, joint CEO of Select Car Leasing, stresses the need to be upfront with insurers. He says, “Some companies see attending these courses as a sign of risky driving. That could mean higher premiums—even if you don’t have penalty points.”
Failing to mention a speed awareness course when asked can risk your insurance being declared invalid. If you make a claim after nondisclosure, you could face refused payouts and serious financial fallout.
Check Your Policy and Stay Protected
Insurance firms differ on whether you must reveal course attendance. Some shrug it off, others use it to calculate risk and prices. The safest bet? Always answer questions honestly and read your policy carefully to avoid nasty surprises.
Tongue warns, “If in doubt, declare it. That way your insurance stays solid, and you won’t fall foul of the law.”
This advice shines a spotlight on the importance of transparency between drivers and insurers. Play it straight, and you’ll stay covered no matter what lies ahead on the road.