Claims made against foreign vehicles up by 15%

Following the Motor Insurers Bureau’s (MIB) recent figures stating the number of claims made against foreign vehicles by UK drivers has increased from 17,032 to 19,621 over the last two years, Aron Thompson, Head of Insurance at independent price comparison and switching service uSwitch.com comments:

“With the number of claims made against foreign vehicles up by 15% in just two years, it is increasingly important for UK drivers to understand the procedures and levels of protection they are entitled to under the terms of their insurance policy.

“A driver with a comprehensive insurance policy who is involved in an incident with a foreign vehicle would be in the best possible position. Although they would need to pay the excess and it is likely their no claims discount could be at risk, the vehicle would at least be fixed at the insurer’s expense. However, drivers with third party fire and theft insurance will not be covered and would have to pay for the repairs to their vehicle. In this instance, the only option is to make a compensation claim through MIB - however this is not guaranteed and can be a lengthy process.

“Claims for accidents with foreign vehicles are one of a number of factors drivers should consider when deciding on the best car insurance policy. Drivers need to shop around for the policy that meets their individual needs. Consumers need to spend time reading the small print and familiarising themselves with what they are entitled to, and varying compulsory voluntary excesses. uSwitch.com fully supports MIB’s call for some form of standardisation so that drivers are clear what they should do in the event of an emergency.

What to do if you are involved in an incident with a foreign vehicle:

Follow the normal procedure as you would for any accident involving another vehicle:

Exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance company details and registration number.

Take a comprehensive description of each vehicle including details of the damage sustained

Note the exact location of the collision which, if possible, should be backed up with photographic evidence. Mobile phone cameras may be very useful here.

Take the names addresses and contact details of any witnesses.

Inform the police. If you encounter a refusal to disclose insurance information you should make a formal complaint as this is a criminal offence under section 154 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Report the accident to your motor insurer.

The additional steps that you need to take are:

If the vehicle is a lorry, be sure to take note of the vehicle registration number off the front cab andfrom the back trailer, as these usually differ from each other.

Ask for proof of insurance which is usually in the form of a green card or a foreign insurance certificate. Remember to cross check the registration number on the certificate with the one on the vehicle (if the vehicle is a lorry refer to the number on the front of the cab and not one on the trailer).

From the documentation provided, note the green card number and the policy number and any information relating to the drivers identity.

Note the country identification code on the vehicle e.g. NL for the Netherlands.

Be prepared to fill in a constant form (an agreed statement of facts in common usage in many European countries). This requires both drivers to complete their relevant details, including those of their insurer, followed by a signature.