12 million drivers would mislead insurers to ensure payout

As British motorists plan their Easter getaways, moneysupermarket.com reveals 12 million, or 36 per cent, would flout the law by making a fraudulent claim to ensure a successful motor insurance payout.

A survey by the UK's leading price comparison site asked motorists whether they would reveal the truth to their insurer if they hadn't secured their vehicle properly and it was stolen. Only 18 per cent were honest enough to say they would volunteer this information without being asked while one in three drivers (36 per cent) would not reveal this information willingly to their insurer. Of this, nearly one in ten motorists (nine per cent), say they would never tell the truth. Another third (31 per cent) would only be upfront with the truth if they were pressed.

Andy Leadbetter, managing director of insurance at moneysupermarket.com said: "It's a real surprise to find out so many motorists are ready to lie in order to secure a motor insurance payout. In the current climate, many people may be concerned about receiving adequate payout from their insurer. However it would be foolish to keep quiet and withhold information; if you are caught out it could back-fire and be seen as fraudulent behaviour in the eyes of an insurer, and could result in them refusing to cover you in the future."

The research reveals twenty-somethings are most likely to lie; 15 per cent are prepared to cover up their own carelessness to ensure a payout, compared to the older generation - just six per cent of those in their fifties, and five per cent of sixty-somethings say they would flout the law. Furthermore, those living in the North East and Yorkshire appear the most dishonest of motorists; 14 per cent would never tell their insurer the truth - compared with just two per cent of motorists in East Anglia. Scots, on the other hand, are revealed as the most honest of motorists; 27 per cent claim they would volunteer information without being asked - compared to the average of 18 per cent.

Women are revealed as the more sincere of the sexes when it comes to telling the truth to their motor insurer; a third of women (33 per cent) would reveal the information if asked - compared to just 28 per cent of men. Furthermore, one in ten men claim they would never tell their insurer the truth, compared to seven per cent of women.

Andy Leadbetter continued: "It is easy to see how someone may be tempted into lying about a moment of carelessness, yet it's important to remember it is still against the law. Moreover, claims regularly paid out to drivers who hold back the truth result in the honest drivers missing out and in some cases causing the cost of future motor premiums to rise. I urge motorists to be completely honest when it comes to their insurance, and more importantly, to take care when securing their vehicles as prevention is the cheapest option."