Car Insurance Headaches? Here’s What Your Insurance May Not Cover

There are many things you’re covered by when it comes to car insurance, but generally, you have to be able to get car insurance in the first place. Insurers can refuse to pay out a car insurance claim but most people don’t know what insurers can and cannot cover. While most of us can usually name something we know that an insurer cannot cover, most people can’t name why an insurer wouldn’t cover them in the first place. 

Some insurance claims are denied because of the roadworthiness of the car (which we’ll come to later), but others are denied insurance in the first place, especially when they try to get car insurance after a drug driving ban. If you’ve been denied insurance, you shouldn’t be on the road in case there is an accident, but if you have insurance and they won’t pay out, it helps to learn why. If you don’t want to find yourself without a car and without money to repair or replace it, learning what your insurance will and will not cover matters. So, let’s take a look at the lesser known car insurance exclusions you should be aware of if you’re on the road.

Image source: Pexels

1. The at-fault driver isn’t on the policy. If you have a car involved in an accident and the person who was behind the wheel wasn’t on the policy itself, the claim can be denied. Sometimes, insurance companies may not pay out if the person who was driving the car isn’t on the policy in the first place. It’s never a good idea to lend your car to anyone else, even though it may seem like a nice thing to do at the time. You can’t control how your friends or family – or how other people on the road – drive, so you’re risking it big to let your car out on the road. If you do need to loan your car, you have to list someone on your insurance and make sure that you’re covered.
2. The car isn’t roadworthy. As we mentioned earlier, your car has to be worthy to be on the road in the first place. If your car’s tires are worn out, or it’s vulnerable to a mechanical failure – ie, the brakes aren’t working – your claim could be denied. You’re supposed to have a car that’s working enough to be on the road and if there is something wrong with it, your insurance won’t know what to cover.
3. The car has previously been modified. It may not sound very fair but most insurers view enhanced vehicles as a risk on the road. This is because usually modifications are not made by the actual manufacturer so anything can go wrong. Minor modifications such as adding tow bars will typically be covered, but something as a custom paint job or even a powerful stereo could result in your car being classed as modified. It’s always a good idea to report any modifications to your insurer before you do them to check that they’ll be covered. If you don’t report the proposed modification, you might risk having no coverage if an accident happens and then you end up out of pocket.
4. The car has been overloaded. If you’ve packed your car to the Max and you’ve decided to exceed the weight limit of the car, then you’re only going to increase your chances of insurance grief. You could also be handing them that get out of jail free card. That means if you’re in an accident they don’t have to pay out at all.It’s actually not allowed to load up your vehicle in a manner that prevents you from seeing traffic or from being able to stay comfortable and safe on the road. There are laws against it to prevent drivers from viewing traffic or safely controlling the vehicle. If the car’s too heavy, you won’t be able to move it fast enough in an emergency. The best thing to do if you’re moving house is to hire a moving company to go with you. Their vehicles are OK to be overloaded because they’re supposed to be weighty.

Image source: Pexels

5. The trailer is overloaded. Your car has a certain weight limit that it can handle and by adding a very heavy trailer you are exceeding that limit. Towing a trailer that is overflowing with furniture can be as dangerous is driving a car that’s packed to the gills with bags. Trying to save money or saving an extra round trip on moving day by packing a trailer high could have very expensive consequences. There is a maximum legal weight that a trailer is allowed to carry, and there’s also a maximum legal weight for your car. Loaded trailers can’t exceed the tow bar of your vehicle, and you need to stay under both of these limits if you want your car to be roadworthy.
6. You added the wrong fuel. We’ve all done it at least once. We pulled into the gas station to add petrol to the car and ended up loading it with diesel. Insurers will not pay out if you or somebody else damages the engine by using the wrong fuel because it seems like a common sense option to use the correct fuel in the first place. It can happen if you switch from a petrol to a diesel car or vice versa, or you borrow a friend’s car and you’re not sure of the right fuel to put inside it.
7. You decide to drive for Uber. It’s a nice idea to moonlight for extra cash, but you should check whether your existing policy will cover you. As a business owner, you might want to hold off on taking any fares until you switch to a policy that does cover you for this. Because driving for Uber, while it’s great to earn extra cash, you’re going to see that extra cash go down the drain.
8. You’ve been affected by legal drugs. We mentioned not being able to get insured if you’re on a drug driving ban earlier, but did you know that legal drugs could be a factor in your car insurance claim? You know that driving while drunk are affected by illegal drugs will mean that your insurer will refuse to pick up the tab, but there are everyday medications like pain tablets or sleeping pills or even anti allergy medicines that can affect your reaction times and concentration. You could end up with your insurance being voided if you’re under the influence. 
9. You’ve been robbed. This one isn’t black and white, but if you have third party property, fire and theft, or comprehensive insurance, you should be compensated if your car is robbed or someone smashes a window. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that there are many insurers that have exclusions around not securing your car effectively. If you leave possessions in plain sight, or you forget to lock it, or you leave the window slightly open, you could be denied.

Every insurance policy has their differences, so you have to make sure that you know what the exclusions are of your specific policy before you go ahead and start paying for it. You don’t want to actually end up paying for it later if your insurance policy won’t pay out. Your car safety is important and so is yours on the road, so take a look at these exclusions and then go and double check your policy to make sure that you’re covered in any eventuality.