What has Honest John been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [My friend exceeded their car's mileage limit and now can't get insured - what can she do?]( Posted by on 17 May, 2018 My friend's daughter had a black box fitted to keep insurance low. The mileage allowance was 4000. This was unintentionally exceeded and her insurance was cancelled. She ended up driving for four days without insurance even though payment was made monthly by direct debit . She is now on a blacklist and can't get insurance. How does she stand legally? [Read more →]( [The dealer wants to keep the V5 of my new car for two months - can I demand it considering I paid for the car?]( Posted by on 17 May, 2018 I bought a car from a main dealer, but they're keeping the V5 until June 20 as it was classed as a demo and they are required to keep the V5 for two months. I transferred my car insurance to this new can, but am I insured if I'm not the registered keeper yet? Can I demand the V5 from the dealer? [Read more →]( [I got a parking ticket for staying 23 hours, even though I stayed less than two - can I appeal?]( Posted by on 17 May, 2018 I've been issued a parking ticket for staying 23 hours in a Sainsbury's car park even though I only stayed 1 hour 35 minutes. Cars are allowed to stay up to two hours there. What now? [Read more →]( [Should I get legal cover on my insurance policy?]( Posted by on 16 May, 2018 I'm in the process of renewing my car insurance and they are asking if I want Legal Protection (£30 extra). I know there are some firms that will cover you for that alone and for a lot less money. Are these firms reliable and safe to use? [Read more →]( [How do I purchase Gap Insurance on my pre-reg car if I'm not the registered keeper yet?]( Posted by on 16 May, 2018 I bought a pre-registered car with 10 miles on the clock recently. However, as it's classified as a demo model, the Mazda dealer tells me they must keep the V5 for 90 days. When trying to purchase Gap Insurance (I declined Mazda's offer), I read that I must be the registered keeper. in the Terms and Conditions. Am I the keeper in the eyes of the insurer? If not, how do I resolve this situation? [Read more →]( [Will my 1998 Toyota RAV 4 Convertible become a collectable?]( Posted by on 16 May, 2018 I own a 1998 Toyota RAV 4 Convertible, which I absolutely love. Is it likely to be a future collectable as there are very few left on the road? [Read more →]( [A car slammed it's door into my 2002 Mercedes - how do I ensure my car isn't written off for minor damage?]( Posted by on 15 May, 2018 Whilst my 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class was parked at the garage today, a van from the business next door smacked its door into my car. I have all the insurance details and they have already alerted their insurers and been give a claim reference. My concern is that the car will require a new wing, which exceeds its market value. I don't want it written off under any circumstances, especially as I was not at fault. Can you advise me how to approach this situation before I ring my insurer? [Read more →]( [Can I trace an old car if I know the reg number?]( Posted by on 15 May, 2018 In the 1970s, my wife and I owned two Austin Mini. How do I ascertain whether or not they have been scrapped, still on the road or declared SORN? I can remember the registration numbers. [Read more →]( [Can my insurer write my car off if I don't make a claim?]( Posted by on 14 May, 2018 I have a bit of an odd scenario. My car was parked on a slight incline and the handbrake must not have applied enough as 20 minutes later it had rolled down the slight hill and crashed into a wall. The car has a towbar, which looked like took most of the impact. My insurance company, Admiral, were really good and got the car recovered and taken to a garage for storage overnight. The next day the car was taken to Just Car Clinic, who called two days later to say that the repair costs were close to £6000. I had paid £5495 a few days earlier and they're classing it as uneconomical to repair. I spoke to Admiral and explained that I wanted to keep the car and not pursue the claim as I had managed to source the replacement parts, and got a quote for the work to be done by a reputable company. They said I could keep the car classed as Cat N and that I would need to get a new MoT done once work was completed. Admiral phoned today to say that they have can see on the DVLA website that the car has not been MoT'd and they are cancelling the policy with immeditate effect. I explained that I was told I had seven days from when work was completed to have the MoT done. They are going away to listen to phone recordings. If I'm not claiming, does the Cat N still apply? Also, are my insurer allowed to force me to get an MoT done if I'm not claiming, and within such a tight timescale? [Read more →]( [I got a cracked alloy welded rather than replaced - could this invalidate my insurance?]( Posted by on 14 May, 2018 When my Mercedes-Benz C-Class was about three months old, during a safety check, the dealer discovered one of the rear wheels was cracked (pot hole I guess - but no loss of pressure). Rather than pay £600 for a new one, I paid a local specialist welding company to repair it. The car is now just over three years old and I was told recently this could invalidate my insurance in the event of an accident. Is this correct? [Read more →]( [My nine year old son cycled into a car - who's insurance do we claim off?]( Posted by on 14 May, 2018 Earlier today, my nine year old son crashed his bike into a car, which was waiting at a junction. He scratched the cars offside wing and bonnet. This will obviously need to be repaired. However, I do not know/confirm who was at fault and have taken the car driver's word that my son crashed into his car. How would I claim under my insurance in a situation like this? The car driver is insured by Direct Line, who advertise they cover accidental damage. Would this be classed as that and, therefore, covered under his insurance policy? I want to make good on the damage my son has caused but simply do not have the money that would be required for a repair of this type. [Read more →]( [I reversed into a car that moved behind me while I was reversing - am I at fault?]( Posted by on 14 May, 2018 I had a car accident last week. The police had closed the road and an officer was stopping traffic to ask drivers to turn around and go back the way they came. It was a narrow road and the police officer was holding the traffic back to allow enough room for each car to turn around. As I was going backwards, on the second part of my three-point-turn, the car that had been behind me went straight past the officer, who was clearly signalling for it to stop, and then braked sharply. It stopped inches from my offside. However, as I reversed, my offside went into the front bumper of her car and dented my door. Her front bumper only had a small mark. The police officer told her to back up and she went straight into the car behind her. The driver of that car said the damage was minimal and didn't want to pursue the matter. We swapped details and got an incident number from the police officer that was there. I checked to my right before I started reversing and at that point she was waiting in front of the police. As I reversed, I was looking over my left shoulder so I didn't see her move forwards and go past him. My rear dash cam captured most of the incident, so I sent the footage to my insurer. They said I'm liable because as I was reversing I had a higher duty of care than other road users around me. They say I should have been aware of my surroundings. I would appreciate your thoughts. [Read more →]( [Our car was stolen and used in a crime - do we have to accept it back from the insurer?]( Posted by on 14 May, 2018 Our car was recovered after being stolen and used in a crime. It looks like we will have to take it back from our insurer even after giving them the keys and logbook. My wife is traumatised by all this and we don't want the car back. We feel we will have to sell it and lose a lot of money as we will rightly have to say it was stolen. We have no idea what happened to it over the last 22 days, but it cant be good. It's only a car, but the damage the thieves have done to us personally and financially has hit us hard. [Read more →]( [Is my car likely to fail the new MoT?]( Posted by on 14 May, 2018 I have two old cars registered with your website (2008 diesel Ford Focus and 2005 petrol Nissan Almera). I would like to know if they will likely fail their next MoT. Can you let me know what the changes are to the MoT as of May 20, 2018? [Read more →]( [I got a ticket for parking in a disabled parking bay - do I have to pay this?]( Posted by on 14 May, 2018 I got a parking ticket today from a private parking company. They gave it to me for parking in a disabled spot. Do I have to pay this? [Read more →]( You are receiving this email because Honest Insights is a publication produced by HonestJohn.co.uk with your requirements and specifications in mind. It provides in depth site analysis comparative with wider industry trends. [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( HonestJohn.co.uk Ltd Unit 1 Eaglethorpe Barns Warmington Peterborough PE8 6TJ