Insurance and Unsafe Cars
A survey into car safety showed one in ten motorists are driving on unsafe tyres. It could cost them when it comes to car insurance.
A recent survey by the company Kwik-Fit shows that as many as one in ten motorists are driving on unsafe tyres. That is, tyres below the legal minimum of 1.6mm. So what this means is that there are more than 10% of unsafe cars on the roads. And, for those with car insurance who fall into this category, what is also means is that if they crash their claim could be disputed.
This is according to the Association of British Insurers, which says part of the condition of a car insurance policy is that the driver keeps their car in a road worthy condition. An example is if you skid off the road and crash into a power pole and there is proof that the accident was caused because of a fault in your vehicle, the insurance company can say that for this particular accident that they are reducing the payout.
The association says that bald tyres is the main thing firms come across with respect to problems on their client's vehicles. It is much more common than brake failure. Without regular servicing of your vehicle, you might not even know the problem exists. That's why it is crucial people keep up the regular maintenance on their cars. Sometimes people may cut corners to reduce their spending, because we all know how costly owning a car can be. But then remember, while you might be saving money by not spending so much on your car, you are paying out more on repair bills if you are unable to receive the benefits of your insurance policy.
Yes, it is true that when you crash your car and there is another vehicle involved, an insurance company cannot turn around and say that they will not pay out for the damage of someone else's property, even if you are driving with a bald tyre or something else wrong with your vehicle. Contrary to popular belief, if you drive without an MOT, you might be breaking the law, but it does not invalidate your insurance. But there could be further consequences.