Car Insurance

[derek-33]

i cant find an answer to this in a search engine,
do you need to carry your car insurance details in your car or on your mobile, i do, but if another car hits you and they dont have them to give to you is that a police matter , i thought you had by law to give details to each other but what if they have insurance but cant remember any details as they dont have them in the car or on their mobile as a pdf or photo,what should you do then

[derek-33]

dannyk13 i can read mate i know about road legal things as said ive been driving 47 years some as a professional but still if you have an injured party it say " you must produce your certificate of insurance if anyone at the scene has reasonable grounds to request it" so more or less on the spot !

[derek-33]

an i add for the other party involved not the police

[derek-33]

so why does it ay on all web sites ive looked at you dont have to legally carry and docs at all ?

[spathiphyllum]

It doesn't say you have to provide it straight away, so I assume, as long as you stop, and report the accident, you have time to provide your insurance certificate.

[spathiphyllum]

"so why does it ay on all web sites ive looked at you dont have to legally carry and docs at all ?"


Because you don't.

[dannyk13]

Derek , if you take the trouble to read the relevant section of the act it goes on to say that if you cannot produce it at the scene then you must report the accident and produce the insurance to a police constable or at a police station within twenty four hours.I hope this is clear and answers your query.

[derek-33]

no it say if anyone is INJURED you MUST produce a certificate if they request it there and then
well im getting no real answer to this, ill pass
btw im just asking out of curiosity

[Mamyalynne]

Danny is correct .

Danny, you've been polite and clear and patient - done all you can.

[derek-33]

Mamyalynne
then i suggest you digest the text on this answer and get back to me

[dannyk13]

Derek, it is in the act:-
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/170
Paragraph 5

[Mamyalynne]

Fully digested and understood thank you Derek, I have no need to come back to you.

[spathiphyllum]

"If another person has been injured, you must produce your certificate of insurance if anyone at the scene has reasonable grounds to request it."


It doesn't say when, or how long until the request must be fulfilled. I know that if a police officer requests a drivers license, you have 24 hours to produce this.

I can only assume the same is for a certificate of insurance.

The police and DVLA will be able to confirm in seconds if you are insured or not.

[derek-33]

thanks to all, it got you chatting if nowt else :))

[spathiphyllum]

Derik, you can take it to a police station. You do not need it in the car.


"To comply with a duty under this section to report an accident or to produce such a certificate of insurance or security, or other evidence, as is mentioned in section 165(2)(a) of this Act, the driver—
(a)must do so at a police station or to a constable, and
(b)must do so as soon as is reasonably practicable and, in any case, within twenty-four hours of the occurrence of the accident."

[spathiphyllum]

^ so solid answer, you can legally drive with zero paperwork in your car.

If you're in an accident, you have an obligation to provide any and all information to a police station ASAP (if necessary. police don't always need to be involved)if you can not at the scene of the accident.

[spathiphyllum]

I have, i then quoted 6.

[New Judge]

//….but still if you have an injured party it say " you must produce your certificate of insurance if anyone at the scene has reasonable grounds to request it" so more or less on the spot !//

Not so.

//It doesn't say when, or how long until the request must be fulfilled.//

Yes it does.

Instead of guessing, why don’t we have a proper look at the law which danny has very helpfully cited (Section 170, Road Traffic Act, 1988) and digest properly what it says:

===============
2)The driver of the vehicle must stop and, if required to do so by any person having reasonable grounds for so requiring, give his name and address and also the name and address of the owner and the identification marks of the vehicle.

(3)If for any reason the driver does not give his name and address under subsection (2) above, he must report the accident.

(4)A person who fails to comply with subsection (2) or (3) above is guilty of an offence.

(5)If, in a case where …[an accident where damage or personal injury is caused]…the driver does not at the time of the accident produce such a certificate of insurance or security…

(a)to a constable, or

(b)to some person who, having reasonable grounds for so doing, has required him to produce it,

the driver must report the accident and produce such a certificate or other evidence.

(6)To comply with a duty under this section to report an accident or to produce such a certificate of insurance….the driver—

(a)must do so at a police station or to a constable, and

(b)must do so as soon as is reasonably practicable and, in any case, within twenty-four hours of the occurrence of the accident.

(7)A person who fails to comply with a duty under subsection (5) above is guilty of an offence, but he shall not be convicted by reason only of a failure to produce a certificate or other evidence if, within seven days after the occurrence of the accident, the certificate or other evidence is produced at a police station that was specified by him at the time when the accident was reported.
================
You can see that if the driver cannot or does not fulfil his obligation under sub-section (to produce his insurance certificate) he must, as an alternative, report the incident and produce his insurance certificate to the police. You will note that he has seven days to produce the insurance certificate (Sub-section 7) but must report the incident as soon as possible and in any case within 24 hours (Sub-section 6b). He does not have to produce it to a Third Party.
There is therefore no requirement to carry any documentation with you when driving. In summary:

If you are involved in an accident where personal injury or damage to Third Party property is caused you must stop. You must give your name and address and the vehicle identification mark to any person with grounds for wanting it and also give them the name and address of the person who owns the vehicle (if it is not you). If for any reason you do not provide these details you must report the incident within 24 hours and you must produce your insurance certificate within seven days.

Simples !!!! :-)

[teacake44]

May be a good idea to keep a copy of the above in your car. :)