Car insurers refuse to cover mobile phone offenders

Some of the UK’s largest car insurers are refusing to cover motorists caught using their phones at the wheel, new research shows.

As part of a crackdown on drivers caught texting or calling without the use of hands-free kits, insurers are imposing premiums by up to 32% and in some cases outright refusing to cover – even for first time offenders.

Research from AA revealed that three of eight insurers refused to quote for a sample mobile phone offender, while other insurers bumped up fees by an average 20%. That rate is 10% above the average increase speeders face, despite the two offences attracting the same fine and three points on your licence.

“Insurers rightly treat drivers caught using a hand-held mobile phone very seriously,” said Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance. “The point is, it is a deliberate act.  Many drivers may accidentally drift over a 30mph limit without immediately realising it.  But no-one accidentally makes or answers a call or text, it is completely unacceptable”.

“If a driver is texting, they aren’t concentrating,” he added. “Trying to steer and change gears with one hand and eyes on the device, not on the road, is a disaster in the making.”

The research carried out gauged the effect a mobile phone offence [CU 80] had on a 40-year-old man had driving a Ford Mondeo.


Insurance quote breakdown [Source: AA]

SP30 (speeding), CU80 (hand held phone), CD10 (careless driving)