Experts warn that millions of UK motorists may unknowingly risk invalidating their car insurance due to a common but costly mistake. Drivers caught speeding for the first time are often offered the chance to attend a speed awareness course instead of facing fines or penalty points on their driving licence.
These one-day courses aim to educate drivers on the dangers of speeding, and they are popular with those hoping to avoid the long-term impact of penalty points on their record, which can lead to higher insurance premiums. However, many motorists fail to realise that not informing their car insurance provider about attending such a course could have serious consequences.
Mark Tongue, joint CEO and founder of Select Car Leasing, highlighted the importance of full disclosure. He explained that insurers may view the need to take a speed awareness course as a sign of risky driving behaviour, potentially leading to higher premiums—even if the driver has no formal penalty points.
He emphasised: “There are legal and contractual consequences of not disclosing this information. If your insurer specifically asks whether you’ve attended a speed awareness course and you fail to mention it, your insurance could be invalidated.”
Data shows that approximately 1.5 million UK drivers sign up for speed awareness courses each year. According to experts at MoneySuperMarket, while drivers do not need to inform their insurance provider proactively, they must be truthful if directly asked about attending a course.
Invalidating car insurance can be extremely serious. If a policy becomes void, the driver will not be covered in case of an accident and could be driving illegally. Additionally, having a voided policy could make it harder to find insurance in the future, as insurers may view the driver as a high-risk customer.
Tongue advised: “If you are unsure whether you need to disclose your attendance, always answer truthfully to ensure your insurance remains valid and you avoid legal trouble.”
