A parent's warning about their son's "silly mistake" has highlighted a permanent burden for drivers: insurance policy cancellations must be disclosed indefinitely. The parent wrote to Sky Money, explaining that years ago, their son fitted a black box after passing his driving test to reduce his premium. He exceeded the speed limit, the box detected it, and his insurance was immediately cancelled. Now, every time he applies for insurance, he must answer yes to the question "have you ever had insurance cancelled, declined or refused?" This narrows his options and raises premiums significantly. The parent questioned whether after a set time he could deny the cancellation.
Expert Advice on Insurance Declarations
Dean Sobers, car insurance expert at Which?, told Sky: "If you untruthfully answer a question - or agree with an inaccurate assumption - when applying for insurance, you risk invalidating the policy." He explained that if an insurer asks if you or someone living with you has 'ever' had a policy cancelled, you must disclose it even if it happened 20 years ago. The yes/no format without context is an unfair quirk of insurance. While motor offences themselves usually drop off after about five years, the consequent policy cancellation often needs to be admitted indefinitely.
Impact on Premiums and Household
Kara Gammell, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, added: "It's worth noting that some insurers only ask about your history over a set period, so in certain situations it may not always need to be disclosed - but this depends entirely on how the question is worded." She noted that a cancelled policy doesn't simply 'fall off' your record; it can remain permanently, making cover harder and more expensive. Sobers confirmed there are no general rules dictating a time period after which a past issue becomes irrelevant; insurers take different stances. Gammell advised that after several claim-free and incident-free years, some insurers may become more flexible and premiums may improve. For home insurance, the wider household is considered, while car insurance is usually individual-based, though cancellations can affect joint or named-driver policies. The best approach is to remain transparent, shop around including specialist providers, and build a strong clean history over time.
