Car insurance news

17/12/2008

Women, named drivers can be snubbed

A mother who bought her car insurance for women from Auto Direct insurance services and then tried to put her son on her policy as a named driver has been refused.

The son, who had previously owned and insured the £9,000 Hyundai Coupe, sold the vehicle to his mother before he went to serve with the Queen's Royal Lancers, in Helmand, in July.

But when she went to put his name on her policy in time for his return, the car owner was told that the underwriters, HSBC, would not insure the 21-year-old because of his occupation.

The young driver passed his test before he joined the army and has three points on his licence for speeding.

The angry mother said, ""So he's OK to get behind the wheel of what is effectively a tank in a war zone, but not to drive a normal car back home?

"These boys put their lives on the line for us and they are treated like this when they get home. It stinks."

An HSBC spokesperson said, "There seems to have been confusion. We'll look at this again."

A car insurance for women spokesperson from CoverGirl commented, "These customers appear to have tried to fulfill all their legal obligations regarding car insurance so that the young man may drive on his return to the country. It appears to be a harsh decision."