New research reveals that young drivers don’t mind telling a few fibs to get cheaper car insurance.
The young generation of drivers in the UK think it is completely acceptable to embellish a few facts to try and reduce their car insurance premiums, according a new study.
Research from Gocompare.com reveals that a third (33 per cent) of British drivers aged between 18 and 24 are comfortable telling a few lies to save a few quid – compared to 18 per cent of all drivers surveyed.
Furthermore, 50 per cent of the young drivers questioned believed this was something everyone did when getting quotes for car insurance so they can afford it. Just under three-quarters (70 per cent) of this group felt that insurance companies are charging too much for cover.
Conversely, older drivers were less keen on the idea, with just six per cent of respondents aged 65 or over believing it to be acceptable. Less than two-fifths (37 per cent) believed that everyone told a few fibs to get a price reduction.
The most common lies included not revealing the real annual mileage of the car, where it is parked, what job the person did, not disclosing previous claims or points on the licence. Worryingly, five per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds admitted to hitting someone's car and driving off.
Matt Oliver, Gocompare.com’s car insurance spokesman, was pleased to see that the majority of drivers were honest when getting a car insurance quote, as the onus is always on the consumer to be as truthful as possible before taking out a policy, as any errors could be perceived as misrepresentation.
He added: "Car insurers take all of the information given to them to calculate the cost of your car insurance – everything influences the final price.
"Over-inflating or excluding crucial details could have a massive effect on your quote, and could mean that the insurance you take out could be cancelled or invalidated – an insurer could even decide not to pay out should you have an accident."
Having an insurance product cancelled could result in being refused cover in the future, Mr Oliver continued. Although everyone likes to save a few quid, lying on your insurance policy is a false economy as if you have an accident or the firm discovers the truth, you could risk have your cover made void.
Posted by Perry Murray