If you change your name, address or occupation you need to tell your insurer and the DVLA. If you don't, your insurance policy could be invalidated and you may even face a fine. Here's what you need to know.
What changes do I need to tell my car insurance company about?
Some common changes that your insurance company needs to know about include:
- Changing your name when you get married
- Change of address
- Change of main driver or adding an additional driver
- Change in occupation
- Any accidents or driving convictions
- Change of car itself or modifications
You should report to your insurer anything that might affect your car insurance policy. The DVLA should be informed of any changes made to your personal details too.
If you’re not sure, it’s best to let them know. If it’s relevant and you don’t inform them, you could risk driving without proper cover.
Do I need to change my car insurance if I get a new car?
Yes. It’s vital you tell your insurance company if you change cars. This is because the price you pay for your insurance is largely down to the car you’re driving. The more powerful and expensive the car - and the more attractive it is to thieves - the more you can expect to pay.
Your insurance company should be able to amend your policy to cover the change of car, but the price is likely to change.
Will I be charged a fee for changing my insurance details?
There's usually an administration fee to pay, depending on the kind of change you want to make. If you need to make a change to your policy, you can do this online or call your insurer.
They can tell you whether your policy needs to be amended and how much it costs.
The standard amendment fee is usually set out in your policy’s T&Cs. The fee varies by insurer, but it’s usually between £15 and £50.
What our motor insurance expert says
"Many insurance companies let you change your details online, and you might be able to get a reduced admin fee for doing so. This saves you both time and money compared to calling your insurance company, so it's worth looking into first".
Will changing my details affect my insurance price?
This ultimately depends on what you're changing. Minor changes, such as your name, shouldn't impact on your insurance costs.
But if the change increases the risk of you claiming, your insurance price might rise. This is based on how car insurance is calculated.
Let's say you’ve moved to a house that doesn’t have secure parking or to a location with a higher level of car crime. This increases your risk of making a theft claim, so your insurance costs are likely to go up.
Is cancelling my car insurance a better option?
In some cases, it could be more cost effective to pay a cancellation fee and switch insurance providers where the policy price is lower.
The cost of cover could increase dramatically if you’re amending your policy - for example, if you add a young, inexperienced driver to your policy. If this is the case, it's worth comparing car insurance quotes to see which option suits your budget.
For more information, read our guide to cancelling your car insurance.
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