Vehicle insurance hurdle

[EmmJayTea]

I'm in the process of reapplying for my driving licence after surrendering it voluntarily last year. All the requisite forms are with DVLA and they are waiting to hear from my consultant. I do meet the criteria for being able to drive, so am confident that this will eventually be granted.

In the meantime, I'm aware that I'm able to drive under Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act, but we need insurance. My wife is getting hooked on the line from insurers "Additional driver [husband] must hold a current valid driving licence" and then the questions about date of issue etc. Do they not honour Section 88? Should we just use the previous licence date?

She is of the opinion that I don't currently have a current valid licence and I agree with her (I'm not after extra points for agreeing). Or does Section 88 make the surrendered one valid again? Help! 🤷‍♂️🥴

Those of you who have been through this process before... How have you navigated this particular issue with insurers?

[ChoochSiesta]

Why did you surrender it? Could you just not have driven until recovered?

[EmmJayTea in reply to ChoochSiesta]

No. I had an ICD fitted. plus subsequent ICD therapy. By law, you have to notify DVLA of certain medical conditions. Having arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is one such condition. Having an ICD fitted and ICD therapy are two others.

When I spoke to DVLA about this, they offered me the opportunity to surrender voluntarily rather than have it revoked. So I surrendered. This makes it easier to get your licence back afterwards.

You can be fined by DVLA if you do not declare a relevant health condition. £1000, I think?

[Lezzers]

My husband had this issue!! So basically he downloaded all the info about section 88 and kept copies of his licence reapplication as proof that he could drive. His car insurance expired whilst he was still unable to drive, his existing insurer wouldn't provide cover so he got laid up fire & theft cover with a different insurer. When he started to drive under section 88 he approached the insurer who covered him for the laid up, fire & theft but they were very expensive. He then tried another company who said no as he didn't have a current licence, but I don't think they really understood section 88. He then approached another insurer who asked 'in the event of having to produce his licence how would he do that' we said by producing the section 88 literature & the copies of the reapplication paperwork , they were fine with that & insured him at a reasonable cost.

I would stay away from the 'on line' insurers and ask a local broker for quotes.

[EmmJayTea in reply to Lezzers]

Thanks for this. I really appreciate you sharing your husband's experience. What a horrible pickle it can be.

We have used a broker in the past, so I might suggest this route. I agree that the online insurers don't want to deal with non-standard cases. That's how they keep their costs competitive. Notice I said competitive, rather than cheap. It's bloomin' costly at the best of times!