Ask Honest John

Honest John Ask Honest John » My insurance company won't cover my car after I changed the number plate - where do I stand?

My insurance company won't cover my car after I changed the number plate - where do I stand?

I bought my vehicle in January 2025. For my birthday in April my partner bought me a private plate for the car. I changed the plate through DVLA and notified my insurance through the app, put in my card details and confirmed the changes, costed £5.50. Fast forward a month, my vehicle was involved in an accident, a third party driver struck my vehicle while in stationary traffic.

I’m now claiming against the third party, however, they are saying that I’m not insured as my number was changed. I called my insurance, they said, it looks like you tried in April but didn’t confirm. I strongly deny that I didn’t confirm as there is no reason I would risk it and suggest that their app is the issue.

My vehicle is deemed a write off and worth around £19,500. Where do I stand?

Asked on 19 May 2025 by Thomas Lovelock

Answered by David Ross
If you changed the numberplate attached to the vehicle with your insurance company this should have been reflected in a change to your insurance documents. Even if you manage your insurance through an app, you should be able to view your documentation. If your private plate is showing as uninsured then this may indicate that the change was not accepted, and if so this is the issue that you may need to take up with your insurer. If the cost of the change was £5.50 and this money was taken from you then this is evidence you can present to them that the change was requested, but as they have already claimed that you did not confirm the change they may refuse to accept responsibility. It may mean you need to raise a complaint with your insurer - include any evidence you have to show that the change was paid for and confirmed. If the complaint is unsuccessful you may wish to take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

We give you the low down on how to save on insurance, little-known tricks and tips, what insurance groups mean and how to use insurance aggregators to beat insurers.

Insurance group finder and how to save on insurance
Similar questions
I have a private number plate which I transfer to each car I buy. I recently sold my four year old car to a dealer for cash and put the private plate on retention. I have since ordered a new car which...
I bought and insured a Range Rover on 16 April 2018. I advised my insurance company that once I received the new logbook for the car, I would transfer a personalised registration number onto the car. They...
My wife was recently hit from behind and her 1999 Micra 1.3 Inspiration has damage to the rear bumper and tailgate. Bearing in mind the age of the car, what would be the current market value? It has done...