Millions of drivers lie on their car insurance
Wed, 08 Oct 2025
Nearly seven million drivers have admitted to lying on their car insurance applications, putting them at risk of having their car insurance policy voided in the event of an accident.
With owner's looking for cheaper car insurance, the most common fib is the car’s overnight parking location. More than one in five drivers claimed to have off-road parking or a private garage, when they didn’t.
The analysis by Tempcover reveals that 16% of all UK drivers are telling "little white lies" on their car insurance. Or, as the law puts it, ‘providing false information’.
Surprisingly, 13% of drivers admitted to providing a false home address. Tempcover calls these postcode porkies, with some drivers using a previous home address, a work address, their parents’ address – or even, in 7% of cases, using an entirely random address.
Other lies include underestimating yearly mileages and failing to report either points on a licence or past convictions.
Ironically, says Tempcover, giving an annual mileage low enough to indicate someone barely drives could actually make premiums more expensive, as insurers could view the lack of driving experience as a heightened risk.
Not disclosing modifications is commonplace too, as drivers may not realise they need to tell their insurer about tinted wheels or upgraded alloy wheels.
There’s also the issue of ‘fronting’, where an older driver is listed as the main policyholder on a car they don’t primarily drive. Often done to secure lower premiums for younger and less experienced drivers, it is illegal and will invalidate a policy.
Those caught lying on a car insurance application face the risk of legal action. Driving without valid insurance risks fines of up to £300, six penalty points or even potential disqualification.
Meanwhile, car insurers themselves can also refuse to cover someone caught lying, or hike premiums to reflect the greater risk. And if, following an accident, a claim is rejected, drivers will be personally liable for both their own and any third party damages.
"Insurers use your details – from your address to your driving history – to create a risk profile, and even a little white lie can break that trust and lead to a voided policy," says Tempcover expert Claire Wills-McKissick.
"This then leaves you without the safety net you thought you had, and without cover when you may need it most. There are plenty of legitimate ways to cut the cost of your insurance without bending the truth."
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