Drivers told 'it can happen by accident' as some risk invalidating car insurance

Drivers have been warned to make sure that they have the correct car insurance and to update their policy if any changes occur – no matter how minor – cautioning that many drivers may not realise they have the wrong cover until it's too late. Speaking on BBC Morning Live , consumer journalist Holly Hamilton said it was vital to have the right type. Meanwhile, host Greg Rutherford revealed that "data from the Financial Conduct Authority ( FCA ) suggests 3 in 10 policies are invalidated every year, and it can be easier than you think." Holly shared: "The key part is that most of the time, people are not doing it on purpose, and it can happen by accident . It can be something really small, like your address being slightly off, your job title not being exactly what you do, and even ticking the wrong box - it can be as simple as that. "The reason it matters is that these insurance companies are completely relying on the information that you provide to assess just how risky your car is to make your policy." This means that if any information is incorrect or it changes and you don’t update it, your insurance company "can say that policy was misrepresented, and that can affect your claim." Referring to a recent BBC report, Holly highlighted the case of an 86-year-old woman from York who was convicted in a fast-track court after making a small error on her car insurance form. She entered a single incorrect letter in her number plate, which rendered her insurance technically invalid. She believed she was insured, but the DVLA later told her she was being prosecuted for having no insurance. Even after she and her niece explained it was an honest mistake, she was still convicted. She was given a three-month conditional discharge instead of a fine and had to pay a £26 victim surcharge. Talking about the woman's situation, she said: "Cases like this are very rare. We don’t see them that much, but it does highlight how careful we have to be and how accurate you need to be with these things." Holly listed common reasons people may not be able to make a valid claim. This includes: Providing inaccurate information Change in circumstances Fronting - when a driver declares that they are the main driver of a vehicle when the main user is actually someone else Unsecured pets Poor maintenance Undeclared purpose Another reason, she said, was a car's odometer reading, explaining: "Mileage is another very easy one and quite a lot of people tend to underestimate, either accidentally or on purpose, how many miles they do a year." As the figure can reduce your premium, she cautions "you have to be so accurate with that, do not exaggerate" simply to lower your monthly or annual costs. Holly also highlighted that if you're using your vehicle for business purposes, rather than solely for social or personal use, you must ensure your insurance policy covers this. If you're uncertain about what your policy includes, she advises contacting your insurer directly. Getting your cover right from the outset is crucial as errors or omissions, even unintentional ones, could land you in serious difficulty further down the line. This principle extends to other areas as well. Pets travelling in vehicles, for instance, must be properly secured using an appropriate harness or carrier, as failure to do so could invalidate your insurance in the event of an accident. Ultimately, adhering to the terms of your policy and seeking clarification on anything unclear is essential. A minor oversight could have significant consequences. If your car insurance claim is rejected or you’re unhappy with the payout, you can challenge it. If the insurer still won’t change its decision, you can take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) or consider legal action. In a helpful guide by Confused.com , it discusses how to dispute a rejected claim and how to help avoid it happening again in the future.