Bermudashorts

Indeed they will ask after the event. My story in that regard is that within my first year in Australia the cat was bitten by a paralysis tick, he spent a week in an oxygen tent and had some very expensive veterinary care.

The insurer demanded I locate his entire medical history since birth including from his vets back in the UK. No sensible reason for this, he was bitten by an Austrlaian paralysis tick and nothing in his UK history could possibly have any bearing on the matter, but no they were adamant I had to produce the proof before they paid the claim. Nothing was asked for at time of taking out the policy.

plasticcanuck

You need to understand when an insurer is presented with a serious, possible "big money" claim it does all possible to find reasons not to pay the claim.

yellowroom

I agree that you must be upfront and honest with all insurance companies, with all information even if you think it's not relevant. It may not even be as bad as you think.

When I returned to the UK and was searching for insurance I declared the minor fender bender I had in a rental car in the US (two of us reversed out of parking spaces at the same time), my insurance company wasn't interested at all.

Gozit

The question is, will the insurance company ever formally look into his California driving history? Do they have the authority or power to do so? Because if the answer is no and there is no risk of him getting "caught" that way, how can they ever prove he is lying? Without arguing whether it is morally right or not.

Either way, if you declare it, UK insurance premiums are still cheaper than US ones so you'll probably still come out ahead

Jerseygirl

It's not a question of being morally right or not...he would be breaking the law by committing fraud. I know you are not suggesting he does that as its against the Site Rules.

yellowroom

they don't have to, they can decide something is fishy enough that they will cancel his insurance and return his premiums.

Which doesn't sound too bad until you find every single insurance company asks 'have you ever had insurance cancelled by a company' and you find they all decline to insure you if you answer yes. You end up paying through the nose through specialist brokers.

I know someone who was separating from his wife, but during the separation period she was still named as a driver on his insurance for his car (not a high priority to remove with everything going on). She got a ticket for speeding, but didn't tell him.

He was involved in an accident, and during the claim process the insurance company found out about his wife's ticket, decided that as he had not declared it to them then they cancelled his policy. His wife wasn't even in the car at the time of the accident. It was a mess, and one that will follow him around forever.

In short, never ever lie to insurance companies. Always declare everything because the buggers will find out if they want to.

petitefrancaise

this was in the UK?

yellowroom

Yes - my point being, don't assume a UK insurance company will be uninterested in your driving history outside the UK, because they will find any way possible to get out of paying a claim. If they know you've been out of the UK, I wouldn't put it past them to investigate, and I bet DUI cases are google-able

And I know my story is true because it's my husband and it's a right royal pain in the backside getting him added as a named driver to my car insurance.

petitefrancaise

so, this was a UK insurance company and the speeding ticket was in the USA? It's interesting to hear that they will indeed check US history from the UK.

Bahtatboy

You have the wrong end of the baton. If he has a major claim in the UK, the insurance company will demand that he adduces the evidence of his driving history in the US. Insurance companies weren't born yesterday, they'll be well aware of the process for drivers to get their history.

yellowroom

No, everything in my husband's case was in the UK. My point was addressed to the OP who asked whether a DUI in the US will follow him to the UK.

The OP would easily get an insurance policy in the UK without declaring a US DUI. However, in the event OP had to make a claim, the insurance company would be doing everything it could to find a reason they shouldn't pay out. They would know the OP had been outside the UK, and I wouldn't bet against them finding the DUI. In such a case, they would be in the same situation as my husband, ie "you did not disclose all facts to us, so we declare your policy null and void". No payout for the claim and a hard time getting insurance ever again.

It's not worth the risk.

petitefrancaise

I was trying to figure out what took place where. It wasn't clear from the post.

yellowroom

I don't think it matters really - Loss Adjusters are very thorough and know how to use the internet.

Giantaxe

As I've pointed out earlier in this thread, convictions in the US are typically public record. It is completely trivial to search (or use a search service) for things like a DUI or a "wet reckless". And in the OP's state - California - any moving violation is public record and easily searchable too. I think it took me a couple of minutes to find my daughter's running a red light ticket...

petitefrancaise

slightly related.... we have a "forgiveness" coverage (extra payment for it) in our car insurance, for things like speeding ticket and running a red light, "minor" stuff. My OH got done for going through a red light ( actually turning right on red, he says he slowed right down and it was 1.30 in the morning near the airport with no other traffic visible). The policeman sitting round the corner says he should have come to a complete stop. Guess who won? Anyway, this means our "forgiveness" is used up. Does this incident have to be declared in the future?