Top causes of invalidating your insurance

But insurers are within their rights to refuse your claim and declare your policy invalid if you don’t keep up your end of the deal. People often assume they are fully covered, only to find they are not entitled to receive anything when they need it most. The reason? They’ve breached their contract and unwittingly invalidated their cover. Here are some of the most common causes of invalidating your insurance:

Batteries in smoke alarms
We’ve all done it. The smoke alarm starts beeping because the batteries are getting low, so we take them out to avoid irritation. If you don’t replace them, you may find your insurer doesn’t pay out if you need to claim for fire damage, especially if you’ve said you have smoke alarms in your initial application. Advice – check your batteries and alarms and make sure they are working.

Getting drunk or high on holiday
Your holiday insurance could be invalidated if you get dangerously drunk or high on drugs, increasing your chances of needing the insurance!

DIY disasters
You may not be covered if your DIY endeavours cause damage, such as drilling through a water pipe. It’s worth checking to see if your policy covers home improvement disasters.

Spare keys
It’s all very well leaving a spare key under the mat so a cleaner or tradesperson can get in, but it means you’re leaving the premises unsecured. If a burglar uses the key to gain entry, your insurance may not pay out.

Keep up car maintenance
When it comes to car insurance, you’re expected to keep your car well-maintained. This includes getting your MOT done on time, keeping water in the radiator, tyres topped up with air, and oil changed regularly.

Keep your insurer informed of changes
Always inform your insurer about any changes to a property or any minor damage. If you don’t but then need to make a claim, you may find your cover is invalidated.

Use your alarm
If you’ve told the insurer you have an alarm fitted, use it. Failure to activate your alarm if it is a condition of your insurance could result in your claim not being paid. The same applies to locks. (You may well have received a discount for having an alarm and certain types of lock fitted.) It’s worth checking your policy to see what your insurer expects of you.

Changing job or location
Car insurance is calculated using many different factors. Postcodes and crime stats reveal how likely you could be a victim of theft or vandalism, while your job title reveals how you use your car. If you change your address, job, car, where you park or who drives your car, notify your insurer, as you could be paying the wrong premium, nullifying the insurance.

Having a lodger
Always tell your insurer if you decide to take in a lodger for some extra cash. Failure to do so could mean you’re not covered, and any claim wouldn’t be paid out.

We hope the above advice is helpful. It’s always worth checking your insurance policy's details so you know what the insurer expects of you. As you can see, it’s all too easy for cover to be invalidated.

Our business is your protection.

If in doubt, check with the insurer, or to discuss any aspect of your insurance, please get in touch with TMD. Call us on 01992 703 000 or email: insurance@mcdonaghs.co.uk

Source: Independent [10 ways you’re invalidating your insurance]