Points on Driving License

[Melcatfish]

My DH got 3 points for going through an amber light

(the police guy who was on the other side said it was red but then he was waiting for someone to stop as he was training another PC - I know everyone assumes that people stick up for their OH's but I would point out my DH's mistakes if I they were true but thats a story for another day!!!!)

This was three years ago so the points have expired but DH has not got the new license with them removed. e was fined but not banned or convicted of anything - will he be able to drive the hire car or will they refuse to insure him.

Mel
x

 

[patdavies]

Firstly, although points only 'last' 3 years, they remain on the licence for 4 years - so your DH can't get them removed yet.

Once the 4 years (from conviction) is completed, he can swap his licence (at a price) for a clean one. BTW, drink driving offences stay on the licence for 10 years.

He will have no problem hiring in US. They don't fully understand the points system and have no idea what the various codes mean. I have hired cars in USA with 10 points. The fact that you have a valid licence is all that matters.

Car hire companies only have minimum insurances, and don't pass CDW/LDW etc on an individual basis. It is economically better for them to keep this money and write off the value of the occasional car.

As an example. Look at the cost of insuring a 'free' car for 2 weeks. With all the insurances added in, it is about £350. This is about $600 dollars. A 747 carries about 340+ passengers; divide this by 4 to allow for the average family group this is 85 families. Assume that half of these are hiring cars and paying the insurance as above (we know that DISboard members will prepurchase platinum upgrades etc.!) and this is an income of $25,000+. This will more than pay for a replacement car if one of the 85 is written off during the 2 weeks. ( know the maths is 'loose', but the point is valid!!)

The personal liabilty insurance is passed to a block policy because claims here can run into millions of $$. However, the policy is held by the company and not the individual hirers/drivers

 

[patdavies]

BTW, I meant to add that if he has points on his licence he was convicted. He may not have gone to court - but it is a conviction. And he should have informed his insurance company of the conviction.

 

[Melcatfish]

Well thanks for the reply to let me know that he could hire a car - as for my misuse of terminology - sorry that I was in fact incorrect however I did not say at any point that he had not informed his insurance company - that is irreleannt to this post.

Mel

 

[Mpet]

Hi Mel


Just to confirm what Pat has already said. DH had a speeding endorsement - 3 points. Each time the Hire Care companies looked at his licence, they never even mentioned it.

Maxine

 

[Melcatfish]

It is a good job he will be able to drive. There are 4 drivers and we want to share the driving - it would have been the perfect excuse for DH to not drive and have lots to drink!

Mel
x

 

[patdavies]

Mel


Sorry if I offended you about the insurance company advice - it was well-intentioned and I'll tell you why.

A close friend of mine had a brand new Mondeo 2.0 Ghia within days of them being announced. As he was used to his old clunky Sierra 1.6, he didn't notice that he was cruising on the M5 at 80+ mph until plod piulled him over and gave him a fixed penalty ticket. He didn't tell his insurance company and about 4 months later had a very bad accident on black ice. He was fortunately unhurt, but the car was a total write-off. His insurance company refused to pay out citing his failure to tell them of a relevant conviction. He got nothing for the car and had to continue paying the loan off for another couple of years or so. He had to get a further, smaller loan to buy an old car to get around (strangely enough another Sierra!).

I didn't mean to preach, but I would hate to see anybody else in a similar situation.

BTW, before anybody asks, if another party had been involved in the accident, then the ins. co. would have paid out their damages and sued my friend for the costs involved - so in some ways he was lucky