Drivers stall with insurance lies

ONE in ten drivers lie when making car insurance applications in a bid to keep down the cost of their premiums.

Drivers claiming they keep their car in a garage when it is really left on the road is the most common falsehood, while under-estimating the value of a vehicle and its power and performance were also popular lies.

At the same time, a quarter of British car owners are taking out minimal motor insurance cover to get the cheapest premiums. The RAC, the company behind the research, said drivers are putting themselves at risk by failing to provide the correct details.

RAC Financial Services spokesman Philip Hale said: 'When you look at the bills some people face, it's easy to understand why they feel pushed to reduce their car costs.

'But it's often a false economy. Many insurance policies will be invalid if the details given don't match the vehicle and minimal cover just means you're more likely to have to pay for repairs, or damage you cause.'

He said the high cost of running a car is leading to motorists trying to cut costs where they can. Driving has become even more expensive in recent weeks due to the high price of petrol at the pump.

Around a quarter of drivers have driven without an MoT certificate and around 18% have been on the road with an expired tax disc. More worryingly, nearly 10% admitted they have driven without car insurance in the past.