Is that recently Pete? I think all the insurance companies are tightening up a lot now, having access to a lot more information and statistics and due to the vastly increasing claims they appear to be refining their policies.

Renewing a private car insurance last week the insurance companies now want copies of all paper driving licences of everybody named as a driver. I was told from January they will be requesting the driving licence number as they will have a direct link to DVLA to check every named drivers convictions, penalty points and what classes they are entitled to drive.

A friends son has just had to pay £600 for a two day trailer course to obtain the correct category for his licence, admittedly he should have had this before but like a lot of people he didn't. Now he won't get insured without specific exclusions on the policy as they are checking for specific uses.

At work, I have been insured with AXA for years and years and had fairly straight forward renewals, but this week I have had a four page form to fill in, part of which was to declare exactly what percentage of all the following categories I work on,
First was the usual Ford, Citroen, Peugeot, Vauxhall type of vehicle.
Then Jaguar, Daimler, Lexus, Infinity etc
Next was Landrover ,Rangerover, Porche and similar,
TVR, Caterham, AC, high value and performance cars.
There was a section for plant and machinery
and another section for any vehicle with performance modifications.
Motorcycles - they had informed me they will not cover at all which they have done previously.

Again details of all named drivers and clear notes that nobody under 21 to drive more than I think it was 1400cc and nobody under 25 driving over something like 1800cc.

The percentages declared on the above categories and ALL vehicles declared on my MID list will be used to access the "Risk" involved and my renewal will be priced accordingly, I shall await a shock this year I think.

I already have been told I can't work on LPG systems and wouldn't be surprised if performance vehicles or even any vehicle with performance modification may be next unless I pay extra specifically for this type of cover.

What with the comments about the MOT industry previously, the threat of super complaints against the motor trade, the clamp down on DPF's as discussed, euro 6, the continuous insurance laws released recently, number plate recognition cameras, government ministers saying they want to reduce the cost to motorists and today on the news an article about the poor shoddy repairs on accident damaged vehicles and the increased cost of car insurance I think we will have some tough times ahead.

Graham