We seem to be a nation of fibbers, but lying on your car insurance is never a good idea.
New Finder research has revealed that almost a quarter (23%) of drivers have lied on their car insurance application.
The biggest fib Aussies have told insurers is where they’ve parked their car (9%), falsely claiming they park the car in a garage, rather than the street.
An additional 8% down played the amount they drive, while 7% admitted they haven’t listed all drivers on their policy.
Finder’s personal finance and insurance specialist, Taylor Blackburn, has issued a warning to Aussie drivers reminding them that a little lie can spiral into a major problem.
“Leaving out key details is non-disclosure, and it can sink a claim. It might feel harmless to say your car’s tucked in a garage when it’s on the street, but when something goes wrong, the facts matter more than the premium you saved,” he said.
“At best, your claim is denied. At worst, you’re facing an insurance fraud case.”
Other notable ways Aussies lied on their application included listing a different occupation (6%), putting the policy in someone else’s name and not disclosing a previous accident (5%).
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The most honest and dishonest generation on the roads
When it came down to the generation that was more likely to lie on their policy, a shocking 42% of gen Z drivers confessed to being deceitful, compared to 30% of gen Y, 17% of gen X and 3% of baby boomers.
As they say honesty is the best policy, and Blackburn has shared some words of wisdom to help Aussies get back into their insurer’s good books.
“The best thing you can do is call your insurer. Mid-term corrections happen all the time. The outcome could be no change, a price tweak, or in rare cases a cancellation.”
“That’s still better than discovering your policy won’t pay after a prang.”
Stay in the clear and covered with a better value car insurance policy
One of the best ways to cut the cost of your car insurance is to shop around and switch to a better deal.
We can help you compare a wide range of comprehensive policies to ensure you find the right fit for you, fib free.
Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.