How parents may be committing insurance fraud without realising it
Insurance News
By
Abigail Adriatico
One Sure Insurance, an insurance broker, has advised parents to be more honest when it comes to their insurance policies because they may be committing insurance fraud unknowingly.
According to the broker, parents may be unknowingly doing so while trying to reduce the premiums of their children by listing them as drivers on their own policy.
“The recent reports of parents adding their children as named drivers on their policies for cheaper premiums is concerning. Many well-intentioned parents may be unaware that what they’re doing is illegal,” said experts at One Sure Insurance.
Fronting is what happens when someone adds a younger or less experienced driver as a named driver on their car insurance policy while the car is typically used by the young driver instead of the parents. This is to allow them to have a cheaper premium on their insurance policies.
One Sure Insurance stated that the practice is a form of illegal insurance fraud.
The Insurance Fraud Bureau, a not-for-profit organisation focused on detecting and preventing organised fraud, has estimated that one in seven people between the ages of 18 and 24 and one in eight between the ages of 24 to 34 were willing to lie just to get cheaper insurance.
With the number of motorists practising fronting in order to get cheaper insurance, One Sure Insurance urged people to be more aware of the consequences should they commit insurance fraud.
“Even if a driver isn’t aware they’re fronting, in the eyes of the law, an offence has been committed. The consequences of fronting include a fine, six to eight penalty points on your licence, and even prosecution. Insurers can even cancel your policy, leading to higher premiums or policy refusal in future,” experts from One Sure Insurance said.
“When it comes to insurance, honesty is always the best policy. During the application process, always try to be as transparent as possible. Ask your insurer if you’re unsure whether your child should be classed as a named driver. Be accurate and clear about how often your child will use the vehicle,” the report continued.
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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.