Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7...d-up/?ttag=fbw

If the system was foolproof I'd be all for it because uninsured drivers cost ME money.

Re: Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

It only knows if the car has an insurance policy taken out against it. The driver could still be uninured.

Re: Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

I'm very sceptical about this idea. If it was policed by government departments or insurance companies then that's one thing but this is all down to the mercy of the person in the petrol station who I imagine will have a "computer says no" type of attitude in the event of an error. If you're very low on petrol yet insured correctly it won't matter if their systems come up with the wrong information - you're going nowhere.

I think the government should be more concerned with bringing down the extortionate amounts companies charge for insurance. That way people will be far less likely to want to avoid paying.

Re: Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

Thats the point, remove uninsured vehicles from the road reduces the money paid out for uninsured claims therefore insurance prices "should" drop

Re: Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

I'm with Russ on this one. I bought a car a month ago, on a Saturday, part exchanging my old car.

Whilst the paperwork was being put through, I phoned my broker and got the policy amended with the new details. So as far as I was concerned the vehicle and myself were insured. Needless to say, I also had to put some fuel in the car to get us home.

It was not until Wednesday the following week that the vehicle showed up as being insured on Askmid.

In principal, it's a good idea, in practice however not so good for my example. Unless the insurance industry can pull some fingers out to speed up the updating of the database that is.

Re: Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

Totally agree ,and whats to stop people filling up via a gerry can .If i was knowingly driving around in a uninsured car and this system was in place i would just park in the super market carpark and fill up a gerry can .

Re: Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

As has previously been said...it only prevents some of the non-insured drivers. There are some people that borrow friends cars and drive uninsured but the car itself is insured.

Also, I agree with Tuftus, there needs to be some automatic way of updating the MID because at the moment it's all updated by manual data inputting. That's way it takes a few days (and sometimes up to 7 days) for details to be updated so until this is sorted I don't believe the MID is of any substantial use in the "No Insurance - No Fuel" service.

Re: Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

Anyhoo, aren't police supposed to be doing this ,there's enough traffic cops on the roads armed with all manner of gizmos to catch motorists doing anything from eating an apple to driving uninsured ,or is this a cynicle attempt to pass the responsibility on

Re: Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

I don't see many petrol station staff appreciating having to deal with irate customers who can't fill up and insist they have insurance. How long before someone who's been wrongly refused for some reason suffers some form of calamity as a direct result? I really don't like this idea and can't see it happening.

Re: Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

point proven

http://www.insuranceage.co.uk/insura...fuel-proposals

Re: Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

Not a major issue really, get the place you are buying the car from to fill it up for you first.

Re: Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

:confused: what's buying cars got to do with it ,anyone renewing insurance could fall foul of this because the system isn't quick enough

Re: Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

Or alternatively and perhaps as well, ensuring that those who are found to be uninsured, not only have their vehicle seized and a fine, but are also charged an equivalent amount that they "saved" by not buying the insurance in the first place. That charge could be paid into an uninsured losses fund put towards those who find themselves victim of an uninsured driver. Unfortunately it can bel cheaper to risk flouting the law and getting caught as the penalty, even if you do loose you motor is cheaper than being insured.

Re: Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

I see someone has already suggested a paper check which makes sense. But, that in no way takes away the risk of violence to the petrol station employee. Because of that I can't see how it would work. One way would be spot checks like the Department of Transport do now. They have Police and Inspectors present. Of course anyone without insurance would try to avoid but that will be the case anyway.

Re: Want fuel? Need Insurance!
 

Many police forces have relatively few dedicated traffic cops these days. Most are tasked with multiple roles. One only has to watch programmes such as Channel 5's Interceptors to realise that the "specialist" traffic units are dealing with many other things, including tactical support to other other officers.

ANPR systems are a tool in the poilicing detection system, and as the TV fly on the wall series show do detect insurance issues, but they also have validity for other policing intelligence such as vehicles sucpected to be used in crime such as drugs, bruglary, etc.

But one does have to have concern that garage owners are to be expected to do a job that should be the police. OK, so manuy uninsured drivers may also be involved in other types of crime including the make off without payment of fuel, that costs garages. Perhaps thought this is another thin end of the wedge idea towards privatisation of policing functions. Oh and if a garage were to detect the uninsured driver, do they then have a power to detain that driver, or do they just hope the police will be available before the car drives off?