[Janusian]

Insurance is about the only product sold, where the supplier, doesn't know how much the product they supply is going to cost them when they supply it. Underwriters make judgements on their own statistical analysis, along with a judgement as to what type of risks they want to take on.

Motor underwriters work on the basis that a 17 year old male, will have an accident in the first year. Not all will of course, and those that do will have varying degrees of severity, but it gives you an idea of statistically bad young drivers are (I am a case in point having had an accident within a few weeks of passing my test)

IN respect of the Driving Other Cars (DOC) extension I have to say I am surprised it has lasted as long as it has. It was introduced to cover policy holders having to use another car in an emergency for the legal minimum. Is is supposed to be third party cover only (so if you were the last driver and the car was stolen then no cover), cover for pure SDP only (i.e. doesn't even cover you travelling to and from work) and the vehicle must have another policy on it, as the moment you get out of the car, you are leaving a vehicle uninsured on the public highway, which is an offence. It is also designed to be a contigency measure and not something to be used routinely.

Needless to say this has been abused by all and sundry as outlined above, and hence it is being withdrawn from a lot of policies.

The point about uninsured drivers is a valid one, but by insisting on insurance certificates now having the reg no on and the only insured drivers, it is supposed to make policing easier.

AN idea that has been mooted by the industry for many a long year is a Windscreen Insurance Disk, rather like a tax disk. They have them in Jersey. Good idea if you ask me