Your car insurance premium is about more than just your age, driving experience and claim history. One thing you may not have considered that could have an effect on your insurance is your tyre tread. Sure enough, if the tread is below a certain level and you’re in an accident, your insurance company might not pay out your claim.
But there’s more to your tyre tread than just the refusal of a claim. If you drive with a set of four faulty tyres, you could face a fine of up to £10,000. According to Quotezone.co.uk, however, this is not the worst of it. Apparently, it can also mean up to 12 points on your licence, which would mean losing it altogether.
How you’re fined and docked
Each faulty tyre can result in a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points on your driving licence. If a second tyre falls below the limits allowed by law, the fine and the penalty points double.
How long it affects your car insurance premium
While the penalty points expire after four years, you have to disclose them to insurance companies for a minimum of five years. Non-disclosure could result in your insurance company cancelling your policy or refusing to honour claims.
According to Greg Wilson, founder of Quotezone.co.uk, “While the complexity of insurance premium calculations makes it impossible to put a pounds-and-pence figure on it, on average, three penalty points could result in a 5% jump in a driver’s car insurance premium, while six penalty points could see the cost of their insurance rise by an eye-watering 25%.”
Long-term risks
First and foremost, 12 points on your licence will result in a six-month driving ban, which could significantly impact many aspects of your daily life.
Even after you’ve completed your ban, you may find that your driving history has a serious impact on the cost of your car insurance.
The pool of insurers willing to insure a driver with 12 penalty points on their record is likely to shrink siginficantly. The larger, well-known insurers will be less inclined to insure you, leaving expensive specialist insurers as your only option to get back on the road.
Prevention is better than regret for a well-priced car insurance premium
Motoring charity TyreSafe promotes tyre safety, and in 2016 surveyed 340,000 replaced tyres. A whopping 27% of them were illegal due to inadequate tread. Not only is it important to keep an eye on your tyres, but it’s also important to source them from a reputable agent.
A set of four new Michelin CrossClimate+ tyres can start from as little as £440 per set, which is a far cry less than a potential fine of £10,000 and all the legal drama that comes with it. It’s also important to keep an eye on your spare, as deflation, damage, and wear are common issues.
Not only will you enjoy better road safety, but you’ll also improve your chances of a decent car insurance premium.
