How celebrations can jeopardise your car insurance cover

THE festive season is upon us, but celebrations can quickly turn into a catastrophe if you get behind the wheel under the influence, according to the Non-life Insurance Division of the National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO).

- DIEKETSENG MALEKE

In a statement, the Non-life Insurance Division of the NFO says that this holiday, the biggest hangover may not be alcohol; it could be losing your car insurance cover. The Non-life Insurance Division of the NFO says it has already recorded a surge in complaints this year, with many motorists discovering too late that accident claims were rejected because the driver was found to be under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating substance. Edite Teixeira-Mckinon, lead ombud of the division, warns that one of the biggest misconceptions among complainants is that insurers can only rely on blood or breathalyser test results to reject a claim.

“A claim against the insurer is a civil claim, and, unlike in criminal proceedings, the insurer needs only to demonstrate on a balance of probabilities that the insured drove the vehicle whilst under the influence of an intoxicating substance,” Teixeira-Mckinon says.