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A fifth of drivers admit car insurance fraudMajority are unaware of 'fronting' crime

23 February 2010

Young drivers are more likely to have accidents

A fifth of motorists admit breaking the law by pretending to be the main driver of a vehicle owned by another motorist. The real numbers breaking the law are probably much higher because 70% of drivers don't know what 'fronting' is.

Fronting, the criminal offence of pretending to be main driver of a vehicle, is big business in the UK. One-in-five motorists admit to declaring themselves the policyholder to save the real main driver a hefty car insurance premium. If discovered, the crime would invalidate an insurance policy and could lead to a criminal record for the perpetrator. It is a crime that attracts some parents who are keen to save their children money.

'Socially unacceptable'

The research, which was conducted by the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) and Aviva, the UK insurance company, found that only a third of motorists could correctly define fronting. One-in-10 consumers were found to believe that fronting was a legitimate way to get cheaper insurance, while more than a third thought it was a legal loophole that they were able to exploit. When confronted with the true definition, 94% of consumers said fronting was socially unacceptable. 

MIB chief executive Ashton West said: 'There is a significant degree of confusion amongst drivers about the importance of giving accurate information about the main driver to an insurer. There is a need to help drivers understand and appreciate the importance of being adequately insured.'

A family affair

Aviva motoring strategist Nigel Bartram stated that families were especially likely to be tempted by fronting. He said: 'Well-meaning parents may consider fronting an insurance policy to try and save money, but this is false economy as those that try to cheat the system by declaring false information will find that their insurance is invalid when they actually need to make a claim on their policy.'

Which? tips for your drivers

Young or inexperienced drivers can find out how to save money on car insurance by visiting the Which? car insurance advice guide.

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