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• Vital to keep DVLA and insurance companies informed

Failing to report a common medical condition could leave older motorists exposed reveals Age Concern Insurance Services. Motorists are required to inform the DVLA of any medical conditions that could potentially impair their ability to drive safely¹ - but they may also need to inform their insurance provider regarding their driving status if their policy conditions require them to do so.

“There is no suggestion that drivers are deliberately concealing their conditions. We are concerned that many drivers may simply be unaware of the need to declare any conditions that could potentially impair their ability to drive safely‚” said David Hoyle of Age Concern Insurance Services.
 
“Older people are unfortunately more likely to develop medical conditions in later life‚ but they are not always conditions that will affect their ability to drive. It is just a matter of informing the DVLA and insurers of those relevant medical conditions.”  
 
Age Concern understands that older people need their cars to remain independent and offers insurance policies designed to meet their needs.   Unlike many other insurers it has no upper age limits when quoting for older drivers. 
 
The Facts

•  Get informed - a medical condition does not necessarily mean an end to your motoring.  You may be able to carry on driving for many more years to come – you just need to get the right information.  Medical conditions which could affect the ability to drive safely can be found in DVLA’s information leaflet ‘D100 - What you need to know about driving licences’ which is available from the DVLA and your local Post Office.
• Tell the DVLA – All drivers‚ regardless of age‚ are required by law to notify DVLA if at any time they develop an ongoing medical condition likely to affect their fitness to drive.  Failure to do so could lead to prosecution carrying a maximum fine of £1‚000.
• Tell your insurance company – Not only must you tell the DVLA you may also need to tell your insurance company if you develop a medical condition or if a pre-existing medical condition changes. Failure to do so could invalidate your policy leaving you out of pocket in the event of a claim.
• Talk to your GP - Your GP should be able to provide you with further advice on your fitness to drive.   A guide to the current medical standards of fitness to drive is available to doctors and health care professionals to assist in advising their patients on whether they should inform DVLA of their medical condition.  Also be aware that the DVLA may request a more detailed medical report from your GP to help them process your enquiry.

Currently‚ there are over three million people in the UK aged over 70 who hold a valid driving licence²  This figure is rising therefore Age Concern believes it is both essential and responsible for motorists to be fully informed about how their health may affect their driving now and in the future.

To find out more about Age Concern Motor Insurance or to get a quote‚ call 0845 712 5816 (local rate charge) or visit your local Age Concern for information*. 
 
-Ends-

¹ Medical conditions that could potentially impair their ability to drive safely include anything that affects someone’s vision‚ nervous system‚ blood pressure or any cardiac‚ coronary or psychiatric conditions. Please contact the DVLA for further details
² The number of driving licence holders in November 2003 aged 70 and over was 2.8 million.  The number of driving licence holders in January 2006 aged 70 and over was 3.2 million. Department for Transport‚ January 2007

* Not all Age Concerns offer all Age Concern products. Please check by telephoning your local office‚ before arranging a visit. Trading Age Concerns are appointed representatives of Age Concern Enterprises Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority for general insurance

For further information please contact‚ George Morrison or Derya Filiz at Harrison Cowley on 020 7404 6777 or george.morrison@trimediahc.com / derya.filiz@trimediahc.com. 

Notes to editors

About Age Concern Motor Insurance
Features of Age Concern Motor Insurance include (subject to policy cover):

• No upper age limit
• A protected No Claims Discount option (subject to earning four years No Claim Discount)
• £5000 Personal Accident cover
• In Car Entertainment cover – the policy provides unlimited cover up to the market value against loss or damage to audio‚ navigational‚ and telephone equipment that is permanently fitted into the car
• Unlimited windscreen cover (£50 excess applies)
• Courtesy car (subject to policy conditions)
• Guaranteed repairs by authorised repairers
• Personal Belongings cover up to £250 per incident
• In the event of an accident‚ the Age Concern Accident Help Line is available 24 hours a day‚ 7 days a week. The helpline can be used to report any potential claim‚ including accidents or losses
• If the car cannot be driven‚ arrangements will be made for it to be recovered and taken to the nearest competent repairer. In addition‚ a message will be forwarded to a friend or relative for the policyholder‚ to notify them of the situation.

Age Concern Insurance
Age Concern Insurance Services (ACIS) was created in 1983 to offer better value insurance for older people. General insurance was an area in which over-50s had been ill served for a long time. Starting as a local service‚ it has grown to be one of the UK’s leading brands regarding general insurance for older people.

Today ACIS plays a dual role. It endeavours to offer some of the best value policies available while ensuring that these products are designed to meet the specific needs of older customers.  All profits generated by Age Concern from selling products and services go directly to support Age Concern’s charitable activities.

ACIS’ product has developed through demand to include home‚ contents‚ travel‚ motor‚ and motor breakdown insurance.

Policies can be bought either direct by phone‚ or through any of the around 250 trading locations operated by participating Age Concerns. In an age which is becoming more technology driven‚ Age Concern is invaluable in offering older people a personal service at a local level with which many feel most comfortable.

Age Concern & why it trades
At a local level‚ Age Concern offers a range of services for older people‚ such as day centres‚ luncheon clubs‚ and advice and information services.

At a national level‚ Age Concern campaigns with and for older people: developing policy; influencing Government; training care professionals; supporting local Age Concern bodies‚ financially and professionally.

To fund this work‚ Age Concern needs a constant flow of independent income. It seeks to achieve this through a balance of traditional fund raising and trading activities.

Age Concern’s trading activities enable it to meet the needs of older people‚ through products specifically designed to meet these needs; quality products such as General Insurance and Energy Services.

Age Concern Enterprises incorporates:  Age Concern Insurance Services‚ Age Concern Energy Services‚ Age Concern Funeral Plans‚ Age Concern Weekly Lottery‚ Age Concern Financial Solutions Ltd‚ Aid-Call‚ Age Concern Christmas Cards and Charity Flowers Direct.

Age Concern Enterprises Ltd (ACEnt) is a trading company of Age Concern England which gives all profit to that charity. Registered in England No.3156159‚ Registered office: Astral House‚ 1268 London Road‚ London. SW16 4ER. Age Concern England Registered Charity No.261794.

If you call 0845 number for Age Concern Motor Insurance‚ you will be dealing with Fortis Insurance Ltd‚ which provides and manages this Age Concern Insurance.

Age Concern Enterprises Ltd (ACEnt) and Fortis Insurance are both authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.’

About Fortis
Fortis Insurance Limited in the UK provides a full range of personal and small package commercial insurance products and is rated Api by Standard and Poor’s. The insurer is the 3rd largest private car insurer in the UK‚ has a proven and award-winning track record for providing outstanding customer service and claims handling and is totally committed to the intermediated market. Recent awards include the Insurance Times Motor Insurer of the Year‚ (2001-2003 and 2005) and the Insurance Times Claims Award (2005).

For general enquiries about our products please contact us.

Journalists contact:

Trimedia
Derya Filiz
Elly Kestenbaum
Imogen Davies

Telephone:
0207 025 7500