Hi everyone.

We've had a motor trade policy for 5 years now. 10 days before renewal this year, the insurer flagged up 4 vehicles we've had for a while, and wanted proof of ownership and V5s.

I neglected to send these when requested. Over the next few days, they started sending me emails regarding renewal, and that the policy will auto renew.

The policy autorenewed, but I know they always want proof of trading (ie. recent invoices) and driving licences. I could see emails coming through, that we had X days to send these documents.

In all this, I understood that the deadline for the documents for the renewal was 5pm on the 25th May. I sent the proofs of trading and driving licences, and said in my email "Here are the documents for renewal", and asked to confirm some details about cover. The lady answered my email, but didn't mention those previous proofs of OWNERSHIP of the other vehicles. I assumed those were for the past policy (same insurer).

I carried on as normal, awaiting the insurance certificate. It never came, and the following Thursday 31st May (almost a week later) I called them at 4pm to chase it up. I was then informed that insurance had been cancelled due to not providing those proofs of ownership. I'd never gotten so much as a courtesy email informing me of this, and had been driving uninsured for a week.

They said if I sent them, they would see about insuring me again. As it was late, they called me the following day (1st June) to say they could cover me, but that since it's a new month, the premium is now £450 more. They wouldn't budge. AND I now have a cancelled policy in my history, bumping up my premiums.

Now my question is, all the policies so far were under our Ltd company which is being closed down. Obviously on the schedule of fact it was "Mr X and Miss X (XXX Ltd)" and the account payer for the insurance (on their docs) is "XXX Ltd". We are no longer trading under that Ltd company, we are now a partnership.

So when we're asked have you ever had a policy cancelled, what do we say? Legally, if I say no, since the cancelled policy was under a Ltd company, am I covered? Thank you.

Your individual identity and your corporate identity are distinct. So my view is that if you had policies in your corporate name/identity, then these have no bearing on policies which you may take out as private individuals.

Being a director of a limited company your in control.

The ltd company had a policy cancelled because of your actions. Your responsible.

That's why policy's say this in the small print and on the policy holder information.

Mr and Mrs x ( company name ltd)

So yes, you must declare you have had a policy cancelled otherwise you run the risk of having another one cancelled.

All that being said if you had said in the first place that It was cancelled because you had neglected tosend some information that was required AND you did have it ( your not fobbing them off) it would of been no biggie.

Your individual identity and your corporate identity are distinct. So my view is that if you had policies in your corporate name/identity, then these have no bearing on policies which you may take out as private individuals.

Directorship responsibility's.

Its under company law.

Thank you. Got a good quote, but nervous as hell. I don't know where I stand legally, and I don't want to make things worse.

sgtbush, yesterday I spent the day on the phone to insurers, and even with explaining what happened, some insurers won't touch us.

sgtbush, yesterday I spent the day on the phone to insurers, and even with explaining what happened, some insurers won't touch us.

I cant really say I blame them.

You might be better to use a specialist broker.