More than 4,000 drivers a week have been caught giving false details to insurance companies, according to the Association of British Insurers.
In the past year, the Association notes that the total number of drivers who lied on their insurance declarations in order to reduce their premium topped 200,000 – an 18 per cent rise on last year.
The higher detection rate can in part be attributed to the launch of the new MyLicence system, which grants insurers partial access to a DVLA database which displays drivers’ details.
Some of the data that insurers have access to include the motorist’s entitlements or whether they have any penalty points, which makes it harder to conceal convictions, which could raise premiums.
Frequently exposed lies or mistakes include failing to reveal previous insurance claims and convictions, while others claimed to live in low crime areas while residing elsewhere.
Among the more common dupes include attempts at fronting, where a motorist pretends to be the main driver of a vehicle in order to reduce the premium for another person.
Mark Allen, fraud and financial crime manager for the Association, said: “Insurers recognise that innocent mistakes and oversights happen. But anyone lying to get cheaper motor insurance - or tempted by cheap insurance offers without first checking that they are genuine - risks driving illegally.”
