Phone users in cover shock

Drivers caught using their hand-held mobile phone behind the wheel face a huge increase in premiums when they renew their car insurance, on top of three points on their licence and a £60 fine.

The revelation comes in an AA survey of the cover providers it uses to offer policies. It found companies are jacking up the annual price by as much as 18 per cent if the motorist discloses they have a CU80 – the code for a mobile phone offence – on their driving licence.

And one insurance provider, which bosses at the AA were not prepared to name, will refuse to give offenders any cover at all!

Mobile phone offenders can also be convicted of careless driving. If that was the case, the study discovered that half the AA’s pool of insurers refused to quote. Other providers imposed premium increases of up to 50 per cent.

Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, told Auto Express: “Many offenders don’t realise this. We hope raising awareness of the extra cost will make drivers think twice about using their phone at the wheel.” The news comes as ministers are reportedly considering handing out penalty points to motorists who don’t wear seatbelts – something which already happens in Northern Ireland.