8.4 Million UK Motor Insurance Policies at Risk of Application Fraud: LexisNexis® Risk Solutions

A new research study into motor insurance fraud has found that more than one third (35%) of insured motorists believe that it is acceptable to omit or adjust data to reduce their motor insurance premiums on application, according to LexisNexis® Risk Solutions.

With more than 24 million motor insurance policies in the UK1 the study from LexisNexis Risk Solutions suggests that the scale of application fraud could therefore be far higher than the 212,000 annually detected cases2 with potentially up to 8.4 million policies at risk.

The study, which tracks UK insured drivers’ attitudes towards fraud, found that the number of insured motorists who believe that some level of potentially fraudulent behaviour is acceptable to get a cheaper insurance quote has risen 9 percentage points since 2013 – from 26% to 35%. Additionally, the number of drivers that believe any omission or adjustment of information whatsoever is acceptable when applying for cover has also doubled from 6% to 13% - representing more than 3 million currently insured drivers.

The research also found that a majority of drivers (55%) believe insurers should continue to pay out on a claim even if it is subsequently shown that the information provided by the applicant was inaccurate. This figure is slightly higher than 2013 when 49% believed insurers should cover the claim when asked the same question.

The study also explored attitudes towards common types of application and claims fraud. 16% of drivers believe, for example, that it is acceptable to adjust No Claims Discount (NCD) information to achieve a better rate, whilst 12% are comfortable using someone else’s address, or changing their declared occupation or age to get a lower quote.

More than 3 million drivers comfortable with claims fraud

On the claims side, 14% of consumers say it is acceptable to report a fake hit and run to explain self-inflicted damage, 9% to exaggerate the severity of personal injuries and 8% believe that is acceptable to change places with the driver at the scene of an accident or even intentionally damage or abandon a vehicle to claim total loss.

Consumers also indicated potential to mislead insurers on previous claims, with 10% viewing leaving out previous claims on application as acceptable and 57% unlikely to notify their insurer of an accident if they did not plan on filing a claim.

LexisNexis experts see this finding as significant due to the fact that previous claims are one of the strongest predictors of future claims. LexisNexis found, in its own separate analysis of three insurers, that 41% of consumers who had a prior claim under-reported those claims when applying for a new policy. These consumers had claims costs that were 56% higher than the average consumer, and 34% higher than consumers with the same actual claims history who had declared information accurately.

Bill McCarthy, Managing Director, UK and Ireland Insurance, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, said “Many consumers may not even recognise that adjusting or omitting information can constitute a type of fraud. It illustrates a potential disconnect between consumers and the business of insurance. This is in itself a major challenge, but also shapes how insurers should respond to the risk of consumers providing incorrect information.”

“It also demonstrates the increasing importance of verified data, which can help manage risk effectively not only at underwriting, but also reduce the burden for claims teams. By using some of the capabilities available today such as pre-filling verified data into the application process, insurers can simultaneously improve the quotation experience for their customers, whilst subtly discouraging falsification or omission,” McCarthy said.

Notes to editors

Methodology

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from a poll carried out on behalf of LexisNexis Risk Solutions by Consumer Intelligence on a nationally representative survey of 1,314 insured drivers and policy decision makers aged 18 and over living in the UK. The online survey was conducted in July 2015.

-ENDS-

About LexisNexis Risk Solutions

LexisNexis Risk Solutions (http://www.lexisnexis.com/risk/) is a leader in providing essential information that helps customers across industries and government predict, assess and manage risk. Combining cutting-edge technology, unique data and advanced analytics, LexisNexis Risk Solutions provides products and services that address evolving client needs in the risk sector while upholding the highest standards of security and privacy. LexisNexis Risk Solutions is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries.

For more information on LexisNexis Risk Solutions, visit: http://www.lexisnexis.com/risk/uk/insurance/.

1 Source ABI 2014 - http://www.postonline.co.uk/post/analysis/2410482/trust-insurance-compulsory-motor-time-to-engage

2 Source: ABI 2015 https://www.abi.org.uk/News/News-releases/2015/08/Cutting-corners-to-get-cheaper-motor-insurance-backfiring-on-thousands-of-motorists-warns-the-ABI

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151125005181/en/