HELP FOR BAD DRIVERS...

BARELY two months before the new driving licence points system comes into force, drivers who lose their licence have been offered a safety net.
As a result of a new insurance policy which will be offered to motorists, insurance companies could compensate drivers who have their licence withdrawn to the tune of 300 euros a month. However, the cost of this “full insurance cover” has not been revealed! This financial relief for bad drivers is just one of the covers which insurance companies are considering to make the loss of the driving licence less traumatic for the Spaniards who have their driving licences revoked (6'000 annually according to the Traffic Department). Up to now this subsidy, which could even go higher than 1'500 euros a month, has been requested mainly by people who drive for a living, such as lorry and taxi drivers. However, with the arrival of the new points system for driving licences on July 1 it is expected to be extended to all drivers. Because of this, the companies which already offer this service, as in the case of Winterthur, plan to extend it to all drivers with the arrival of the new points system, while others who do not offer the service, such as Groupama, are planning to include it in their cover. In any case, the majority of the insurance companies will guarantee a basic figure of 300 euros a month to private drivers until they recover their licences. However, there will be a maximum period of 12 months, and this is always supposing that they have asked for this cover, which starts at 15 euros a year. Among other measures, the insurance companies are also discussing the possibility of paying the fees for the retaking of the driving test necessary for the recovery of the licence and for the courses of road education for those offenders who have lost their licences, as this can cost around 600 euros. One of the first companies to offer this new service was Estrella Seguros which in January announced its clients, more than 450'000 people, will not have to pay even one euro for the courses and tests for the recovery of their licence if it is lost due to the points system. In addition, the majority of the 10 car insurance companies consulted, which between them insure 60 percent of drivers, plan to include the cost of application for the reduction of points within their client legal defence cover, which in the majority of cases is free but for some this service has to be in the contract. Finally, the insurance companies are considering using the new driving licence points system as a definitive guide as to what to charge clients for their car policies.