Not upheld: Other regulated complaint complaint against UK Insurance Limited

Decision detail

Summary

Mrs R claimed breakdown cover after her car hit a pothole, damaging both the tyre and wheel and leaving it immobile in a remote location. UKI declined the claim because the damage extended beyond a flat or damaged tyre to include wheel damage, and suggested Mrs R contact her car insurer instead. The ombudsman upheld UKI's decision, finding that the incident fell outside the policy's definition of breakdown and was properly excluded as accident damage typically covered by car insurance. The complaint was not upheld and no reimbursement or compensation was ordered.

The Ombudsman's reasoning

The ombudsman found that while the policy covered recovery for flat or damaged tyres, the definition of breakdown excluded incidents not caused by mechanical or electrical failure, fire, theft, malicious damage, or a flat tyre alone. Since the incident caused damage to both the tyre and wheel, it fell outside the breakdown definition. The ombudsman noted that accident damage to tyres and wheels is typically covered by comprehensive car insurance, not breakdown cover, and the exclusion clause clearly stated the policy did not cover costs related to accidents usually covered by car insurance.

How this compares

Source

Read the original decision on the Financial Ombudsman Service website