Cutting corners can be a false economy, the RAC says

Claiming to keep a car in a locked garage overnight when it was not was the most common lie used by motorists.

The RAC warned that by lying on their insurance applications, motorists could end up with a totally invalid policy.

The survey also found that 9% of drivers admitted to having driven without insurance at some point.

'False economy'

The RAC said it believed drivers had picked up bad habits when shopping around for cheaper car insurance.

Many insurance policies will be invalid if the details given don't match the vehicle Philip Hale, RAC Financial Services

The survey of 2,000 people found 11% had lied about locking their car away overnight, while 6% deliberately underestimated the value of their vehicle, while 2% gave the wrong main address to get a lower premium.

The RAC also said that one-quarter of motorists were only taking out minimal levels of cover to keep premiums down.

"When you look at the bills some people face, it's easy to understand why they feel pushed to reduce their car costs," said RAC Financial Services spokesman Philip Hale.

"But it's often a false economy. Many insurance policies will be invalid if the details given don't match the vehicle and minimal cover just means you're more likely to have to pay for repairs, or damage you cause."

In addition to 9% of those quizzed admitting to having driven without insurance, nearly one-quarter of motorists said their car had been on the road without a valid MOT, while 18% said they had driven with a tax disc that had expired.

"All these behaviours are illegal and driving uninsured is a particular concern," Mr Hale said.