QUOTE (JeffG @ Sep 11 2010, 04:44 PM)
So how would pay as you drive insurance work?
Here's one solution - not fully baked I admit - but could work.
1. The 'Insured' would sign up with an insurance company and furnish them with their risk
detail (vis - age, convictions, previous form, etc.) together with the vehicles they intended to drive. The insured would then be given a 'basic insurance certificate - which would only be valid when trips were registered.
2. This would need to be paid for to set up (like TfL Boris Bikes) so a once off / annual registration fee payable.
3. The detail would be recorded on the insurance company database as 'inactive'
4. When the insured wanted to drive - they would simply register the time period OR the trip detail on the insurers 'on line' service - similar to TfL Conjestion Charge. They would pay by credit/debit card at the time, or have it deducted from a registered card. Again, just like the TfL conjestion charge system - a coded receipt can be produced 'on line'
5. The insurance company database would then be 'activated' to show the vehicle was insured for the period booked by the insured.
6. The Police could check this in the normal manner - via the on line hand held device they use at the moment.
There, no real difference to 'pay up front' insofar as proof of evidence is required - almost makes me think this would be a runner!
NOTE Yes, degrees of sophistication can be added. of course. On board technology sending trip detail could easily be installed. Already in use in most larger commercial fleets already. The above is simply a quick cheap as chips start up.