Does a red weather warning affect your car insurance? What the UK alert really method for your automobile cover

THE Beast from the East and Storm Emma has swept over the UK in recent days, causing travel chaos and triggering a number of weather alerts in the Met Office.

With the probably the most serious red alerts issued during a week of chaos, motorists might be anxious whether the warnings affect their insurance – here's what you need to know.

Does a red weather warning affect your vehicle insurance?

MoneySuperMarket say your insurance coverage is still valid – if your insurance provider can be contributory negligence from you your claim might be questioned.

Kevin Pratt, consumer affairs expert at MoneySuperMarket, told The Scottish Sun : "Your insurance policy should remain valid regardless of the weather, try not to take that as a green flag to drive without giving heed towards the red alert for snow.

"Simply knowing you're going to get a pay-out shouldn't mean you are taking undue risks.

“If your insurance provider can prove contributory negligence from you, your claim might be questioned, and any pay-out reduced.

"For example, if you drove right into a swollen ford high would be a warning in place and your car stalled and was ruined by water, your claim may not be paid.

"You might not be also entitled to recovery by your roadside rescue policy because you had recklessly got yourself into trouble.

“Same would apply if you went down a road in contravention of official road closure signs and were subsequently in an accident.

"Your home buildings insurance should cover you for that ravages from the storm, whatever its intensity.”

Spokesman for Direct Line Simon Hendrick added: "We will advise all customers for their personal safety to listen to local news and local authorities about moving out in extreme weather.

"However it doesn't make your insurance null and void.

"People should be careful once the weather conditions are so extreme and shouldn't really head out unless its an extreme necessity."

A spokesman for that Association of British Insurers added: "We would urge all drivers to pay for close focus on advice from local authorities and the emergency services in areas affected by snow – particularly where there is really a red warning.

"People's safety factors are paramount. However social media rumours that motor insurance will be invalid if people drive during a red warning are not true.

"Motor insurance will cover you in the usual way, providing you are driving within the law."

What is a red weather warning?

The Met Office issues warnings in front of severe or hazardous weather that has the possibility to cause "damage, widespread disruption and/or danger alive."

The warnings receive a colour to mirror the seriousness and probability of the outcome, which range from yellow, amber and red.

Red is easily the most serious from the weather warnings.

It means "extreme weather" is expected.

The Met Office says: "Red means you should do something how to stay and others safe from the outcome of the weather.

"Widespread damage, travel and power disruption and risk alive is likely.

"You have to avoid dangerous areas and stick to the advice from the emergency services and local authorities."