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Question of the Week: Can I be the main driver on my 18 year old son's car?
Former_MSE_Wendy
Posts: 929 Forumite
Q. My son's just passed his test, and the car insurance for his car costs a fortune unless I put myself as main driver and him second. Is that ok?
A. No. It's known as 'fronting' and can be classed as fraud. At the very least the insurance is likely to be invalid should you ever make a claim, but could also lead your son into further trouble as with invalid insurance he is technically driving without insurance, attracting a fine and penalty points on his licence.
So unless you actually are the main driver of the car don't do it. However there is nothing wrong with having him as the main driver and adding you as a second driver, even if you'll hardly ever use the car. Often, but not always that can smooth out the average risk and reduce the premium. This can vary company by company. If it doesn't work with you its worth trying with another relative with a good driving history.
Of course the most important way is to ensure you're also with the cheapest car insurance. This shouldn't take you more than twenty minutes, use the Cheap Car Insurance guide.
If you'd like to discuss this click reply below.
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A. No. It's known as 'fronting' and can be classed as fraud. At the very least the insurance is likely to be invalid should you ever make a claim, but could also lead your son into further trouble as with invalid insurance he is technically driving without insurance, attracting a fine and penalty points on his licence.
So unless you actually are the main driver of the car don't do it. However there is nothing wrong with having him as the main driver and adding you as a second driver, even if you'll hardly ever use the car. Often, but not always that can smooth out the average risk and reduce the premium. This can vary company by company. If it doesn't work with you its worth trying with another relative with a good driving history.
Of course the most important way is to ensure you're also with the cheapest car insurance. This shouldn't take you more than twenty minutes, use the Cheap Car Insurance guide.
If you'd like to discuss this click reply below.
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Comments
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1 Right, but if the car changes owner to the dad and put the son as a named driver, then that would work out cheaper, although he doesnt really build any NCD doing this?
2 Also, if the dad already has a policy with another car can he have another policy with another car (e.g. his sons car which he re-registered on his name b4 hand), and canhe build a NCD twice?0 -
1) The Dad would still have to declare who was the main driver.
2) Yes. Every policy builds (or loses) its own NCD.0 -
We insured our 18 year old son in January via moneysupermarket.com We paid £2000 this was with Kwikfit I was also on the policy,This was third party fire and theft, he has been driving six months, I later came across beatmyquote.com his insurance came out at £1700 I put myself on the policy it came out at £1500, I then put his dad on, It came to £1200, this was with admiral insurance. I cancelled kwikfit and got a refund. When I phoned Admiral to go ahead we got it even cheaper. £900 for ten months and if no claims are made at the end of ten months he gets a full year no claims bonus. it is worth shopping around. Good Luck!0
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my personal tips from experience of car insurance for when you're 18
1. Don't get a car above 1.25l. You'd be lucky to get insured for 1.4, and then it'll cost you a fortune
2. Get pass plus
3. Build up child's NCD, which leads to
3. Get the insurance in YOUR childs own name.
I took insurance out when i learnt to drive. When i passed my test, i took pass plus straight away, it then meant i only had to pay an extra £50 for the rest of the policy. (like 6 months- it was swinton btw). When i renewed i got my insurance for £500 (with ALOT of shopping around), whick is a saving of £300
4. shop around ALOT (it took me a month)
5. Try the companies in the magazine given when you pass your test
6. Add parents with large NCD onto your insurance, it reduces it a fair amount.
7 and most importantly, GROW OLDER AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE, insurers really are ageist in every possible way, and make no account for you not being a boy/girl racer. It's assumed due to your age.0 -
I'd add to the above, try not to have an accident as if you keep your nose clean for the first year the next years cover will be masively cheaper0
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Tut tut. There is absolutely no guarantee that this will be the case.
On what basis do you say that, they will be a year older, have a years no claims bonus which will be worth circa 30%, the vehicle will be a year older and they will have probably held their licence for a year. These all equal a big reduction in my experience0 -
I agree, but there are no guarantees.0
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No I agree the prices could go through the roof for young male drivers but it is pretty likely it will be much cheaper next year0
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Me and my friend, same age etc.
Mine: £1500 -> £1200 after a year - I crashed
Friend: £1400 -> £800 after a year - didn't crash0
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