Can't get car insurance?!

rsjg80

I passed my driving test today (woo hoo!)

But I've been brought down to earth slightly - girlfriend phoned up her insurance company to add me to her insurance (as we have one car) and they point blank said no they won't do that, "you need to be driving for at least a year". What?!

I understand that I can't get insurance on the same car seperately. I can't afford to buy my own car and girlfriend's insurance doesn't run out til November so does this mean I simply can't drive until November?! Really put a downer on my day so far.. any advice?

I'm a 27 year old male, girlfriend is with Ladybird insurance (Equity) with 3 years no claims (from passing) come November and we own a Renault Megane 1.4 (55).

Quentin

The only way round it would be to find another company happy to have you as a named driver, then cancel the Ladybird policy.

But this will involve cancellation charges and mean that this part year won't count for ncb. Better than option 2!

(Or Option 2 - book in for the operation, as Ladybird only insure women, don't they?)

rsjg80

Quentin wrote: »

The only way round it would be to find another company happy to have you as a named driver, then cancel the Ladybird policy.

But this will involve cancellation charges and mean that this part year won't count for ncb. Better than option 2!

(Or Option 2 - book in for the operation, as Ladybird only insure women, don't they?)

Option 2 might be cheaper. Actually they do insure blokes but they're sticking point was that I hadn't been driving for a year. I'm just shocked they don't offer it at any price. Seems silly to lose nearly a year NCB for the sake of 2/3 months.

Oscar_The_Grouch

Errrmmm, I refuse to comment on option 2, on the grounds that any response would be either:

a. smutty
b. sexist
c. liable to get me a slap from my wife

Now that we have all worked out how my brain works, lets get down to business:

From my very first day in insurance, I learned that learner drivers were ok because there was someone beside them that was going to shout "AAAAAAGGGHHHHHHH!!!!" every time they headed for a tree.

Once someone passes their test, they get to sit solo in what is, essentially, a big bomb on wheels. Insurers see this as a HUGE risk and try to avoid it wherever possible.

This is the example I was given over 20 years ago and I think it still holds true today:

You are travelling form Landsend to John O'Groats by coach. You purchase your ticket and get on the coach, settling yourself down in to a seat.

The driver, who looks a little "wet behind the ears" gets on and turns on the microphone. Then he says:

"Hello. My name is Theo Rongside-Oftheroad. I passed my test last week and I am going to be your driver for the whole of this 14 hour journey".

Would you stay on the coach? If not, why the hell should we provide the insurance??

The name of the actual driver has been changed to protect the innocent.... Well, that's what they told me anyway!!!

rsjg80

Oscar_The_Grouch wrote: »

Errrmmm, I refuse to comment on option 2, on the grounds that any response would be either:

a. smutty
b. sexist
c. liable to get me a slap from my wife

Now that we have all worked out how my brain works, lets get down to business:

From my very first day in insurance, I learned that learner drivers were ok because there was someone beside them that was going to shout "AAAAAAGGGHHHHHHH!!!!" every time they headed for a tree.

Once someone passes their test, they get to sit solo in what is, essentially, a big bomb on wheels. Insurers see this as a HUGE risk and try to avoid it wherever possible.

This is the example I was given over 20 years ago and I think it still holds true today:

You are travelling form Landsend to John O'Groats by coach. You purchase your ticket and get on the coach, settling yourself down in to a seat.

The driver, who looks a little "wet behind the ears" gets on and turns on the microphone. Then he says:

"Hello. My name is Theo Rongside-Oftheroad. I passed my test last week and I am going to be your driver for the whole of this 14 hour journey".

Would you stay on the coach? If not, why the hell should we provide the insurance??

The name of the actual driver has been changed to protect the innocent.... Well, that's what they told me anyway!!!

So I'm uninsurable because I passed my test?! I recognise that you have to pay more to offset the risk of being a new driver etc but to be completely unwilling to insure me seems ridiculous. So another words, I HAVE to buy car otherwise it's no driving?!

Quentin

Changing insurers (and losing this year's ncb) will be the much cheaper option!

raskazz

rsjg80 wrote: »

So I'm uninsurable because I passed my test?! I recognise that you have to pay more to offset the risk of being a new driver etc but to be completely unwilling to insure me seems ridiculous. So another words, I HAVE to buy car otherwise it's no driving?!

It's not ridiculous. The current insurer's scheme has criteria on what it will and will not offer cover for, and unfortunately this means that they will not offer you cover (holding a full licence for at least 1 year is a common underwriting criterion); however, some other insurers will cover the risk. It's just like Tesco selling different products to Asda..

soolin

I have two sons with driving licenses, one of whom has held a license over a yera and neither cna get affordable insurance so have had to stick to the bus.

Our problem is the post code is apparently high risk so there is now ay round it, however it is really worth shopping around as the quotes we did get varied by over £1000 sometimes.