Insuring a car when not a registered keeper

I_Ash_I_UK

Realise this is an old thread, but a google search led me to this and it is very relevant to my situation.

20 years old and just bought my first car. Dad suggested that he becomes the policy holder while getting insure on a company that recognises named drivers for a discount in the future.

So after a little research Direct Line seemed to be the cheapest.

I flew through the process of filling out the details etc and I'm all insured with them, just waiting for my documents to come through.

However, I was just poking around on their frequently asked questions for more information on the policy when I noticed that the registered car owner should be the policyholder unless parter or spouse.

Not sure if I completely over looked this during the application, but as it stands I'm now the new keeper and waiting for my log book to come through. I haven't manage to tax the car yet either as I have been waiting for the insurance confirmation letter.

I'm a little worried that they will notice that my dad is not the registered driver before I have chance to tax the car or my logg book comes through so I can change my dad to the registered keeper.

Don't suppose anyone has any advice on the situation or maybe I should just wait it out and hope they don't notice till I can hand the car over to my dad?

Looksguywalker

Are you going to be the main driver and listed as such on the policy?

I_Ash_I_UK

Looksguywalker wrote: »

Are you going to be the main driver and listed as such on the policy?

No, my dad will use the car more than me as I work 9-5. We agreed that he can use it during the day as long as he put petrol in it as his current car is faulty and eats through petrol.

I will probably take it for quite a few drives at first just for fun though.

System

There is no such thing as a registered owner or a registered driver.

There is:
The legal owner. Not recognised by the DVLA, this is entirely a matter of contract law between the previous owner and whoever now has ownership.

Registered keeper. The nearest the DVLA comes to recognising "ownership". It means the person liable for taxing the car, reporting changes, getting parking fines, etc.

Policyholder. The person taking out the insurance policy.

Main driver. The person who does most of the driving. There is no generally accepted definition of what "main" means. It might mean by mileage, number of trips, number of days use, or who has most access to the car.

Named driver. Someone named on the policy as allowed to drive the vehicle.

We insure one of our cars for my daughter (19) to use.
I am the owner.
My wife is the registered keeper.
My wife is the policyholder.
My wife is the main driver.
Our daughter is a named driver.
I am a named driver.

However recently we realised that my daughter's use was increasing, and it made sense for her to have her own policy.
So now:
I am the owner.
My wife is the registered keeper.
My daughter is the policyholder
My daughter is the main driver.
My wife and I are named drivers.

The insurance company were happy to make this switch on renewal. Curiously the premium was reduced from £700 to £500, even though a 19-year old is now the main driver.

dacouch

If the car was purchased by you, registered in your name and insured in your fathers name, there will be investigations by the Insurers if you have a claim. There's a very good chance they will void the policy especially if at that time your father has his own car.

I_Ash_I_UK

dacouch wrote: »

If the car was purchased by you, registered in your name and insured in your fathers name, there will be investigations by the Insurers if you have a claim. There's a very good chance they will void the policy especially if at that time your father has his own car.

So if I don't claim there will not be any investigation?

I plan to switch my dad to registered keeper as soon as I get my log book through the post.

dacouch

I_Ash_I_UK wrote: »

So if I don't claim there will not be any investigation?

I plan to switch my dad to registered keeper as soon as I get my log book through the post.

Insurers normally investigate claims or accidents where there is a young driver and an older policyholder.

The things they tend to look at are what name was the car registered in when the policy was taken out, who purchased the car this can involve checking the receipt, speaking to the dealer or checking whose bank account the money left. They will also look whether your father has his own vehicle.

There are other things they will look at as well.

If you're pulling the wool over the Insurers eyes, you run the risk of having the policy cancelled if they discover it. This could mean you or more likely your dad having to pay the Insurer for any claims payments which are very expensive for injury claims. In addition your FATHER would have to forever more declare that he has had a policy voided / cancelled for any type of Insurance he applies for. This makes it very difficult (Very Expensive) for him to take out cover. In extreme cases the parent can be prosecuted for fraud although this is rare.

If your father is genuinely the main user and will remain so you probably won't have a problem. If you're pulling a fast one then there's a very good chance they will discover it.

I_Ash_I_UK

dacouch wrote: »

Insurers normally investigate claims or accidents where there is a young driver and an older policyholder.

The things they tend to look at are what name was the car registered in when the policy was taken out, who purchased the car this can involve checking the receipt, speaking to the dealer or checking whose bank account the money left. They will also look whether your father has his own vehicle.

There are other things they will look at as well.

If you're pulling the wool over the Insurers eyes, you run the risk of having the policy cancelled if they discover it. This could mean you or more likely your dad having to pay the Insurer for any claims payments which are very expensive for injury claims. In addition your FATHER would have to forever more declare that he has had a policy voided / cancelled for any type of Insurance he applies for. This makes it very difficult (Very Expensive) for him to take out cover. In extreme cases the parent can be prosecuted for fraud although this is rare.

If your father is genuinely the main user and will remain so you probably won't have a problem. If you're pulling a fast one then there's a very good chance they will discover it.

This is my first car and I genuinely have no experience in this. I bought the car a few days after passing my test and put a SORN on it while it was on a friends drive till I had enough money to start an insurance policy and tax it. I did plan at first to be the primary driver, but my dad suggested that he uses the car while I'm at work so he can be policy holder.

I had no idea that the policy holder had to be the registered driver, but as far as I can tell from what research I have done none of this is illegal.

Plus it was from genuine lack of knowledge that I'm in this situation.

I will be passing the car over to my dad ASAP.

dacouch

Does your dad have his own car and Insurance?

I_Ash_I_UK

dacouch wrote: »

Does your dad have his own car and Insurance?

Yeah, but its faulty and eats petrol so he wants to use mine.