Named drivers

Shoshannah

Could I please just run this past everyone?

I may be planning to buy a new car. I would be the owner and registered keeper of the car, and I would be the main driver.

I am a 24 year old female with 6 years' NCB. I found that if I add my father and my fiance (who is 31) as named drivers, the price of the quotes dramatically decreases, as one would expect.

My fiance would definitely drive the car at times, and my father may drive it very occasionally.

My question is: is there anything wrong with declaring someone as a named driver if they never actually drive the car?

I just want to double check in case I'm missing something, I know it sounds stupid but one of my pet hates is uninsured drivers and the last thing I want to do is inadvertently invalidate my policy!

Thanks.

dacouch

It is not a problem as long as you are not doing it to purposely deceive the Insurers and obtain a lower premium than you are entitled to. You state that your father may occassionally drive the car so its not a problem with you.

In fact the chances of it being a problem for most people are remote as in most cases they would be able to demonstrate that the driver may need to use it in some cases or an emergency.

It can be a problem where say a parent Insures a vehicle in their name with a child as a named driver and does not declare to the Insurer that the child is the main user (If this is the case)

kalikin

Hiya,

Up until Novemeber I worked as a motor claim handler for a large insurance company. It would be fine to add your father even if he drove the car once a year - in fact it's generally cheaper to add on a permenant basis than a temporary one (a lot of insurance companies now don't do temporary additions anyway) especially when the drivers over 45. Fronting which as dacouch mentioned is when the parents insure the car but child is main driver/registered owner is the problem.

Hope this is useful
kk

Shoshannah

Thanks kalikin and dacouch.

I am aware that 'fronting' is illegal and have never done that. I have always owned my own cars anyway.

For the past six years it has always been just me on my policy; my fiance and dad have driven my cars many times covered 3rd party by their own insurance policies. I have no intention of deliberately defrauding any insurance companies but it seems to me that I may as well put them on as named drivers if they are going to continue driving my cars, as it lowers the price.

Both dad and fiance have their own cars and own insurance as well, I'm assuming this doesn't affect anything?

Thanks again.

dacouch

It won't affect their other policies at all, the only thing that will affect them is if they have a claim on your policy they must declare it to their own Insurers.

It sounds like in your case it would be sensible adding them as drivers to your policy even ignoring the saving as they will on occassions drive your vehicle. As well as having the same cover as you which I assume is Comprehensive it saves alot of hassle if they get pulled over by the police whilst driving it on their own policy as sometimes the police do not accept this as them being covered when they stop them. If they are named on your policy the police can see this at the roadside and will be happy they are covered to drive the car so no problems with the police

McKneff

I didnt realise all this about named drivers. I have always refused anyone who wanted to borrow my car because of the 3rd party situation. Insurance is due shortly so will ask about putting someone else on the insurance who i would probably appreciate for emergency situations. thanks again.

dacouch

Its not guranteed to be cheaper, it depends on who you add on eg a spouse often reduces it and a parent sometimes does if you are a young driver. For the majority of drivers adding another driver who is not your partner will normally increase the premium.

Its worth you having a look with and without them though

Shoshannah

dacouch wrote: »

It won't affect their other policies at all, the only thing that will affect them is if they have a claim on your policy they must declare it to their own Insurers.

It sounds like in your case it would be sensible adding them as drivers to your policy even ignoring the saving as they will on occassions drive your vehicle. As well as having the same cover as you which I assume is Comprehensive it saves alot of hassle if they get pulled over by the police whilst driving it on their own policy as sometimes the police do not accept this as them being covered when they stop them. If they are named on your policy the police can see this at the roadside and will be happy they are covered to drive the car so no problems with the police

Yes, it does make sense and I wonder why I never thought of it before. I've always known I could add a named driver but it has taken me this long to pull my finger out!

Thanks again for your help.

dacouch

No problems, its what MSE is all about, may be you can help me out with a question in the future