Check your Policy - is your 'partner' a 'named' driver?

harley_fat_boy

Posting this up as I only found this out today and saved us £85 !!? OK, maybe 'everyone' but me knew this....but I doubt it !!

When my partner took out her car insurance with direct line 4 years ago (could have been any insurer) they asked if she wanted anyone else on the policy as insurance companies do...so she said me.....ok, straightforward.
I need to insure a car soon as its coming up that it will have been 2yrs since I sold my last car and I dont want to lose my NCB. So I phoned Direct Line on the off chance to see how I stood for NCB with them if I decided not to buy another car (as dont really want the cost at the moment) as I've been on her policy for 4 yrs.

The conversation went like this....(abridged):

ME: I'm on my partners policy
DL: But your down as a named driver
ME: yes, she was asked if she wanted anyone else named on the policy and she said me
DL: But your her partner
ME: yes....whats the difference?
DL: £85 per year!

WHAT!.....DL deducted the amount there and then and our DD is literally half the cost each month now....Blimey !

Also, DL told me that if we'd done that from the off I would have 5 years lee way on the NCB not the standard 2 , and as its my 'partners' car it doesnt have to be regestered in my name to insure it so rather than rack up loads of owners on our car by swopping reg names every two years we can as 'partners' just swop as policy holders every 5 years.....well you live and learn!....i think they should teach 'insurance' along with other foreign languages at school !

I really never knew that putting 'your partner' on your insurance was different to 'naming' them on your insurance! I think this only applies to 'live-in' partnerships. But for whatever reason if you have a different surname to your partner ....please, please check that they are down as 'your partner' and not a 'named' driver....bizzare!

Be Lucky

HFB :beer:

anewman

I think it's slightly different with different insurers. I think when I got the quotes they asked if named driver was my partner and whether they lived at the same address or not. Sometimes worth adding a partner whether they drive it or not or have their own insurance policy that covers them - as it can reduce the cost.