Underwriter Refused Addtional Driver

andrew.mccreadie

I have just come off the telephone with my insurance company. I wanted to add my father to my current policy so we could share the driving on a trip to london. I was told by the insurance company (HSBC) that the underwriter has refused to add him and cant provide a reason why.

My father has no dodgy insurance history, has no claims and only has one SP30 for speeding which was from 2006.

Is there a reason why they would refuse to do this? Is there any way to get around it? Do I have to cancel my current policy, pay the charge and look for an insurer who will allow me to add him as a named driver?

I have never come across anything like this in the past and cant believe that they wont allow me to do something so simple.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Andrew

huckster

Phone them again and try to add your dad as a temporary additional driver for the relevant period.

What is your dads current occupation and your own. What cover do you have. Social domestic and pleasure. Anything work related ?

Quentin

They don't need a "reason" - it may be they don't take on anyone with his job/age etc.

If he has his own insurance, it may allow him to drive other cars (third party only, though).

Otherwise your only option is to cancel your present insurer and move elsewhere.

mattymoo

Suggest your father tries one of the day insurance / short term insurers that provide cover by the day. This will suffice for the trip anyway.

It is very odd that HSBC's insurer will not permit you to add him. As you say, this is normally bread and butter type stuff to insurers.

If you have your certificate it should show you who the insurance has been placed with. Might be worth giving them a call to see what has happened.

Quote

HSBC?

LolZ.

lisyloo

Not all insurers offer all service.
For example I was with "bedford" for my bike and I could not upgrade it to business use (just commuitng to a customer, not being a courier or anything like that).

You don't have an automatic "right" to be able to make these change, although I do agree it's unusual and rather odd.

Suggest you use something like days insurance.

PNPSUKNET

use tempcover.com does he have medical issues...

andrew.mccreadie

Thanks for everyones replies... cant believe they all came through so fast.

Huckster, I did try to add my dad as a temporary additional driver for 2 days but no joy... He is a chartered engineer and I am a software engineer. The car is insured for class 1 business use, would this make a difference?

Lisyloo, I dont think taking out a one day insurance would work because you cant have insurance policies on the same vehicle at the same time. I would have to cancel my insurance so he could take out on. I could be wrong but i tried to drive a friends car and tried to take cover but they wouldnt let me.

Mattymoo, Thanks for the tip about checking with the actual insurance company... it is just annoying that I dont know why they wouldnt even consider it! Most of the time if someone doesnt want to do something they just quote u a silly price. If they had said £50000 for two days i might have just thought it was too expensive and decided not to proceed.

If anyone has any further ideas im always open to suggestions.

Thanks again for all your contributions

lisyloo

If it's just for one day, have you just considered hiring a car?
When I hire a car for business (as I don't have one) it's costs me £30 per day.
There is no excess and I just pay for the fuel.
As a one off would that be an option?

huckster

andrew.mccreadie wrote: »

Huckster, I did try to add my dad as a temporary additional driver for 2 days but no joy... He is a chartered engineer and I am a software engineer. The car is insured for class 1 business use, would this make a difference?
.

Having the class 1 cover on the current policy may be the reason they will not allow a temp add driver on the policy.

I think the comment about hiring a car is not a bad option. Atleast you could both be covered to drive and would not be adding mileage to your own car. My sister often does this if she is needing to go on a long journey. Some car hire companies can be very cheap, if you book in advance.

mikey72

class 1 is usually only insured and spouse. Ask if he can be a named driver, but limited to SDP use only.