New driver and insurance-help please?

churchrat

Evilm wrote: »

If you are the main driver (e.g. over 51% of the time) then she can be a named driver not marked as the main driver.

If she will be driving more than 50% of the time then she should be noted as the main driver or have her own policy.

Just for information a learner getting a policy is cheaper than a fully passed driver since they only drive under supervision. If she got her own policy now then she would be on her way to getting her no claims discount to help out when she passes.

I'm not sure what the rule is on you having an insurance policy on the car at the same time she does so its worth checking this first (obviously you could only claim on one for an incident though).

hi
thanks for all who got back to me on this. The reason I am confused is the issue of "main driver". She repeatedly said that if the new driver was using the car over 30+% of the time then she should be the one who had the main policy. I asked her about this a lot. It does not seem to matter that I would be the one using for the most time, only that she should be using it for a "significant" amount of time.

I am not talking about a case of us insuring a car that only she would drive (fronting) but abut a car that she and I drive. Direct line would want her to be the driver with the main policy because she is the greatest risk, even tho she would drive it for less time than me. I can see thier point, but it does not seem that they are being very clear about it.

The problem would come if she did have an accident and was on her way, for example, to a club she goes to 2 times a week, plus the other drives she has, shops etc. This is not the main user of the car, but would she definitly be a regular user?

I asked for information about this and they have none. Do you just wait until you are in the unfortuanate position of arguing with the insurance company?

I just don't like having to wait and see, but the only other option seems to be to buy an insurance policy for her and have me as named driver.

thanks agian for your thoughts

churchrat

warez22 wrote: »

Hi there,

Like the previous posts state, they are just making sure she is not the 'main' driver.

In order to insure a vehicle, you need to have a financial interest in it, ie, own it. So if you own the vehicle it is not possible for the vehicle to be insured in your daughter's name anyway.

this is not the case. ( but both my husband and myself thought it was) I asked both directline and prudential about this and both said that the "parent" could own the car and be the named driver on the insurance, and not the main policy holder.

Bela

If you child shares the car with you or uses more then you that's mean they are the Main Driver and they need to be the policy holder. Direct Line is correct, when it comes to claim and it comes to light that your child was the main user they can refuse to pay out on your claim.
Insuring cars for children in parents names is called "Fronting" and it is a fraud.

Insurance_Man

With regards to Fronted Risk, Direct Line will look at a number of issues. Has the car recently been bought to co-incide with your daughter getting a licence (full or provisional - it doesnt matter) ? If so, this may indicate "fronting". You say that there are no other cars in the house. If this is an existing vehicle which you have insured in your name for some time and are now just adding your daughter to an existing policy, then this would point away from fronting.

Giving an exact figure as to the percentage of how much each driver does, is not an exact science so is difficult to work out. Quick question - when you daughter goes out in her car, do you think
(a) I hope see is careful in her car
or
(b) I hope see is careful in my car

That may solve your query.

bouncydog1

Bela wrote: »

If you child shares the car with you or uses more then you that's mean they are the Main Driver and they need to be the policy holder. Direct Line is correct, when it comes to claim and it comes to light that your child was the main user they can refuse to pay out on your claim.
Insuring cars for children in parents names is called "Fronting" and it is a fraud.

The child does not need to be the policyholder - it will depend on the insurance company. If the parent owns the vehicle and the child is the main driver, this must be disclosed to the insurance company. The insurance company will issue a policy in the name of the parent with the child as a named driver and the premium charged will be based on the child's age and experience. The policyholder will earn the no claims bonus on that particular policy.

It does depend from insurer to insurer, but there is no legal requirement for the main driver to be the policyholder - some insurers insist they are and some don't. As long as all material facts are disclosed then this would not be fraud.

churchrat

Bela wrote: »

If you child shares the car with you or uses more then you that's mean they are the Main Driver and they need to be the policy holder. Direct Line is correct, when it comes to claim and it comes to light that your child was the main user they can refuse to pay out on your claim.
Insuring cars for children in parents names is called "Fronting" and it is a fraud.

thanks for the replies. Unfortunatly, just using the car less than me can still mean she is the main driver. thats the confusing problem. direct line told me that if she drives the car for about 30% of the time she will be considered a main car user.

I like Insurance Man quick question. She goes out in MY car. If she ever has an accident I hope that Direct Line will see it that way!!

churchrat

warez22 wrote: »

Hi there,

Like the previous posts state, they are just making sure she is not the 'main' driver.

In order to insure a vehicle, you need to have a financial interest in it, ie, own it. So if you own the vehicle it is not possible for the vehicle to be insured in your daughter's name anyway.

Do you know, I have discussed this friends and relatives (honestly, not all the time!) and so many pepole think this and it is not true. I think this is where a lot of parents who have been accused of fronting have fallen foul of the rules.