Add a driver to save money on car insurance

gillians_2

A few weeks ago I added a friend for a short time to my car insurance. They had just moved back to the UK and need to use my car for a while.
I am 40, self-employed, divorced and have 8 years' no claim bonus. I paid £28 to add my friend for about 6 weeks - in fact up until the renewal was due.
So the renewal notice arrived. Price £320 - with my friend still on it. So I rang them up and said, please take the friend off from the renewal date, thinking that would save some money. But no - here's the shock! It was £20 cheaper to leave my friend on the policy. What?? Well actually I don't need that friend on it - sorry, in which case you will have to pay more!!! So let's think about this - that friend doesnt need to use my car any more but let's add a different friend and see what that does to the price. So I added a different friend and - the price went down further! I dont understand it but I am now paying £40 less and my good friend can drive the car if she needs to.
Can anyone explain this to me?
Gillian

sinizterguy

Your good friend is a lower risk than you are - according to their calculations.

If she is a named driver on your policy, they expect that she will be driving for a proportion of the time - during this time, the risk is lower.

So, overall your policy costs you a bit less.

Fairly obvious.

bingbong1978

gillians wrote: »

A few weeks ago I added a friend for a short time to my car insurance. They had just moved back to the UK and need to use my car for a while.
I am 40, self-employed, divorced and have 8 years' no claim bonus. I paid £28 to add my friend for about 6 weeks - in fact up until the renewal was due.
So the renewal notice arrived. Price £320 - with my friend still on it. So I rang them up and said, please take the friend off from the renewal date, thinking that would save some money. But no - here's the shock! It was £20 cheaper to leave my friend on the policy. What?? Well actually I don't need that friend on it - sorry, in which case you will have to pay more!!! So let's think about this - that friend doesnt need to use my car any more but let's add a different friend and see what that does to the price. So I added a different friend and - the price went down further! I dont understand it but I am now paying £40 less and my good friend can drive the car if she needs to.
Can anyone explain this to me?
Gillian

If you declare to your insurers that you will do say 10k miles a year and this is being driven by you only they will then rate your premium based on you covering the 10k miles. If you declare to your insurers that you do 10k miles and your friend is classed as a lower risk driver then the 10k miles would be made up of you and your friend covering the miles meaning a cheaper premium because of the lower risk.

smk77

I thought that this was common knowledge! Obviously not.

My father-in-law is on my wife's policy. Not sure how much of a difference it makes now but a few years ago when she was below 25 it did make quite a big difference.

Quentin

You need to be sure your named driver will inform you of any transgressions (convictions/points/driving incidents etc) so that you declare these to your insurer.

alistair.long

Adding a lady normally makes it cheaper, even if they havent passed

gillians_2

I am 40, had no accident in years. On what possible basis is she lower risk than me?? Becuase she's married? Because she's a teacher? Where's the logic?
Gillian

Derivative

gillians wrote: »

Becuase she's married?

Can make a difference.

jackieblack

gillians wrote: »

I am 40, had no accident in years. On what possible basis is she lower risk than me?? Becuase she's married? Because she's a teacher? Where's the logic?
Gillian

Gillian, I had something similar, I passed my driving test 13 years ago, when I was almost 30.
I bought a small car and when I rang to insure it was told it would reduce the premium to add my husband as a named driver to the policy, despite the fact he did not drive and had never had a single driving lesson in his life! He was never going to drive the car as he didn't have a licence!

I can understand how adding a more experienced driver might have reduced the premium, but not a non-driver.:(

Quote

Make sure they haven't been added as a partner or spouse.

It can happen.

YORKSHIRELASS

This is interesting because my father is 70 and I am the only additional named driver on his policy. I am a 39 year old female who has been driving for 20 years with over 5 years NCD. I have never had so much as a speeding ticket in my life. His fully comp policy with Saga costs £30 a year MORE with me added on.

Bizarre. I am going to shop about for him this year so will bear this in mind.