Changing named driver on our car and what about no claims?

rexmedorum

We are currently looking at moving, which would see my partner driving to work rather than myself. I guess I will have swap the main driver around.

Come renewal time, what would be best? For her to apply for insurence (I own & am registered keeper of the car). Or should I apply with her as named driver?

I have a whole year (yes just 1) no claims, after the change, she will be earning ncd, and I will lose mine, correct?

rodenal

You can do it either way. Either of you can take the policy out but have the other as the main driver, you just need to tell your insurance company that this is the case.

Your no claims bonus is usually valid for use on another vehicle for 2 years after you last had insurance on a vehicle (your proof will have the date on). Only the person taking the policy out will earn additional transferrable no claims on the car - not neccesarily the main driver (as far as I understand). The named driver may be eligible for a discount if they were to take out a policy with the same insurance company the following year.

Hammyman

rodenal wrote: »

You can do it either way.

If she is the main driver, she cannot be a named driver on your policy. She can take out a policy in her own right on the car with you either as a named driver or your own policy.

Lum

It's worth noting that, since we're talking about a husband&wife situation, not mother&son, the insurance company aren't going to be too bothered about which of you is the main driver, unless there's a massive age gap. This is especially true now that they are not allowed to take gender into account.

Your partner may well be taking the car to work daily, but when you go on trips together do you still do the driving? Could this not make you the main driver?

I would just run quotes on both and go with whichever is cheapest.

If you do make your partner the main driver, your NCB is valid for (typically) 2 years and you can put it onto another vehicle insured under your name, maybe a nice weekend track toy if you're into that sort of thing?

paddedjohn

as LUM has said, play around with the quotes and just insure it the cheapest way round, no-one is going to be all that bothered about who is driving the most since you are man and wife.

Nearly_Old

Hammyman wrote: »

If she is the main driver, she cannot be a named driver on your policy. She can take out a policy in her own right on the car with you either as a named driver or your own policy.

Sorry but I don't believe that this is correct. We have 3 cars and I am the owner and RK for all 3 however the insurances are as follows:
Car 1: I am the policy holder and the main driver, my wife is a named driver.
Car 2: I am the policy holder but my wife is named as the main driver and I am named as a second driver.
Car 3: My wife is the policy holder but I am named as the main driver and my wife is named as a second driver.

So we have 2 policies where the policy holder is not the main driver.

This was done at the suggestion of our insurance company when we needed a 3rd policy as it gave the cheapest option. This was because as my wife had been a named driver on Car 1 for over 10 years they gave her a discount (not NCD) equal to the full NCD and she now earns her official NCD a year at a time.

rodenal

Nearly_Old wrote: »

Sorry but I don't believe that this is correct. We have 3 cars and I am the owner and RK for all 3 however the insurances are as follows:
Car 1: I am the policy holder and the main driver, my wife is a named driver.
Car 2: I am the policy holder but my wife is named as the main driver and I am named as a second driver.
Car 3: My wife is the policy holder but I am named as the main driver and my wife is named as a second driver.

So we have 2 policies where the policy holder is not the main driver.

This was done at the suggestion of our insurance company when we needed a 3rd policy as it gave the cheapest option. This was because as my wife had been a named driver on Car 1 for over 10 years they gave her a discount (not NCD) equal to the full NCD and she now earns her official NCD a year at a time.

This is how I understand the situation - the difference between "named" and "main" driver is the key. Anyone can be the policy holder, as long as the main driver is correctly identified