2 drivers, 1 car - how does it work?

emma-uk

OH just sold his car as we are struggling to keep on top of the increased costs and kept mine as it is more economical plus I work local so don't drive as much as him. His insurance expires next week and he is down as a named driver on my FC policy which expires in 6 weeks. Is he OK to drive my car on my policy although he will have none in his name? Also, I've read that NCD's can be valid for up to 2 years (his is 10yrs+, as is mine) so I was wondering if it was possible to renew when mine is up for whoever is cheaper with a named driver and swap every years or so to keep the NCD if this indeed true? Or would it have to be OH as he drives it the most? Please help, it's confusing and I don't want us to break the law!

Thanks!

lisyloo

Is he OK to drive my car on my policy although he will have none in his name?

Yes it ok, but if he is now becoming the MAIN driver then your policy should be amended.
There may be a policy increase for this (might not be) and there may be an amendment fee.

so I was wondering if it was possible to renew when mine is up for whoever is cheaper with a named driver

Yes you can do it, but you MUST declare the main driver correctly.
If your OH is the main driver and you want to be policyholder then you will have to find a company that offers this, but it can be fone.

and swap every years or so to keep the NCD if this indeed true?

Yes.
You may get questions about your situation but it's perfectly ok to keep 2 NCDs going this way - I do it as we have one car too.

Or would it have to be OH as he drives it the most?

It's pretty simple.
The policyholder gets the NCD.
The main driver MUST be declared correctly.
If you want to be policholder and your OH is main driver then you need to find a company that's happy with that arrangement. I'm not sure all offer this, some companies may insist the main driver is the policyholder, so you might be restricted but if you want to be safe then go to an insurance broker or phone one up.
The main point is that you cannot misrepresent the truth about who is the MAIN driver.
I'm not suggesting you would do that deliberately but as you (thankfully) realise it is possibly for people to inadvertantly slip up.

mikey72

The op has been the main driver for the year, her other half may be using it more over the next few weeks, but overall she is still the main driver this year. So not worth paying an arm and a leg for the paperwork exercise.

Just swop the insurance every year, most companies accept the oh a main driver, and keep you s owner/keeper.

emma-uk

:beer:Thanks for putting my mind at ease. OH will be the main ins holder when mines due up and i'll just be a named driver!

lisyloo

but overall she is still the main driver this year. So not worth paying an arm and a leg for the paperwork exercise.

Hmm......I'd be interested to hear what the industry experts say about that.
My understanding is that if the material facts change that you need to declare that.
You don't take your average "cirumstances" over the year - if your circumstances change then you have to declare it.
Now whether you would bother for a few days/weeks may be a matter for personal conscience as with declaring stone chips and tiny scratches etc.

mikey72

lisyloo wrote: »

Hmm......I'd be interested to hear what the industry experts say about that.
My understanding is that if the material facts change that you need to declare that.
You don't take your average "cirumstances" over the year - if your circumstances change then you have to declare it.
Now whether you would bother for a few days/weeks may be a matter for personal conscience as with declaring stone chips and tiny scratches etc.

I don't think we have many experts. We will no doubt have a view from insurance advocates as they would like to see it, and charge where possible.
The FOS are the people that would matter, and they could decide if the main driver was viewed on the last few weeks of the year, or on who has genuinely driven the car the most for the time on risk.
Where do you draw the line?
I drive my wifes car near enough exclusively if we go on holiday. I wouldn't dream of changing the insurance to have myself as main driver for those few weeks.

lisyloo

I don't think we have many experts.

I thought we had a few that work or used to work in insurance.

I drive my wifes car near enough exclusively if we go on holiday. I wouldn't dream of changing the insurance to have myself as main driver for those few weeks.

Well personally for my own purposes I'd see that as a very temporary change of circs (the same could happen if one of you was ill or hurt your foot).
This however is a more permanent change of circumstances.

If in doubt then I think you'd agree with me that the safest thing to do would be to ask the insurer rather than chance being uninsured.

(I might personally choose to wing it for a few weeks, doesn't mean I'd suggest anyone else does that).

mikey72

lisyloo wrote: »

I thought we had a few that work or used to work in insurance.

Well personally for my own purposes I'd see that as a very temporary change of circs (the same could happen if one of you was ill or hurt your foot).
This however is a more permanent change of circumstances.

If in doubt then I think you'd agree with me that the safest thing to do would be to ask the insurer rather than chance being uninsured.

(I might personally choose to wing it for a few weeks, doesn't mean I'd suggest anyone else does that).

I don't see how lending your car to your spouse for a few weeks is any different at all to be honest. What happens after renewal is also nothing to do with the current insurer.
As to asking the insurer, gone are the days when they could be trusted.
If they could be expected not to answer solely in a way to generate cash, as opposed to fairly, I might.

lisyloo

I don't see how lending your car to your spouse for a few weeks is any different at all to be honest.

If they did an investigation and found out that the named driver was commuting then a claim could be turned down.
If they found out you drove more than usual when you were on holiday or when your wife had a migraine then that isn't the same.
One is regular travel, one isn't. I'm afraid I do see a difference.

mikey72

If the car insured for commuting, I have never seen any policy that doesn't include the same level for named drivers.
In fact my wife is a named driver on my insurance. Not only is she insured to commute, she is insured to use the car for her business, and travel to different places of work, as am I as a named driver on her insurance.

lisyloo

If the car insured for commuting, I have never seen any policy that doesn't include the same level for named drivers.

I didn't say they weren't insured for commuting.
But they aren't insured for being a MAIN driver if not declared as such.

In fact my wife is a named driver on my insurance. Not only is she insured to commute, she is insured to use the car for her business, and travel to different places of work, as am I as a named driver on her insurance.

But if she's not down as the MAIN driver, then she's not insured to be the MAIN driver.
This isn't about commuting it's about who is the main driver.

The OP hasn't mentioned commuting, but has said that the OH would use it the most.

Shall we agree to disagree?