Car Insurance with occasional young drivers

Polly_Sparky

My 2 sons live in London and don't own cars. When they come home to Wiltshire to visit us and friends they like to use my car. One aged 25 one aged 23 BUT they both work in the TV industry which the Motor Insurance Industry charge a high premium for, even though even though they are both desk based in the office most of the time. What is the cheapest way for me to insure them ?

McKneff

Best place to ask first is your own insurance company, see what they say.

Joe_Horner

Depending on how often they visit, the best bet is probably for them to take out short-term insurance in their own name. It works out VERY expensive if you compare it to yearly policies but has the advantage that it keeps them off your cover (so no comeback on you if they bend it)

Search online for temporary cover and get a few quotes (there are only 2 or 3 companies who do it but they trade under several brands). Last time I used it a weeks cover on a Citroen C5 estate was about £35 fully comp (or something like £12.50 for a day) but I've been driving a little longer than they will have been!

dacouch

Try a local broker (Not Swintons) there are a few companies that will cover broadcast staff if they're back room and / or work on the less glamorous programs. (I've covered continuity announcers and wildlife program staff on normal terms with Insurers before, it takes a call to an Insurer you have a good relationship with).

A good broker will find an Insurer that does not have a problem covering them and at a reasonablish price to add them for either temporary periods or permanently.

I would suggest if you go for a company who will cover as and when needed that you ask them to confirm this in writing to avoid you taking out cover and then they deny agreeing it.

If you use a local broker they will know who to ring which saves you spending hours on the phone ringing around yourself. If you do it yourself each call could take some time as the frontline staff will need to refer it on to senior staff and it's a bit pot luck on whether they understand the appropriate questions to ask in order for the senior staff to understand the situation.

Find out from your sons exactly which programs they work on, which city they're based in, whether they're likely to socialise with any celebrities etc etc. The more information you can provide the better your chances of getting cover at a reasonable price. If the cover is just for when they're at your home on holiday point this out.

Bear in mind Insurers do not like the media as their main worry is they have a high earning celebrity etc in the car who is injured in an accident and sues your sons for loss of earnings and injuries.