Can I insure a car registered in someone else's name?

ripplyuk

My new car is registered in my mum's name for the finance agreement so I'm guessing that it will be her name on the log book even though the car will be at my house and only driven by me. My old car was insured in my own name and I was planning to just ring up the insurer and tell them the new car details. I've been told this will be fine but I'm unsure. Is there likely to be any problems insuring it in my name when I'm not the legal owner? Should I tell them I'm the registered keeper?

bryanb

To answer your question. Only ever tell insurance companies the truth.

You can own the car if she is buying it for you. You can be registered keeper.

ripplyuk

bryanb wrote: »

To answer your questtion. Only ever tell insurance companies the truth.

You can own the car if she is buying it for you. You can be registered keeper.

I would never lie about insurance! As the car is under personal contract purchase finance I assume the finance company are the owners until it's paid off (or we can hand it back after 4 years). I was wondering if I AM the registered keeper as I 'keep' it or does it really just refer to the owner. And do insurers care about this or will they only deal with whoever's name the finance is in?

System

Are the finance company aware that your mother has taken out a contract on behalf of someone else?. This has the potential to become a can of worms

ripplyuk

Yes, we made it very clear. There didn't seem to be any issues.

bryanb

The registered keeper is the person named on the V5.
The owner is the one who bought it, unless it they sell it or give it away

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

It will not be a problem, just be clear. Registered keeper can be different from the owner, insurer is normally the main driver but didn't have to be. What is important to the insurer is where the car will normally be kept, who is the main driver and have you been honest in your answers. There is nothing unusual for relatives to do favours for each other, parents buying cars for children on finance happens all the time.

So, don't panic.

Thinking about it, we have a Golf which we own jointly as a married couple, is registered in wife's name, daughter is insuring and I am a named driver, wife is uninsured on the car and we are near Solihull and the car is usually in Newcastle. Me being named driver saved 30% on the premium, and I'll use the car when it arrive home for holidays, once the odour of dirty washing disappears!.

You should be the registered keeper, but only if that is on the V5C. Basically, it is where legal notifications go so if you want to keep quiet about speeding tickets that should be you, but if it is in mum's name, the dealer might have put her down instead of you.

You should have already notified your insurer though I presume the dealer did something so it could be taxed like a VW 7 day policy.

ripplyuk

Thanks for that Ian. I was beginning to think it would be a big problem!

I think I'll double check with the dealership that my name is going on the V5 and if not, ask if we can get it changed over. It seems to be the simplest way to do it. The car is at my address and it will only ever be me driving it (unless anything changes). It was just easier to put the finance in my mum's name.

Volkswagen gave us a 7 day insurance policy and a letter of indemnity for the tax as they said the disc can take a while to arrive.

dacouch

IanMSpencer wrote: »

It will not be a problem, just be clear. Registered keeper can be different from the owner, insurer is normally the main driver but didn't have to be. What is important to the insurer is where the car will normally be kept, who is the main driver and have you been honest in your answers. There is nothing unusual for relatives to do favours for each other, parents buying cars for children on finance happens all the time.

So, don't panic.

Thinking about it, we have a Golf which we own jointly as a married couple, is registered in wife's name, daughter is insuring and I am a named driver, wife is uninsured on the car and we are near Solihull and the car is usually in Newcastle. Me being named driver saved 30% on the premium, and I'll use the car when it arrive home for holidays, once the odour of dirty washing disappears!.

You should be the registered keeper, but only if that is on the V5C. Basically, it is where legal notifications go so if you want to keep quiet about speeding tickets that should be you, but if it is in mum's name, the dealer might have put her down instead of you.

You should have already notified your insurer though I presume the dealer did something so it could be taxed like a VW 7 day policy.

The OP's situation would not be acceptable to the majority of Insurers.

It's very important that the OP declares the situation fully to the Insurer and makes a note of the date/time and name of the person he speaks to or preferably asks them to confirm the situation is acceptable in writing

bryanb

ripplyuk wrote: »

Thanks for that Ian. I was beginning to think it would be a big problem!

I think I'll double check with the dealership that my name is going on the V5 and if not, ask if we can get it changed over. It seems to be the simplest way to do it. The car is at my address and it will only ever be me driving it (unless anything changes). It was just easier to put the finance in my mum's name.

Volkswagen gave us a 7 day insurance policy and a letter of indemnity for the tax as they said the disc can take a while to arrive.

Seems all OK then, just don't rely on Volkswagen's letter. Even VW can't change the law!