Car Insurance query, provisional or full?

puddy

Hello, I am currently learning to drive and have a test booked in the next couple of weeks. I have seen a car that I really want and realise that I obviously have to insure it now if I buy it now even though I havent passed yet.
I am 35, had my provisional licence since I was 17 and will be (hopefully) passing in an automatic.

I realise that I havent got any ncb and as a new driver, will be paying a lot. However, one thing I have noticed is that if I complete the quote forms as if I have passed, it costs more than if I completed as the situation is now, ie provisional. It gets a bit cheaper if I put a friend on as an additional driver as they are more experienced than me. Im getting quotes back around the 500 mark

Therefore, my question is this, if I get a car now, get insurance now and then inform them (hopefully) in a few weeks that there is a change in my circumstances in that I have passed my test, what will happen to my insurance seeing as I have already paid for it?
I think it is based on the years that you input that you haveheld a licence, however, only Norwich Union seem to take into consideration the years you've had a provisional as well as your full licence, which for me, makes 18 years. The others dont, which means Im inputting that Ive had the licence (full) for less than a year.

Thanks

soolin

if your circumstances change after taking out insurance and you notify them as you are legally obliged to do, then yes your insurance will be adjusted accordingly.

I was in a similar sitution as my learner son was added on occasions as a one off driver on my policy (usually when we trundled him round the streets to give him some practice), As soon as he passed his test and could drive unaccompanied these one off payments increased. It's all based on risk...a learner in a car with a fully insured person with a full license is considered at less risk of an accident than a newly qualified driver out on their own.

Another thing to consider is that if you have your own insurance as a provisional driver you will have to make separate arrangements for your accompanying driver to be covered as well. For learners both you and the other person MUST be covered. Many people who have their own cars will have basic insurance that covers them to drive or to supervise someone in another car, but don't take that for granted, check first.

puddy

thanks soolin, my insurance will be in my name with a friend and my dad as additional drivers, they each have their own cars with themselves as named drivers. im not driving with anyone apart from the driving instructor, who i assume is insured??

do you know if all insurance companies put up the price for provisionals who have just changed to a full driver?

soolin

Jenner,

I realise at the moment that you are driving with your instructor but I assume that is in his car, not one that you own? If you get your own car and have lessons or just drive with friends supervising then regardless of the person that accompanies you they will need insurance as well.

The problem with putting a different user on as 1st named is firstly it might look odd to have the address of the main user different to the registered address of the keeper/owner of the car. Secondly they will not be able to use any of their own no claims insurance if they are using it for their own car and lastly you will never build up ypur own no claims if you are not the main insured (except for one company that advertises name drivers being able to build up their own no claims discount). Without any no claims your insurance will never reduce to a sensible amount.

One other thing, whilst I am sure that your friends are trying to help you, but you do need to check what repercussions, if any, would occur if you were to make a claim on the insurance, would they, for instance, have to declare that a policy on which they were first named was subject to a claim, which in turn would increase their own premiums in future.

soolin

Sorry forgot to add a couple of points. Firstly shop around, insurance quotes vary a lot and one company might be much better for you than another. Secondly, consider doing your 'pass plus' as many companies will discount your insurance on the basis of that certificate.

puddy

Hi soolin, I might not have made it clear in my response, the main driver on my car, will be me, im only putting my friend and my dad on as additional drivers, because it takes my insurance premium down. so the the insurance address is the same as the registered owners address, (ie me!). They will be sitting with me whilst im driving around before i (hopefully) pass. Does that make sense? is that the right thing to do?

daveyjp

Unless the car is particularly rare I would advise against buying it until you have passed. Without a licence how are you going to test drive it? Always test drive a car, whilst you may like the look of it you may not like driving it!

puddy

thanks davyp. i went to see the car today and you're right, i wasnt allowed to test drive the car. bit of a shame, however, i took someone with me who is quite experienced and drove it with me in the car, she drives an automatic, which is what this car is and she said it felt fine. ive sat in the drivers seat and fiddled about with the controls and it feels nice. its an automatic new shape micra and another friend of mine has a new shape micra (manual) which ive driven around in a lot, so i know im comfortable with it. it was a real shame that i couldnt drive it but ive been looking for this particular car, red micra, new shape automatic at a price i can afford for months,,, so didnt want to let it get away. do you think its a big mistake?? its my first car (obviously) im getting a rac check done