Registered keeper - Who’s best?

chocolatepennyfarthing

My 17 year old son has just passed his driving test and I'm looking at buying him a little car. I am however unsure as to who should be named as the registered keeper. While I would have paid for the car, he will be the main driver, but that said I would like some say in how and when the car is used and if possible keep the insurance cost to as low as possible.
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I would therefore welcome some advice. For example does the main driver need to be the registered keeper? Or is it ok for me to be the registered keeper for two cars (I.e. mine and the one I have bought for him) - and if so can I insure one of them in his name? Or should I insure both and put him down as a named driver on one of them as he will be the main user.



I am keen to ensure that whatever I do is legal and that my son has the correct insurance cover, I would welcome any advice on this matter.


PS I would also welcome the names of any recommended insures for young drivers.

AdrianC

If he's driving that car most, then he's the main driver as far as the insurance are concerned.

The registered keeper is the person legally responsible for the car. The person who will get speeding tickets through. The person who gets landed on if it's untaxed.

Is it HIS car? Or your car? Never mind this "say about how the car's used" - you know that's not going to happen - but if he wants to sell it, or modify it, or whatever - CAN he? Are you buying it for him? Or is it your car that he can use?

Geodark

chocolatepennyfarthing wrote: »

My 17 year old son has just passed his driving test and I'm looking at buying him a little car. I am however unsure as to who should be named as the registered keeper. While I would have paid for the car, he will be the main driver, but that said I would like some say in how and when the car is used and if possible keep the insurance cost to as low as possible.
.
I would therefore welcome some advice. For example does the main driver need to be the registered keeper? Or is it ok for me to be the registered keeper for two cars (I.e. mine and the one I have bought for him) - and if so can I insure one of them in his name? Or should I insure both and put him down as a named driver on one of them as he will be the main user.



I am keen to ensure that whatever I do is legal and that my son has the correct insurance cover, I would welcome any advice on this matter.


PS I would also welcome the names of any recommended insures for young drivers.

If he is going to be the main driver, insuring it in your name and just having him as a named driver is illegal - it's called fronting - and can end up invalidating the insurance. if it is his car and he is the main driver - best to have it registered and insured that way.

ChumLee

Geodark wrote: »

If he is going to be the main driver, insuring it in your name and just having him as a named driver is illegal - it's called fronting - and can end up invalidating the insurance. if it is his car and he is the main driver - best to have it registered and insured that way.

Or as the named drive cause that legal.

Aretnap

Legally either of you can be the registered keeper provided you're willing to take responsibility for ensuring that the car is taxed, insured etc. there is no limit to the number of cars you can be the RK of, nor any requirement that you drive them regularly, or even at all. (You do not even have to have a driving licence to be an RK)

Practically it's probably slightly easier for your son to be RK as some insurers won't insure a car where the main driver and the RK are different people (my aunt had this issue with Direct Line trying to insure her old car for her daughter to drive), so you're potentially reducing your number of possible insurers, and so potentially not getting the best deal.

Plus if he does something really stupid like driving in every bus lane in London if he's the RK it means that you don't risk ending up being ultimately liable for his fines. Hopefully this won't be an issue but you never know with teenagers - a cautionary tale from another board here http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=58638&hl=

The RK does not have to be the owner of the car - you can retain ownership of it while making your son the RK if you like.

Most insurers will ask who is the main driver of the car - if they do ask you must answer honestly or risk having the policy voided in the event of an accident. You can take out the policy yourself if you like, so long as you're honest about the fact that it's your son who will usually be driving it.

arcon5

Geodark wrote: »

If he is going to be the main driver, insuring it in your name and just having him as a named driver is illegal - it's called fronting - and can end up invalidating the insurance. if it is his car and he is the main driver - best to have it registered and insured that way.

What a load or carp. A person can be a policy holder and have a named driver whom is declared as the main driver on the policy. Fronting is op declaring herself wrongly as the main driver, not what you describe.