Car insurance - how to insurance my mothers car

bluep

My father died two months ago and my mother wants to keep his car in her name but insure me to drive her in it when she needs. She isn't able to drive any more for medical reasons (she has a valid license but has never felt confident in going down the path of telling the dvla and passing whatever tests she would need to - other people do drive with her condition but she doesn't feel confident doing so). She would like to stay the registered keeper of the car - is there anyway it can be insured with me as the main driver or named driver whilst she owns the car?). I have my own company car so it wouldn't be my main vehicle (mine is a lot smaller and I think she wants to just still have Dad's car around).

Any idea if this is possible? I've only known insurers to allow you to have a policy on a spouses car...and I'm guessing it can't be in her name.

takman

bluep wrote: »

My father died two months ago and my mother wants to keep his car in her name but insure me to drive her in it when she needs. She isn't able to drive any more for medical reasons (she has a valid license but has never felt confident in going down the path of telling the dvla and passing whatever tests she would need to - other people do drive with her condition but she doesn't feel confident doing so). She would like to stay the registered keeper of the car - is there anyway it can be insured with me as the main driver or named driver whilst she owns the car?). I have my own company car so it wouldn't be my main vehicle (mine is a lot smaller and I think she wants to just still have Dad's car around).

Any idea if this is possible? I've only known insurers to allow you to have a policy on a spouses car...and I'm guessing it can't be in her name.

Well firstly I wouldn't agree that she has a valid licence if she has a condition that she has to report to the DVLA but has failed to do so.

You would have to be the main driver anyway because your the one who drives the car the most, if you put yourself as a named driver that would be illegal and would be fronting. But I don't know what an insurance companies view would be of having someone on a policy that legally couldn't drive.

So it's just a simple case of you going on a comparison site putting yourself as the main driver and your mother as the registered keeper and owner. But with that kind of arrangement and no no claims discount it won't be very cheap.

Quentin

If your mother has a condition that is supposed to be notified to DVLA then she must also disclose it to any insurers she approaches for cover.


Failure to do so would allow any insurer of any policy she was covered by to void the policy!

McKneff

at the moment, she doesnt have a valid policy....

Why doenst she just give you the car and then you can just run her about when she needs you to.

bluep

Sorry, I wasn't clear - it's not in her name at the moment, it's off the road. She hasn't driven for a long time - I used the wrong words - she could have a valid license if she sorted it out and made the appropriate declarations to to the DVLA - she wouldn't dream of driving or getting insurance to drive without it all being declared and above board.

I suppose my question really should have been can I insure it for me to drive with her still as the owner/registered keeper or is that just a no for insurance companies. Sounds like even if they did allow it, it would be v expensive.

Thanks for the responses guys.

jaybeetoo

bluep wrote: »

I suppose my question really should have been can I insure it for me to drive with her still as the owner/registered keeper or is that just a no for insurance companies. Sounds like even if they did allow it, it would be v expensive.

Some companies will (e.g. Direct Line) and some won't (Co-op) allow you to be the main driver and your mother to be the owner/registered keeper.

You may get an introductory discount if you have NCD on another car or other insurance products with the company.

mattk_180

takman wrote: »

You would have to be the main driver anyway because your the one who drives the car the most, if you put yourself as a named driver that would be illegal and would be fronting.

It's not illegal or fronting at all for him to be a named driver as long as they declare he is the main user. Plenty of people are the main user of a car without being the proposer. Fronting comes where you lie to get a cheaper quote like adding a youngster as an "infrequent" user when in reality it is their car and use it every day. In this situation it would be more than above board.


That said, considering the other complications involved, I would suggest insuring it in your name as it is quite difficult to take out insurance in the name of someone that can't drive. Just declare your mother owns it and more than a few insurers will be happy to quote on it. A lot more so than if it was your mates car from down the road.

csgohan4

would it be easier to gift the car to you using the DVLA car documents? since you will be using it mainly, not sure why your mum wants to remain the keeper when she isn't going to drive it.