Daughters car unused while at Uni

handyandy1

So my daughter is away at Uni and her car is sat on the drive unused. I go out and start it once a week or so but it's on SORN so I can't run it round the block. I noticed the brakes were getting a bit sticky when I had to move it he other day so I figured I might as well get some use out of it, especially as it is more economical than my car (and doesn't have all the dog hairs!!)
Obviously I will have to tax it but I'm wondering what would be the best way to insure it - eg add it to my existing policy or follow the comparison sites route. Is it likely to be a problem that the car is registered in my daughters name (same address)?
She is 19 and has been driving for under 2 years so insuring it in her name would be foolishly expensive although it would be good if there was an option to get her cover for when she comes home if she needs it.
If anyone has been in a similar situation or has any advice, I would be extremely grateful
Thanks in advance

[Deleted User]

Leave it in gear and keep the parking brake off, that will stop the brakes from sticking.

You'll have to tell the insurers that the car is not registered in your name and as such the premium will probably go up. Also you insuring the car while it's in her name and possibly adding her as a named driver could be seen as fronting in the eyes of the insurer if you ever had to make a claim.

LandyAndy

Both my sons have cars and are at university and have been for some years. I fund the cars fully, except fuel when they are home, and I am a named driver on their insurances so I use them a couple of days each week to keep them active while they are away.


It might not be the cheapest thing to do but, as you are finding out, leaving a car standing for ten or twelve weeks at a time does it no good at all.


As for insurance, my sons were nearly 19 and just 19 when I bought their cars. First years insurance in their names was £950 for a Peugeot 307, and £875 for a Renault Megane. That was four and a half and two and half years ago respectively. Both now have premiums under £450.

chrisw

Deleted_User wrote: »

You'll have to tell the insurers that the car is not registered in your name and as such the premium will probably go up. Also you insuring the car while it's in her name and possibly adding her as a named driver could be seen as fronting in the eyes of the insurer if you ever had to make a claim.

The premium won't go up at all, the registered keeper is irrelevant. Likewise, as long as you correctly declare the main user, ie who uses the car the majority of the time, this is not fronting.

LandyAndy wrote: »

As for insurance, my sons were nearly 19 and just 19 when I bought their cars. First years insurance in their names was £950 for a Peugeot 307, and £875 for a Renault Megane. That was four and a half and two and half years ago respectively. Both now have premiums under £450.

You did well to get it down to that. My 18yo son's paying £1800 on a Renault Megane and that's with a black box.

handyandy1

Thanks for the quick replies :T
Just been in touch with my current insurers and they don't do a multi-car policy so next step is comparison sites!
I guess I could always get it put in my name....
Thanks for the tip re the brakes LeeUK:)

[Deleted User]

chrisw wrote: »

The premium won't go up at all, the registered keeper is irrelevant.

I'm only quoting what has been said on here in the past.

Likewise, as long as you correctly declare the main user, ie who uses the car the majority of the time, this is not fronting.

I didn't say the OP will be fronting, I said the insurer may look at it that way as it will display all the hallmarks. E.g. daughters car with a main driver being someone older with lower premiums.

Ganga

You could always jack up the car and use the engine to spin the wheels ( that is if the handbrake is on the driven wheels ) then block the wheels and leave the handbrake off.

System

LandyAndy wrote: »

Both my sons have cars and are at university and have been for some years. I fund the cars fully, except fuel when they are home, and I am a named driver on their insurances so I use them a couple of days each week to keep them active while they are away.

It might not be the cheapest thing to do but, as you are finding out, leaving a car standing for ten or twelve weeks at a time does it no good at all.

The irony is that actually not only is it the expensive option but its probably illegal because you are technically fronting albeit not benefitting from cutting the cost of the insurance. The academic year is 39 weeks. For 39/52 weeks of the year or over 2/3 of the year you are the sole user of those cars. That means that you are the main driver and therefore should be the policy holder with them as the named drivers.

The beauty of rectifying this unintended law breaking is it'll significantly cut the cost of the insurance. Sometimes the insurance companies win, sometimes they lose.

BeenThroughItAll

Tarambor wrote: »

The irony is that actually not only is it the expensive option but its probably illegal because you are technically fronting albeit not benefitting from cutting the cost of the insurance. The academic year is 39 weeks. For 39/52 weeks of the year or over 2/3 of the year you are the sole user of those cars. That means that you are the main driver and therefore should be the policy holder with them as the named drivers.

The beauty of rectifying this unintended law breaking is it'll significantly cut the cost of the insurance. Sometimes the insurance companies win, sometimes they lose.

Being the person with access to the vehicle for more of the time does not a main driver make.

LandyAndy

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Being the person with access to the vehicle for more of the time does not a main driver make.

Exacly. The mileage I do in these cars is a small part of my overall mileage, the rest is done in my own car insured in my name. Nor do I do the majority of the miles these cars cover in a year.

Meanwhile my sons have cars that they own and are insured in their names and are building up useful no claims discounts. That is my gift to them that I think justifies the extra premium over what I might get in my name. I was certainly grateful that my parents did the same for me.

When I renew the insurance each year I explain exactly the usage to the insurers and they don't bat an eyelid.

LandyAndy

chrisw wrote: »

You did well to get it down to that. My 18yo son's paying £1800 on a Renault Megane and that's with a black box.

I waited until it was over 12 months after they passed their tests. That gave them a year's driving 'experience' even though they didn't drive in that time.

That is combined with the fact that I live in semi-rural Hampshire which I suspect is a low premium area.

Both my sons cars are 1.6 petrol.

No great effort to find those prices. Straight out of Moneysupermarket.