New driver car insurance - main driver on another's car?

Bezopachnye

Hi all. I'm just posting to get some advice about car insurance as I've had varying advice from a variety of people and I'm unsure how to proceed.

I've recently passed my driving test and I'm hoping to be able to start driving to commute to work soon. I'm 24 so I'm still classed as a young driver. My brother has offered to let me use his car and he uses public transport to commute as his car is rarely driven apart from on the weekend and for pleasure. I'll be covering many more miles than him (based on my daily commute), yet he is still listed as the main driver at the moment. He also has my parent listed as named drivers on his policy.

So to become insured on his car, which he owns, I see three potential choices:

• Get added as a named driver on to my brother's policy
• Get added to my brother's policy as the main driver
• Take out my own policy on my brother's car with him added as a named driver

With the first option, I feel there is a risk that this may be classed as "fronting" as I would not be disclosed as the main driver, despite me covering the most mileage.
With the second option, my brother is worried about losing his no-claims bonus in the (hopefully unlikely) event that I have an accident.
Finally, with the third option I'm worried that I would be unnecessarily wasting money by avoiding potentially better options.


What are your thoughts? Thanks

ValiantSon

Bezopachnye wrote: »

So to become insured on his car, which he owns, I see three potential choices:

• Get added as a named driver on to my brother's policy
• Get added to my brother's policy as the main driver
• Take out my own policy on my brother's car with him added as a named driver

Option 1 = You will be using the car more than him so you cannot do this. It would be fraudulent.

Option 2 = You can't be added to your brother's policy as the main driver. You would need to apply for a policy in your own name.

Option 3 = You can do this, but if your brother remains only as a named driver for more than two years then he will lose his NCD. During that two years (or whatever period the arrangement lasts for) he would also not earn any NCD.

You could take out your own insurance policy and he keeps his, but you would need to discuss this with both insurers in advance so that they were happy with this arrangement.

Perhaps a better option is for you to look at buying your own car,

bouncydog1

It is possible to be added on to somebody’s car insurance as the main driver. Suggest your brother speaks to the Company and asks them if they would be prepared to do it. However there is likely to be a very large premium increase and of course if you have an accident, then your brothers NCB may be affected.

mark55man

are you doing this becasue you dont have a car, or becasue you think it will be cheaper on the insurance?

my initial reaction is that its overcomplicated. possibly you should buy his car, and let him borrow it when needed - he wont gain any NCD, but his wont be at risk

ValiantSon

bouncydog1 wrote: »

It is possible to be added on to somebody!!!8217;s car insurance as the main driver. Suggest your brother speaks to the Company and asks them if they would be prepared to do it. However there is likely to be a very large premium increase and of course if you have an accident, then your brothers NCB may be affected.

It is extremely unlikely, especially for a newly qualified driver who is also only 24!

Bezopachnye

So I think the current plan is for my brother to speak to his insurance company about our possible options. Getting my own policy and adding my brother is looking like the way to go at the minute. He doesn't mind not accruing no-claims discount for a short time but would like to keep his discount in the long term

are you doing this becasue you dont have a car, or becasue you think it will be cheaper on the insurance?

Yeah, I don't own a car at the minute. It probably would be less of a hassle to just buy my own car, or potentially buy his car. The goal is to eventually get my own. I see this as a temporary thing, hopefully no more than say 6-12 months. In the meantime, my brother's car isn't getting used that often and my family feels it would be less of a waste by making use of it.

I'm kind of expecting high insurance prices either way so that doesn't bother me at the minute

brentcloning

ValiantSon wrote: »

It is extremely unlikely, especially for a newly qualified driver who is also only 24!

My wife just passed her driving licence at 28, and she was added as the main driver to my policy no problem at all. I told insurance that she would be doing the most miles, as she drives it to work and I only use it at weekends. This was LV and the didn't have a problem at all. Of course, my insurance went from £25 a month to about £100 but she was insured properly and the insurance company had all the information.

ValiantSon

brentcloning wrote: »

My wife just passed her driving licence at 28, and she was added as the main driver to my policy no problem at all. I told insurance that she would be doing the most miles, as she drives it to work and I only use it at weekends. This was LV and the didn't have a problem at all. Of course, my insurance went from £25 a month to about £100 but she was insured properly and the insurance company had all the information.

I'm delighted for you both.

I said that it as unlikely, not impossible, and I was also referring to a driver who is 24, not 28, putting them in a different - and higher risk - age bracket from your wife. Furthermore, as your spouse, living at the same address as you, many insurers will be happy to make such a change, rather than for a sibling living at a different address.

LV are one insurer, not all insurers. As a note of interest, LV will continue to insure people who have held policies on a provisional licence once they pass their test, but many insurers won't do this.

By the way, as this is a money saving forum, you might want to consider paying the premium in one go as paying monthly incurs interest and therefore costs you more.