I’m in a terrible mess with my son’s car insurance.

Thistle72

I’ve found myself in a bit of a ridiculous situation with my son’s car insurance and I really need some help.
My 19year old son bought a Corsa and I bought the insurance from Smart Wheels which at the time was £800 deposit then monthly repayment of £157. However for some stupid reason I only said my son would do 6000 miles I have since bought 2000 miles more bringing my monthly to £257.
My problem now is that my son has to drive everyday to the building site as his boss has moved house and can’t take my son anymore meaning he’l drive around about 100 miles a day!!!! I have phoned Smart wheels to buy 3000 more miles and they are now charging me £497 a month!!!!!! This will be until January. Please advise me on what to do. Should I carry onbut there is chance he’ll need more miles or do I cancel this insurance and start a new policy with much more miles which would also cost the same as the next 5 months!!!!!

TIA:eek:

Quentin

If it's cost effective to cancel (take into account that cancellation would mean nil NCD for the part year on cover, and getting a year's NCD to use will reduce next year's premium significantly) and move to a cheaper policy then it looks a no brainer

kazwookie

Can your son get to work by another method?

Lift share / public transport?

How long is he likely to be working on this site before they move to a new site?

MovingForwards

Is the insurance for business use? Only asking as you mention building site.

Thistle72

Thank for your replies.
I thought it would be a no brainer but wasn’t sure if it would be better to hold out with Smart wheels and see if the reduction would be worth it or just swap.
No my son can’t different transport unfortunately the company works all over the region so could be one site in the morning then another 30 miles away in the afternoon.
I actually didn’t put business use on, should I, I thought it might just be commuting?

elsien

Commuting is back and fore to one main workplace. If he's driving to and between different sites he needs business cover.

MovingForwards

It's not commuting if he is traveling to different sites. Commuting is traveling to your permanent place of work.

Business use is for business driving eg travelling to different sites.

I have it on my policy, with 17k miles per year. For me it only bumps my policy by about £10 a year BUT I've had my licence for nearly 20yrs and have full NCB.

My brother has it on his as he travels to different building sites / businesses.

You may be better off cutting your losses and starting again with insurance.

Thistle72

Thank you, I’ll definitely change it to business then I daren't get myself into anymore mess!!!

Quentin

Make sure you educate your son in all this - were there to have been any consequences over your error in his name (eg his insurance had been cancelled following a third party claim when he was driving uninsured leaving him to pay all costs it would be him that suffered financially not only having to pay off any claim but sky high premiums for many years - not you!)

Manxman_in_exile

When you say "I bought the insurance..." do you mean you provided the funding for your son to buy insurance in his own name as the main driver? The insurance isn't in your name?

Thistle72

Yes it is in his name I’m just the paying it.