New Driver Insurance Parent's Car

DullGreyGuy

jimjames said:

Have a look at Admiral, they do top up insurance which should fit the bill. I'd also be careful of any insurer offering to "cancel" the policy which could have long term implications for future renewals

There is no issue with a policyholder instigated cancellation, you are thinking of an insurer instigated cancellation (eg for non-payment).

Pforr said:

jimjames said:

Have a look at Admiral, they do top up insurance which should fit the bill. I'd also be careful of any insurer offering to "cancel" the policy which could have long term implications for future renewals

Thanks, but what do you mean by "top up insurance"?

There are policies out there that arent full fat motor policies but instead require the vehicle to have an underlying policy and the top up policy only covers certain circumstances like if you are part time Deliveroo/Amazon driver or you're a learner driver. It can sometimes be cheaper to leave the normal policy untouched and top it up with something the covers hire & reward or just covers the learner whilst they are driving. 

Admiral offer a Learner Driver top up policy which states it also covers newly qualified drivers but you can only buy up to 60 days cover at a time and so you are really just kicking the problem further down the road

Your other option is simply to cancel your current policy and buy a new policy elsewhere in your name with him as a named driver. You may have to be prepared to prove that you are the main driver of the vehicle as this was the old trick to get lower premiums when in reality the kid rather than parent was the main driver (called fronting) and so insurers are always on the lookout for it... if its the sole vehicle in the house, you commute to work in it etc all help prove that the kid is really not the main driver

Pforr

Thanks for contributions.
Is it feasible for my son to insure my car if I change it for him to be the registered keeper (same address as me). I would then cancel my insurance but get added to his new policy as an additional driver. If this is feasible would it mean that I could not be treated as the main driver? Also would it mean that, as an additional driver I would not be able to use the car for commuting?
Just exploring options....    

SandyShores

Pforr said:

SandyShores said:

We took out co-op young driver insurance when DD passed her test.  

So was it a policy in your name with DD as an additional driver or in her name with you as additional driver?

I can't remember now.  I want to say it was in my name when she was living at home and I've just checked the website and you can take out the young driver insurance up to aged 75.  But I do remember at one stage DD borrowed the car for a length of time when she moved out - although I think she took out Aviva insurance for that one and they allowed her to insure my car in her name (not all companies seemed to allow that).  This is pre-covid so a little while ago.

Edit, just looked it up and I was the insurer with DD as a name driver.  Just be aware if you have the black box, that if you change your car or cancel the policy in a certain time you may have to pay for the black box or to have it changed over.  We kept the policy for 18 months and there was no charge when we changed the policy but may be different now.  There was also something about NCD or named driver discount if the young driver stayed with Coop, and I've just had a quick look on their website and they talk about giving you non-black box insurance after 2 years.  It was definitely worth it for the time we had with them.

SandyShores

sheramber said:

 I could go back to my normal £150 a year insurance -

 We had to have a black box fitted but apart from the expense of the policy,

How much was that "expense"?

It was definitely cheaper than insuring the car without the black box but I think it was still over £1,000.  My car is a 1.6 TDI so it was a good quote at the time for a new driver.  But like I say the policy could increase or decrease depending on how you drove - and that included making sure you took corners very sedately.  

jimjames

Pforr said:

jimjames said:

Have a look at Admiral, they do top up insurance which should fit the bill. I'd also be careful of any insurer offering to "cancel" the policy which could have long term implications for future renewals

Thanks, but what do you mean by "top up insurance"?

A policy that runs alongside or on top of your existing insurance. We use it a lot for odd days here and there rather than paying for son to be on insurance full time. Generally costs £15-20 for a day or two which is all we need to allow driving our car rather than his own.

https://www.admiral.com/car-insurance/temporary-car-insurance

Pforr

Thanks for all replies. 
Just a final update:
I decided to cancel my existing insurance with Saga and opened a new one with Admiral (via Go Compare) adding my son as an additional driver. It cost an additional £500 less £100 refund for unexpired portion of my Saga policy (4 months). This will at least give my son a chance to gain experience without the upfront cost of a car and policy in his name. Yes the can has been kicked down the road but he can use the time to save up for his own car/policy.