Car Insurance for Daughter (2 Policies)?

stuart1976

I seem to be getting conflicting answers so I am hoping someone here can clear this up for me.

My daughter (17) has just got her provisional and would like to drive my wifes car for practice (she has driving lessons booked but due to the waiting list they wont start until after New Year).

We contatced my wife current insurers (Sainsburys Bank, wife is policy holder, I'm on as named driver) but they told us the underwriters would not allow our daughter to be added to the policy as a named driver, however could not give a specific reason why.

We then looked into getting a new policy with a different provider (wife as policy holder, myself and daughter as named drivers), but the prices were astronomical (£120.00 p/m upwards)

It then occured to me to take look and see what the prices were like if she had her own policy, separate from ours, and the prices actually came down a lot (cheapest we were quoted was just over £27.00 p/m).

However, when looking into if this was legal I seem to be getting conflicting results.  Some say you can but why pay double for one car, some say you can't (I think even one of the older threads on here said you couldn't), but just want a straight answer.

-EDIT-

Think I may have answered my own question

400ixl

Your daughter would need to get an on top policy which covers her for when she is driving. Your wife's base policy covers the car when she is driving and also for fire & theft.

Having two full policies creates issues as to who is responsible when your daughter is not driving.

DullGreyGuy

400ixl said:

Having two full policies creates issues as to who is responsible when your daughter is not driving.

Generally, its more if no one is driving (or if someone not named on either policy is driving)... so if the car is broken into then both policies are on cover and both will say it doesn't cover a claim if another policy does. In practice it slows claims and in the end each cover 50%

In principle if something went wrong with your policy such that it didn't cover an accident you were at fault for then the courts could force your daughters insurance to respond and if it did then legally they'd be able to recover the money from your daughter or the driver at the time. Obv if her policy didn't exist then the same happens but it's a right to recover from you or the driver. 


To avoid these issues top up policies only are in effect when your daughter is driving and so avoid most the other issues. It does leave the single issue that if daughter was drink driving (clearly unlike but for completeness) then your insurance is the RTA insurer on the vehicle and as such it would payout third party claims and have a right of recovery from either you or daughter.

mgfvvc

Google Learner Driver Insurance.