Motor insurance for additional drivers

Anthear

Hi - has anyone else come across the 'if you don't have the same address as an additional driver you cannot add them to your policy'??

My insurer has said that I cannot add a partner as they do not live with me.  However, I could add a blood relative if they were 25+ & had full licence for 3 years, and they don't have to live at the same address.

This seems discriminatory to me - why is there an additional risk simply because we do not live at the same address?  Surely the risk is with their age/driving record/motor conviction record?

Anyone else - my insurer has indicated that this is a common industry rule??

Car_54

I haven't added anyone for some years, so thing may have changed, but I've never been asked about my relationship to anyone.

oldernonethewiser

Not an issue I have ever encountered.

If it is a problem, move insurer.

HillStreetBlues

When I added a named driver  (also when I was added as one)  it listed a load of questions but address wasn't one of those.

mebu60

There's a difference between adding an additional driver and adding a partner where the latter will usually be at a slightly discounted rate to an additional driver. Some companies will only recognise the partner relationship if you live at the same address which is annoying. You can be legally married but not live at the same address.

I've been with my partner 14.5 years. We don't live together. I guess an insurance company could consider you'd be driving less to each other's house if you lived together. We're 10 minutes from each other. 

I'm sure you'll find you can add your partner as an additional driver, just not as your partner with that particular company. As @oldernonethewiser says, look elsewhere if you're not happy with that. 

k12479

Anthear said:
...why is there an additional risk simply because we do not live at the same address?  Surely the risk is with their age/driving record/motor conviction record?

Can't say I've ever had that issue. But as for risks:
- More likelihood for vehicle to be kept overnight away from the given address
- Non-cohabiting partners or non-blood relatives living apart perhaps have higher risk of disagreements, relationship breakdown, taking car without consent, etc. costing insurers more money/hassle
- A driver living away may rarely, if ever, drive the car, therefore being unfamiliar with it and less proficient
- It could be an attempt at 'fronting', using a cheaper address

Anthear

Car_54 said:

I haven't added anyone for some years, so thing may have changed, but I've never been asked about my relationship to anyone.

Nor had I until now, but I was asked and because we don't live at the same address, I was told my request had been declined.  

Anthear

k12479 said:

Anthear said:
...why is there an additional risk simply because we do not live at the same address?  Surely the risk is with their age/driving record/motor conviction record?

Can't say I've ever had that issue. But as for risks:
- More likelihood for vehicle to be kept overnight away from the given address
- Non-cohabiting partners or non-blood relatives living apart perhaps have higher risk of disagreements, relationship breakdown, taking car without consent, etc. costing insurers more money/hassle
- A driver living away may rarely, if ever, drive the car, therefore being unfamiliar with it and less proficient
- It could be an attempt at 'fronting', using a cheaper address

Interesting comments - the vehicle is kept overnight at a different address (which also has a private driveway) occasionally,  regardless of whether the partner is on the policy or not and in this case, the other address would be considered a lower risk than where the vehicle is insured.  No attempt at fronting here - it is insured at the address at which it is registered with DVLA.  

Car_54

Anthear said:

Hk12479 said:

Anthear said:
...why is there an additional risk simply because we do not live at the same address?  Surely the risk is with their age/driving record/motor conviction record?

Can't say I've ever had that issue. But as for risks:
- More likelihood for vehicle to be kept overnight away from the given address
- Non-cohabiting partners or non-blood relatives living apart perhaps have higher risk of disagreements, relationship breakdown, taking car without consent, etc. costing insurers more money/hassle
- A driver living away may rarely, if ever, drive the car, therefore being unfamiliar with it and less proficient
- It could be an attempt at 'fronting', using a cheaper address

Interesting comments - the vehicle is kept overnight at a different address (which also has a private driveway) occasionally,  regardless of whether the partner is on the policy or not and in this case, the other address would be considered a lower risk than where the vehicle is insured.  No attempt at fronting here - it is insured at the address at which it is registered with DVLA.  

There’s little or no point in trying to second-guess the insurer’s thinking. Move on and go elsewhere.

EssexExile

I'm with LV= and added a friend last year who lives a couple of hundred miles away. £25.

Anthear

EssexExile said:

I'm with LV= and added a friend last year who lives a couple of hundred miles away. £25.

That's good to know, I certainly won't be renewing again with the existing.  Annoyingly, I've just renewed :-(