Married couple first car no idea - how to register?

Ectophile

DullGreyGuy said:

There is no registered keeper... there is no database of car ownership at all. 

I hope that was a typo.  There's no registered owner.  But the registered keeper is the person named on the V5.

jimjames

LightFlare said:

(edit) you mention that she is "foreign" -- make sure you are aware of any licence restrictions  and the requirements to obtain a full UK licence etc

OP already says they both have full UK licences.

LightFlare

jimjames said:

LightFlare said:

(edit) you mention that she is "foreign" -- make sure you are aware of any licence restrictions  and the requirements to obtain a full UK licence etc

OP already says they both have full UK licences.

I know @CliveOfIndia already pointed it out and I acknowledged.
Nice to know Im not the only one who doesn’t read the threads/posts properly 😉

Yet foreign enough to mention her being foreign and not comfortable with driving on "our" side of the road - yet obviously not foreign enough to have passed a UK driving test.

I was just checked that assumptions weren't being made over her having a full overseas driving licence somehow being misinterpreted incorrectly

luci

The V5C and VED are in my name, as the OH won't speak companies, etc on the phone and I deal with all the admin, etc. I switch insurance between us each year to maintain both of our NCD. Even when the insurance is in my name, I put OH down as the main driver, but I am the owner and registered keeper. The difference in the cost of insurance between us is usually less than £10.

CliveOfIndia

luci said:

I switch insurance between us each year to maintain both of our NCD.

That's exactly what we did during lockdown when we took one of the cars off the road as we didn't really need it - switch insurance each year to maintain both NCDs.

Some insurers seem to prefer it if the policy-holder is also the RK, and may load the premium slightly if that's not the case.  But anecdotally it's not such an issue where the RK and policy-holder are spouses - they don't seem to be as bothered if one spouse is the RK and the other is the policy-holder.  At least, that was our experience - like yourself, we found the difference in premiums was a couple of quid or so, whichever way round we did it.

luci

When you apply for insurance, they ask ask if you are the RK. If you say no, it asks who the RK is and the first option is spouse.

EnPointe

FirstnameSurnameNumbers01 said:

My wife and I both have UK licenses but have never owned a car before, which we plan to change in the next month or so. Joint registration is not allowed and we are in over our heads about registering the car, car tax, insurance etc. My wife will supply the majority of the funds, but because she is foreign and nervous about driving on our side of the road I am likely to do the bulk of the driving for a while. It seems as though car insurance quotes cost roughly the same for any combination of us as main driver plus named driver. However, do any of the below approaches have hidden fees or other negatives? Is it better to:

1) register it all in her name, with me just as a named driver under the assumption that she will eventually start driving.

2) give me the funds to buy it in my name as the owner, keeper, and main driver.

3) her as the owner and me as the keeper and main driver

4) it literally does not matter please stop worrying!

Thanks in advance!

1.  the Registered Keeper is not the owner  , therefore  either of you  could  be RK  without it impacting on ownership 
2.  you are the main driver 
3. a lot of insurers are  happy fdor  a car  to be owned by and RK  be one spouse and the main driver  be the other 

prowla

DullGreyGuy said:

Mark_d said:

Since you would be doing most of the driving, you should be the main policyholder for the insurance.  It might make things simpler if you are also the registered owner and keeper of the vehicle.

There is no registered keeper... there is no database of car ownership at all. 

You can jointly buy the car if you wish, as above, it only reflects in the invoice you get. If you're the main driver it does make sense for you to be the registered keeper (the person the thats contacted if there is a problem - eg car triggers a speed camera) and policyholder. 

For spouses insurers dont really care too much unless there is a massive age gap or difference in claims history hence the minimal differences you see when trying different combinations. 

There is a registered keeper, but there is no registered owner.

luci

When applying for insurance, it asks who the owner and main driver are, but not the RK.

LightFlare

luci said:

When applying for insurance, it asks who the owner and main driver are, but not the RK.

Mine has always asked that