Provisional insurance as named driver - Practical test date not valid?

Midnight_Tboy

Hi,

Wasn't sure if this belonged in the Motoring section or Insurance section.

So my partner has been learning to drive, approx 25-30hours of paid for lessons, however she's had to change instructor.  She was originally booked in for test in a couple of weeks, which I've now cancelled til figure out what to do as this was a bit of a setback

Now the dilemma is whether to start her with another instructor, and have to get used to that persons vehicle, or add her on the insurance with provisional license to my car.  To me this has the benefit of getting used to the actual vehicle she'll be driving, aswell as being cheaper seeing she had everything going well anyway and just rebuilding confidence back up, downside is its an automatic so will limit her license options, tho I'd likely only get an auto in the future too.

On testing this insurance looks to be approx 150 addition for a full year, or about 70 with admin fees to change my current insurance to run until the end of May).

This is choosing that she has a provisional license etc, however something I've read on this site is confusing me

https://www.passmefast.co.uk/resources/learning-to-drive/driving-lessons-and-practice/learn-in-your-own-car

 To begin with, you'll need to make sure you've insured your car. “Hang on,” we hear you cry, “Didn't we just cover insurance?” Yes—insurance for lessons. However, you need to make sure that the policy you've got specifically includes insurance for your practical test. If not, then you'd be driving illegally, and won't be able to take your test.

I understand that as a provisional driver, she needs someone in the car with her at all times, but does that actually mean, that on the actual test day, she needs a different insurance completely? 

Car_54

That article seems to be alarmist: I can't see why the policy needs to specifically include the test. Policies generally require the driver to meet the conditions of her licence, which taking a test does.
However, a quick call to the insurer can't do any harm.

Flugelhorn

You could always look at something like Marmalade provisional drivers insurance which is a short term add on while learning and then than covers the test too 

Midnight_Tboy

Thanks, I dont mind adding her fully as a named driver to the insurance (I did test out of curiosity having her own insurance seperate to mine - about £680 vs my own £300), but yes, the site confuses me suggesting that the test itself isn't covered under insurance, where specified its a provisional license.

I do of course understand that (if) she passes her test that her own insurance is no longer valid due to needing amending immediately to be a full/auto drivers license.....but only thing wondering if its eg because I'm not in the car myself and the driving test guy/girl isn't covered by their own insurances

I'm just trying messing about finding specific answers, and eg AI says the following:

Regular insurance policies typically cover driving lessons, but they may not automatically include coverage for the practical test.Check your existing insurance policy to see if it specifically includes coverage for the practical test. If not, you’ll need to arrange additional coverage.

My current insurance obviously has nothing about this as I have a full license and no named drivers, but when I ran a couple of comparison quotes for a rough value, didnt see any specific mention, without reading too deep - that it seems like an easy thing to potentially be missed

Car_54

Midnight_Tboy said:

I do of course understand that (if) she passes her test that her own insurance is no longer valid due to needing amending immediately to be a full/auto drivers license.....but only thing wondering if its eg because I'm not in the car myself and the driving test guy/girl isn't covered by their own insurances

The test is the only time a learner driver doesn't need a supervising driver, so your absence is irrelevant.  The examiner doesn't need insurance, because he/she won't be driving..

BTW a supervisor doesn't need to be insured, but it's sensible in case he has to take over for any reason.

Midnight_Tboy

Car_54 said:

Midnight_Tboy said:

I do of course understand that (if) she passes her test that her own insurance is no longer valid due to needing amending immediately to be a full/auto drivers license.....but only thing wondering if its eg because I'm not in the car myself and the driving test guy/girl isn't covered by their own insurances

The test is the only time a learner driver doesn't need a supervising driver, so your absence is irrelevant.  The examiner doesn't need insurance, because he/she won't be driving..

BTW a supervisor doesn't need to be insured, but it's sensible in case he has to take over for any reason.

Thanks, was thinking of trying the online chat for my current insurer, but of course, easter weekend doh.....did search on "learner insurance" but looks like they're specific to 17-34 year olds, whereas she's 38.  Wish I could just find something in writing that assures me covered for the test lol - nothing can see different when trying to "make a change" other than making sure to select "Provisional" instead of full on generating the quotes for the named driver

Car_54

Midnight_Tboy said:

Car_54 said:

Midnight_Tboy said:

I do of course understand that (if) she passes her test that her own insurance is no longer valid due to needing amending immediately to be a full/auto drivers license.....but only thing wondering if its eg because I'm not in the car myself and the driving test guy/girl isn't covered by their own insurances

The test is the only time a learner driver doesn't need a supervising driver, so your absence is irrelevant.  The examiner doesn't need insurance, because he/she won't be driving..

BTW a supervisor doesn't need to be insured, but it's sensible in case he has to take over for any reason.

Thanks, was thinking of trying the online chat for my current insurer, but of course, easter weekend doh.....did search on "learner insurance" but looks like they're specific to 17-34 year olds, whereas she's 38.  Wish I could just find something in writing that assures me covered for the test lol - nothing can see different when trying to "make a change" other than making sure to select "Provisional" instead of full on generating the quotes for the named driver

Read the Ts and Cs. Unless it specifically excludes tests (which it won’t), you’re ok.

bryanb

She takes the test as a provisional licence holder. If she passes she will be told at the end