Struggling to get car insurance

oliel

can anyone help im struggling to get insurance need to renew my policy with 17 year old son as main driver as he will be using my car for a new job.   Got a quote then was told i have to pay the whole amount up front which i cant afford they said its because the monthly amount is too high lady said policy will need to me in my name as my son is too young but can put him as main driver quotes i got previously that they won't let me pay monthly were £1980 per year now im getting £5500 im at a total loss on what to do.  needing the insurance sorted befog i go on holiday on wednesday

Ayr_Rage

Do not insure the car in your name and add your son as a second driver if he intends to be the main user.

That is fronting and illegal.

The correct option is for your son to get insurance in his own name.

oliel

Ayr_Rage said:

Do not insure the car in your name and add your son as a second driver if he intends to be the main user.

That is fronting and illegal.

The correct option is for your son to get insurance in his own name.

thats not what i am doing i am putting him as the main driver not a named driver..   I was told he couldn't get insurance in his own name as he's too young and its to expensive and he wouldn't get credit so the insurance company told me to have the policy in my name but with him as main driver. - not named driver.

Jemma01

How far is his job? Can he get the public transport or maybe cycle to work? It's not unusual for quotes to be this high for extremely young and inexperienced drivers.

oliel

Jemma01 said:

How far is his job? Can he get the public transport or maybe cycle to work? It's not unusual for quotes to be this high for extremely young and inexperienced drivers.

unfortunately not we live pretty rural and the buses are not regular or particularly reliable !!  It's 17 miles away.  

Brie

The problem is likely that as someone under 18 years he cannot enter into a legal contract (my interpretation) so you as the adult must enter into the insurance contract on his behalf and then, as you have stated, have him as main driver.  

Likely also that there is a big assumption (based on statistics) that a 17 yo is likely to have a major claim on the policy so they won't want to lose out on the policy not being paid for - hence needing it paid in one go.  Too many younger drivers have an accident bad enough to write off a car (not saying your lad will but stats say....) and when paying monthly they have assumed that as they have no car anymore they no longer need to pay for the insurance when in fact the whole year needs to be paid for.  The monthly payments are not the insurance but in fact a credit agreement aka loan.

Two suggestions.....clear your browser history and try another search for insurance.  This might get you back to the lower price.  Alternative is to use a different computer.  The other thing to do is to have you/your spouse etc listed as alternative drivers.  This assumes that you/spouse will be also using the car which effectively lowers the risk and therefore the price.  Even if you know you might use it once a month to pop to the shops that should be ok.  

Ultimate alternative - get Jr the worst sort of car that he won't want to be seen in, something so not wanted by a young person (sorry don't know what that would be).  But a cheap £200 knock about.  And see what the insurance would be on that, again with him as main and you as alternative driver.  

Ayr_Rage

I guess the issue is the finance as he is too young to enter into a credit agreement.

There is no law preventing a 17 year old from buying their own insurance.

oliel

Brie said:

The problem is likely that as someone under 18 years he cannot enter into a legal contract (my interpretation) so you as the adult must enter into the insurance contract on his behalf and then, as you have stated, have him as main driver.  

Likely also that there is a big assumption (based on statistics) that a 17 yo is likely to have a major claim on the policy so they won't want to lose out on the policy not being paid for - hence needing it paid in one go.  Too many younger drivers have an accident bad enough to write off a car (not saying your lad will but stats say....) and when paying monthly they have assumed that as they have no car anymore they no longer need to pay for the insurance when in fact the whole year needs to be paid for.  The monthly payments are not the insurance but in fact a credit agreement aka loan.

Two suggestions.....clear your browser history and try another search for insurance.  This might get you back to the lower price.  Alternative is to use a different computer.  The other thing to do is to have you/your spouse etc listed as alternative drivers.  This assumes that you/spouse will be also using the car which effectively lowers the risk and therefore the price.  Even if you know you might use it once a month to pop to the shops that should be ok.  

Ultimate alternative - get Jr the worst sort of car that he won't want to be seen in, something so not wanted by a young person (sorry don't know what that would be).  But a cheap £200 knock about.  And see what the insurance would be on that, again with him as main and you as alternative driver.  

thanks yes we are in as being drivers on the policy as well as will use the cr the odd time here n there..  Ive tried gaping in on privacy tab but they all seem to want me email address before i even start?   

oliel

Ayr_Rage said:

I guess the issue is the finance as he is too young to enter into a credit agreement.

There is no law preventing a 17 year old from buying their own insurance.

yes thats is why they had suggested the policy in my name with him as a named driver but they won't let me pay by monthly direct debit only all up front.

400ixl

oliel said:

Ayr_Rage said:

I guess the issue is the finance as he is too young to enter into a credit agreement.

There is no law preventing a 17 year old from buying their own insurance.

yes thats is why they had suggested the policy in my name with him as a named driver but they won't let me pay by monthly direct debit only all up front.

Then there is no benefit in it being in your name. He can have his own policy if it is paid upfront and not on credit.

Who is they? Is this your current insurer as you are talking about a renewal, or the broker you have gone through?

Sounds like this is an already purchased car that is currently owned by you? The vehicle to be insured can be a big factor in the price. You are adding an experienced driver by the sounds of it as a named driver, two can make a difference as well.

Registered address where the car is kept is also a big factor but not much you can likely do about it, although where the car is kept overnight (garage, driveway, road) can make a difference.

Another main element could be the occupation. What job does your son do? Are there other job titles that could legitimately be used that may reduce the price.

Then there is the annual mileage. Too high or too low can both cause issues so make sure that it is realistic and if really low, maybe increase it. If it is high, does it need to be, too much reserve can cost.

You can also change the voluntary excess to see what that does but will likely already be high. One thing to consider is one of the price comparison sites gives £250 excess cover, so that could be used to balance the risk of a higher excess.

On the quote side, get quotes from as many as sources as possible. All of the comparison sites, direct with insurers not on them (Aviva, Direct Line etc).

Good luck.

Brie

Use his email address?  or someone else in the household?  set up a new email address just for his insurance?

get a multi car policy?  might be cheaper ultimately to cancel your own policy and get a MCP for 2+ cars?  Or go through whomever you have your house insurance with?