Car insurance - Policyholder vs Main Driver

noitsnotme

Our teenage son has their own car insurance policy (he is declared as the main driver) with my wife and I as named drivers. He is off to university in September and won't be taking the car in his first year. While he's away it will be used mainly by my wife but that will make her the main driver as the policyholder will be away and only using it when they return during uni holidays.

What is the best way to deal with this, making sure everything is kept legal and above board….?

1. Assuming it's allowed, keep son as policyholder but declare my wife as the main driver. This will at least allow him to keep earning a NCD (assuming my wife doesn't have an accident!).
   
   
2. Don't renew my sons policy and insure the car in my wifes name instead with son (and me) as named driver. Wife does not currently have any other policies in her name. Would most likely be much cheaper but son misses out on a year of NCD.

I guess it comes down to cost vs NCD. Is there anything else I haven't considered?

daveyjp

Either should work. You could do both.

Change main driver from September until son's policy expires, then change to a policy for your wife with named drivers.

Your son's NCD should be protected for a couple of years.

maman

As your son is likely to be away for 3 years, at least, it could be quite money saving to have your wife as the main driver. 👍

noitsnotme

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82061190#Comment_82061190

The policy is up for renewal at the end of this month so should really make the decision then.

noitsnotme

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82061215#Comment_82061215

He won't be taking it in the first year due to living in halls of residence where parking is limited or non-existant. It's likely he will take it in the second year when he moves to private rented but then he can go back to being the declared main driver.

chrisw

Who is the owner and/or registered keeper? If it's in your son's name but insured in your wife's name with your son as named driver, this could cause awkward questions to be asked even though it's strictly legitimate. You might be asked to provide evidence somehow of the main driver in the event of a claim.

noitsnotme

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82061355#Comment_82061355

That's a good point, he is. I think we will keep it in his name and declare my wife as the main driver when he goes away, at least he continues to build up his NCD that way.

Herzlos

Does your wife need the car and does she need to maintain her NCD? You said she doesn't currently have a policy in her name.

If yes and yes, have your wife insure it in her name and and as main driver and add son as another driver. It'll be easy to prove that he doesn't have access to it for most of the year.

if it's no and no, consider whether keeping the car is worth the hassle. If it's just going to sit there depreciating then it may be worth selling it now and buying another one when he needs it again.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82061551#Comment_82061551

Not all insurers allow you to declare a maindriver separate to the policyholder, though its much more common than it used to be.

In some cases its the main driver that accrues the NCD not the policyholder.

In short, just double check before buying that its going to work as planned, certainly its possible to do it but its not universal.

Ectophile

Is he going to be using the car during the university holidays? If so, he could still end up being the one who uses the car the most.

SacredStephan

I'd suggest that you confirm with the Insurer how they define "main driver". Is there a charge to vary the policy during its term?