'Named drivers' and insurance on other vehicles

KG · 4 November 2004 at 4:45PM

When my partner and I moved in together we sold my old banger of a car and opted to keep his sleek, efficient, new honda.

The only problem this raised was that neither of us wanted to lose out no-claims bonus and so there was a bit of a power struggle as to whose name the insurance policy for the car should be in, and who should be the 'named driver'.

We resolved this (with help from this board) by opting to have the car insured in my name one year and his the next which still allows us to carry on our no-claims bonus. Somehow my partner managed to bag the first year of being the policy holder and I was relegated to 'named driver' (even though I am sure that I would be cheaper to insure...).

However, I have since found out that as I am only a named driver I am no longer covered third-party to drive other vehicles, as I have been in the past. This is a bit of a pain in the neck as I regularly borrow other people's cars.

Is there any inexpensive way of us both keeping our no-claims bonus and both being able to drive any car?

KG

scheming_gypsy · 4 November 2004 at 5:18PM

you could buy the cheapest of cheap grotty old muck heap and insure it but never drive it..

KG · 4 November 2004 at 5:54PM

Hmm - don't know where I would put it. No where to store it off road so would have to pay tax which would mean it would need an MOT.

Thanks anyway.

KG

dougk_2 · 4 November 2004 at 6:30PM

Do as was suggested but find another insurer who will cover you both third party on other cars.

All insurers do things differently. My brother being a mechanic has to choose policies carefully as many insurers exclude third party cover on other cars as they see it as some sort of extra risk.

MarkyMarkD · 4 November 2004 at 9:03PM

I believe that the "driving other cars" extension is usually only for the insured.

And you are fairly reckless to rely on this extension - as you know it's only third party. It would be fairly unpleasant if you wrote off one of your friends' cars.

If you relatively regularly drive other people's cars, then they should name you as a driver. It won't necessarily cost much extra unless you have a bad driving record/convictions/whatever.

KG · 5 November 2004 at 1:26PM

Thanks for the info. The problem with Marky Mark D's suggestion is that I have a big family all over the country and so it's not possible to be insured on all of their cars or pick one or two to be insured on. My main priority is being legal to drive.

I will check out third party cover as suggested by dougk. I'll also check out what the cheapest deal on thrid party on any car is in a separate policy to se ehow it compares.

KG

lisyloo · 5 November 2004 at 1:52PM

I think your requirement is rather unusual.
i.e. to want to drive a large number of cars (which is hard to specify) whilst not owning your own.

This is quite unusual (I've not heard of it before).

Your best bet might be to consult an insurance broker to ask for their advice.

Other options are to find some space to store one i.e. local farm and pay a small rent and get cheapest car you can find i.e. one that's about to be scrapped.

KG · 5 November 2004 at 4:52PM

Thanks Lisyloo.

But wouldn't I need an MOT at the very least to have it insured?

K

lisyloo · 5 November 2004 at 5:32PM

I am sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I'm not aware of any such requirement.

You can't take it out on the road without an MOT but that's not what I was intending/suggesting.

You are actually allowed to drive a car without an MOT on the road if you are going to an MOT appointment and I'm pretty sure people are insured at that time.

Obviously you should check with the insurance company/broker as any opinions provided are not expert.

scheming_gypsy · 5 November 2004 at 7:40PM

Thanks Lisyloo.

But wouldn't I need an MOT at the very least to have it insured?

K

Nope, never had to provide details of MOT or tax to insure a car. You'll need proof of MOT if you're ever going to try and make a claim on the insurance for it

rhartley · 16 November 2004 at 3:00AM

I believe that the "driving other cars" extension is usually only for the insured..

I believe that Norwich Union's certificates (issued with policies through their broker channel) do allow driving other cars by both insured and spouse. Not sure about their NU Direct policies.

Obviously, any one contemplating using this extension should always check their own motor insurance certificate before driving.

'Named drivers' and insurance on other vehicles

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