How do I get insured to drive my parent's car?

Key takeaways

• Named drivers cannot use the car more often than the main driver - this is illegal fronting

• Adding a named driver may increase the car owner’s premiums and any claims will affect the main driver’s policy

• Named drivers typically don’t build their own no-claims discount

How do I get insured on my parent's car?

The policyholder will need to contact their insurer to add a family member to their policy as a named driver.

There may be a charge for this. The more experienced driver’s premiums will also probably rise because the risk of the car being in an accident will increase. However, the insurance cost for the new or young driver will probably be cheaper than if they took out their own separate policy.

Named drivers cannot use the car more than the main driver. If you are designated as a named driver but are using the car more than your parent, this is fronting which is illegal. If an insurer finds out you are fronting, they can cancel the insurance cover and it’ll be much harder to get a policy in the future.  

What does it mean if I'm a named driver on my parent’s insurance policy?  

A named driver is someone who sometimes uses another person’s car. This could be for anything from weekend trips to the supermarket to occasional commuting. But the person who is the named driver cannot use the car the majority of the time - the main driver must do this.  

Adding a named driver to a policy is sometimes known as second driver insurance.

Younger drivers typically pay the highest premiums for motor insurance of any age group. This is because they are seen as having a higher risk of causing an accident. But if they are added to their parent’s policy instead of taking out their own then insurers know that the young driver won’t be driving the car for the majority of the time. That brings down the overall risk of the car being in an accident. Lowering the risk reduces the premiums.   

What are the pros and cons of being a named driver on my parent's insurance policy?

Pros: 

Cons:  

When should I get my own drivers insurance?   

Being a named driver won’t be the best option in all cases. Here are some instances where getting your own insurance policy would be a better choice:  

There are a few ways to reduce the cost of your insurance if you take out your own policy. You could look at specialised young drivers insurance or black box insurance (also called telematics insurance).

Would short-term car insurance be a better choice?  

Short-term car insurance can be a good alternative to named driver insurance if you only need to use another car for a short period of time, such as during the holidays.  

It works by covering a driver for a temporary period, which can be anything from an hour to a few weeks or months.   

What type of car cover do I need?  

There are three types of car cover:

• Fully comprehensive cover

• Third party, fire and theft cover

• Third party only cover

The named driver will usually have the same level of cover as the main driver. You are then covered for the same things as they are, such as personal accident cover.   

However, any extra benefits they have, such as windscreen cover or breakdown cover, may not be extended to the named driver. As all insurance providers work differently, you’ll need to speak to them to find out exactly what cover both you and your parent have.  

What happens if a named driver has an accident? 

If the named driver has an accident, the main driver of the car – your parent – will need to make the insurance claim. The accident will affect their car insurance policy and could push up the price. It will also impact their no-claims bonus.  

This is why it’s important to consider all the pros and cons of being a named driver before you and your parent go ahead with it.   

What is car insurance fronting?  

If someone is a named driver but they are actually using a car as a main driver and drive for the majority of the time, this is known as fronting. It’s a type of insurance fraud and it is illegal.   

There are serious consequences if a driver is found to be fronting:

• The insurance policy could be invalidated

• It could be harder to take out a policy in the future

• It could push up your future premiums significantly

• Insurance claims could be rejected

In this last case, that would leave the driver personally responsible for paying for any repairs to the car or any other vehicles or properties that are damaged, as well as for costs towards medical or compensation bills if other people are hurt. This could be eye-wateringly expensive.

Can I build a no claims discount if I’m a named driver?  

No, named drivers usually aren’t able to build up a no-claims discount (NCD). It’s generally only the main driver that can benefit from NCDs. They are also the person who will lose their no-claims bonus if a claim is made on the policy, even if it was the named driver who was in the car at the time.  

The rules vary here though, so it’s always worth checking with an insurer in advance to see how they handle the no-claims bonus.  

Why is insurance so expensive for young drivers? 

Young drivers are seen as the group most at risk of having a car accident by insurers. There are a few reasons for this, such as the fact that they have not built up any driving experience. 

Statistically, young male drivers aged between 17 to 24 are four times as likely to be killed or seriously injured in a car accident as car drivers aged 25 or over, according to government data.

Can I be a named driver if I have a provisional driving licence?   

Yes, you can still be added as a named driver to your parent’s policy. You can also take out short term or temporary insurance, or take out your own provisional or learner driver insurance policy.

Where can I find cheaper car insurance quotes?   

Shopping around for a new insurance policy is the best way to make sure you find the right policy for you at the best possible price. It’s quick and easy to compare car insurance policies with us.