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Original poster

AIBU to think we don't need to tell the insurer about daughter learning to drive?

381 replies

flawless234 · 07/08/2025 10:33

Hi All,
My daughter has just started learning to drive and we're now doing some practice sessions in our car. She's got her provisional licence and everything, and I'm sitting with her, but we haven't told our car insurance company. I'm thinking, she's not the main driver, it's just a bit of practice with me supervising, so surely we don't need to add her as a named driver?
I've heard some people say you need special learner insurance or to add them to your policy, but it feels a bit OTT for just a few supervised drives. I'm a bit worried about the premium shooting up, to be honest!
Am I being unreasonable to think we can just carry on as we are, or do we really need to contact our insurer? Does anyone have any experience with this? Any advice on what to do would be amazing, as I'm totally clueless about all this.
Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
HappyToSmile · 07/08/2025 11:08

The person Driving the car needs to be insured, not the person sitting in the passenger seat!!! Is this a wind up post?

Fwiw, her insurance won't actually be that much while she is learning, its once she passes it will be £££££

BauhausOfEliott · 07/08/2025 11:08

This surely cannot be real.

HappySummerDays · 07/08/2025 11:07

The op could be taking her daughter out on private land, not on the public road.
She will probably come back to clarify that.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 07/08/2025 11:06

Jesus Christ, they really do walk among us.

sadtimeshardtimes · 07/08/2025 11:06

Good grief

MolkosTeenageAngst · 07/08/2025 11:05

Your daughter needs to be insured, either on your policy or with her own policy. It is illegal to drive a car without insurance regardless of whether you are a learner or not. If you drive without insurance you can get an unlimited fine, be banned from driving and get up to 8 penalty points.

https://www.gov.uk/driving-lessons-learning-to-drive/practising-with-family-or-friends

SixteenClovesOfGarlic · 07/08/2025 11:05

A 1 second Google result from the Government website:

It’s illegal to drive a vehicle on a road or in a public place without at least 3rd party insurance.

Even if the vehicle itself is insured, if you’re not correctly insured to drive it you could get penalised.

Penalties for uninsured drivers:
The police could give you a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 penalty points if you’re caught driving a vehicle you’re not insured to drive.

If the case goes to court you could get:
an unlimited fine
disqualified from driving
The police also have the power to seize, and in some cases, destroy the vehicle that’s being driven uninsured.

MemorableTrenchcoat · 07/08/2025 11:04

Of course you need to insure her, as per the law.

BrickBiscuit · 07/08/2025 11:02

An additional note is that even if you buy separate insurance to cover her, you may still need to inform your own insurer of its existence. Not doing so might invalidate your own policy. Check the terms and conditions or just tell them anyway.

nestofvipers · 07/08/2025 11:01

MargaretThursday · 07/08/2025 10:55

If you don't know that you should insure her then you should relinquish your own licence too as being too ignorant to be allowed to drive.

My thoughts too. And certainly if she doesn’t know this she certainly shouldn’t be teaching anyone else to drive.

pokewoman · 07/08/2025 11:01

If you dont realise that legally, she needs to be on the insurance, I'm not sure you're the right person for her to be practising with.

5foot5 · 07/08/2025 10:59

Waterbortle · 07/08/2025 10:35

Yes, you absolutely need to insure her.

Adding a learner driver is not that expensive. Adding her once she's passed her test will be ££££

This!

jbm16 · 07/08/2025 10:59

It's illegal, of course she needs to insured... what is wrong with some people?

BetweenTwoFerns · 07/08/2025 10:58

Bambamhoohoo · 07/08/2025 10:57

Er? They’ve only posted the OP 🤣

Show quote history

In the opening post she’s tried to justify it.

HelpMeGetThrough · 07/08/2025 10:58

Does anyone have any experience of this? Yes, literally millions of people. Surely this thread is a piss take.

If you have named drivers only on your insurance, she isn’t insured. If the Police stopped you, your car would more than likely be lifted, as the person driving is uninsured.

If there was an accident, that would be fun sorting out for you.

Hadalifeonce · 07/08/2025 10:58

Buy learner insurance. You can buy it by the day week or month. It is illegal to drive without insurance.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 07/08/2025 10:58

Of course she needs to be insured if she is driving on public roads. Surely this is obvious?

Bambamhoohoo · 07/08/2025 10:57

PlasticineKing · 07/08/2025 10:56

JFC. I can’t believe how you’re trying to justify this.

Er? They’ve only posted the OP 🤣

dimsiaradcymraeg · 07/08/2025 10:57

Do you not want to pay the increase in premiums? That’s the only reason I can imagine anyone would not consider adding another driver!

PlasticineKing · 07/08/2025 10:56

JFC. I can’t believe how you’re trying to justify this.

Twistedfirestarters · 07/08/2025 10:55

I don't believe for a minute you don't know she needs insurance. I think you're hoping that someone will tell you they got away with not having it or that if you plead ignorance you'll be ok.

MargaretThursday · 07/08/2025 10:55

If you don't know that you should insure her then you should relinquish your own licence too as being too ignorant to be allowed to drive.

TheGoodEnoughWife · 07/08/2025 10:55

Also driving round supermarket car parks also needs insurance - any road/car park that is used by the public does not count as private land for the purposes of needing insurance. Unless you happen to own a field and she is driving there she needs insurance and you are irresponsible for putting her in the position of doing something illegal. I wouldn’t necessarily think she would know the rules as she is just starting out but you definitely should. Maybe consider your driving understanding if you do not know this stuff.

Generaltwat · 07/08/2025 10:54

Yes. You need to insure her.

DysgraphiaQueen · 07/08/2025 10:54

@flawless234 If your clueless about this you should not be anywhere near a car in the first place, never mind teaching someone else to drive.