Insuring the car for DS and I

[sofakingcool]

DS is hoping to have passed his test soon. The plan is for us to share my car - I work part time.

Journey wise, we'll probably do equal amounts of journeys but DS will probably cover more miles.

Insurance - our plan was to be insured separately, as two main drivers, as I'm aware that we can't have one of us as the main and one as a named as we'll be driving equally?
However, I'm wondering if it's possible to have two insurance policies against the same car?

Also another question, as DS is young most companies require him to have a black box. How does that work when I'm driving? I'm assuming it can't be switched off? The company we are looking at has no restrictions on distance, which was my worry, but in case we don't end up going with them I'd rather not have my journeys eating into DS's driving allowance IYSWIM?

I just get one policy and choose one of you to be main driver. You don't have to have a black box policy, they are optional.

The main driver is generally the registered keeper of the vehicle. I would look to put him on your insurance. Our son is 19 and has been driving for 2 years. He is main driver, having his Dad on the insurance reduced the cost a bit. He has 'black box' with Tesco which was our cheapest option. Insurance for DS's is expensive but does gradually come down each year. DH drives the car with the box.

If you are both using equally then no reason for both to have separate policies, just have him as a named driver. It will still be costly and the excess for young drivers is high, but don’t get a black box unless necessary.
Have a look at Post Office, we had DSS named on our small 1l, relatively new car. It’s was about 1500 for the year. His excess was around the 800 mark tho. He used the car as much as we did

Generally speaking the insurance policy requires the registered owner/keeper to be the policy holder and then you can add additional drivers. The price will likely be much higher with your daughter named, which is to be expected. Black box policies are designed for if your daughter was the owner/keeper and it would be her that earned the no claims bonus and not yourself,as she would be the policy holder.

If you are concerned that your no claims bonus will be effected should she have an accident there is an alternative. Take a look at marmalade named driver policy. This is a policy designed for young drivers wishing to drive their parents car. In practice, you would take out your own policy as normal using your no claims. Your daughter would take out the named driver one and begin to earn her own no claims. If she has an accident, your policy is unaffected as it's her policy that would deal with the claim.

Their website is www.wearemarmalade.co.uk/named-young-driver-insurance

Hope it helps! x