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Original poster

Black box car insurance - not a named driver - help needed

20 replies

FranziskaSchmidt · 08/06/2023 19:23

Husband has just insured son's first car for him with Ticker. Husband is a named driver, I am not. His view was that if I drive it, it would be covered on my policy. Except that the black box expects to be able to transmit driver information at all times. What happens if I take his car on a short journey? Will it affect his insurance?

Husband is currently saying to get son to leave his phone with me if I need to use the car. I think this would be invalidating his policy though.

I have asked Husband several times to ring them as he arranged the policy, ask them and get me added as a named driver. He will eventually get around to it, but the car needs to go into the garage tomorrow. Son gets a bus to college at 7am so is not around to help. Husband is also away tonight, so perfect timing all round.

OP posts:

Original poster

FranziskaSchmidt · 09/06/2023 06:51

Anyone?

OP posts:

Thinkofme · 09/06/2023 07:00

Is your ds the main policyholder? If so, he should be the one to contact the insurer to make changes to his policy.

stealthninjamum · 09/06/2023 07:03

Don’t drive the car, if you’re not 100% sure that you’re ensured don’t do it.

BigButtons · 09/06/2023 07:07

Ask your son to call them and ask for you to be added as the second named driver.
when my daughter was learning with Marmalade black box I , as named driver, had to download the app and was given a code to put in so they knew it was me or her driving. Don’t drive it until you have been put on the policy.

underneaththeash · 09/06/2023 07:13

I doubt the OPs son in the named main driver it will be her DH.

You should be covered under your insurance (3rd party), you can download the app onto your phone and use that.

The stick-on Ticker deviceIt's a small, round box that fits in the palm of your hand. We post the box out to you and you stick it to your windscreen. Download the Ticker app and pair it with your device. The device then collects driving data and sends it to us via your app. This will have a minimal effect on your data plan.

highlandspooce · 09/06/2023 07:19

Surely your son could make a quick phone call to add you to the policy? Either that or reschedule the garage until such a time as an insured driver can take it.

I would never drive someone else's car on my DOC policy, it's only 3rd party cover.

Shade17 · 09/06/2023 07:55

I would never drive someone else's car on my DOC policy, it's only 3rd party cover.

Some policies do have a fully comp DOC add on which is pretty cool.

highlandspooce · 09/06/2023 08:00

Shade17 · 09/06/2023 07:55

I would never drive someone else's car on my DOC policy, it's only 3rd party cover.

Some policies do have a fully comp DOC add on which is pretty cool.

Right, but specifically I wouldn't drive someone else's car on my DOC, it's only 3rd party.

Shade17 · 09/06/2023 08:03

highlandspooce · 09/06/2023 08:00

Right, but specifically I wouldn't drive someone else's car on my DOC, it's only 3rd party.

Show quote history

I understand that. I was just saying that you can get higher levels of DOC cover, someone might find that helpful.

Janek · 09/06/2023 08:14

I didn't know that @Shade17 . I have also had cover in the past that didn't cover me third party on someone else's vehicle.

Karatema · 09/06/2023 09:03

Shade17 · 09/06/2023 07:55

I would never drive someone else's car on my DOC policy, it's only 3rd party cover.

Some policies do have a fully comp DOC add on which is pretty cool.

I'm an insurance broker and have not heard of this!
There are temporary covers though so you could ensure it for the day

Butterflybutterflies · 09/06/2023 09:06

Can you ask for the passwords and add yourself to the policy online?

pinksavannah · 09/06/2023 10:01

You would only be covered if you have DOC ( driving other car) cover on Your Own policy

Otherwise you would be driving uninsured

MillieMollieMandy1 · 09/06/2023 10:20

You need to be named on the policy.
My son (20) has black box insurance with Tesco. My DH is also named on the policy. I have 3 points on my licence which made my sons insurance very expensive so we didn't put me on the policy.
Your son should be main driver and hold the policy in his name - over the last three years my DS's insurance cost has reduced considerably and he has a no claims bonus.
He has to make changes to the policy - the insurance company don't talk to us.
Don't drive the car - you are not covered.

BigButtons · 09/06/2023 10:51

The policy should be in your son’s name so that he can reap the benefits for his ( hopefully) sensible driving and get his no claims.

Original poster

FranziskaSchmidt · 09/06/2023 14:10

The policy is in my son's name with husband as a named driver.
And I am separately insured via my own policy for my car.

My question is purely about the conflict between those two policies considering one is attached to a black box and making sure I don't do anything to impact his insurability in future.

Going to try to speak to Ticker. They must be able to answer generically. Can't be the 1st time this has come up.

OP posts:

highlandspooce · 09/06/2023 15:32

FranziskaSchmidt · 09/06/2023 14:10

The policy is in my son's name with husband as a named driver.
And I am separately insured via my own policy for my car.

My question is purely about the conflict between those two policies considering one is attached to a black box and making sure I don't do anything to impact his insurability in future.

Going to try to speak to Ticker. They must be able to answer generically. Can't be the 1st time this has come up.

What did you do?

Original poster

FranziskaSchmidt · 09/06/2023 15:55

In the end, I took the car down this morning. It is less than half a mile to get to the garage and the maintenence essential for safety. I knew I would be insured, my main concern was not impacting his record as such a new driver.

I have just finished a webchat with Ticker. They confirmed I am covered on my policy and can drive his car using that. I do not need to be a named driver on his policy, it does not invalidate his cover etc. I don't need to download the app.

The black box will record how I drive and how far so I still need to be careful. Which I would be anyway, it is his pride and joy, and gateway to freedom! I shouldn't need to use it often anyway.

OP posts:

DelurkingAJ · 09/06/2023 15:59

Bit of a public service announcement here. It used to be (in the U.K.) that most fully comp insurance policies covered you on any car if you were over a certain age. This has changed and now it’s the other way around. I suspect that many people won’t have noticed this…particularly if you regularly change insurer so it isn’t a change per se. Im sure OP does have this but it’s no longer ‘standard’.

Lovevizslas · 13/08/2025 20:32

I had exactly the same question, and your comeback had answered it perfectly. Thank you. Atleast I know I can drive my sons car too on my own insurance without having to be a named driver on his policy with Ticker

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