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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why its only costing £100 to add my son to my car insurance?

32 replies

seebreem · 19/07/2022 19:33

I have a Ford Fiesta. My 18yo son passed his test last week, so I've been researching options. I put our details into a comparison site and the cheapest quote was £1000, with a tracking device. But when I phoned my current insurance company (Direct Line) the quote to add him as a named driver was only £100, with no tracking required! 😯 Is this surprisingly low? There is an excess of £750, and he won't build up a no claims discount, but am I missing any other pitfalls? I'm about to accept the quote, but thought I should check first.

OP posts:
DrManhattan · 19/07/2022 20:45

How long have they added him for? Is it until your renewal?

Workinghardeveryday · 19/07/2022 20:49

When is your renewal date? Could be next month?

are you sure they have his dob correct?

TheTeenageYears · 19/07/2022 21:06

It does sound surprising low but will only be until your policy is up for renewal so depending on how soon that is, varies just how cheap it really is.

Original poster
seebreem · 19/07/2022 21:48

It's 9 months to the renewal date, so still very low.

OP posts:
Catsdrool · 19/07/2022 22:03

I’d be checking they absolutely have all the right details and check the documents with a fine tooth comb when you get them. That seems incredibly low to me and I worked in insurance for years!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 19/07/2022 22:04

Doesn't sound right at all tbh.

Lemons1571 · 19/07/2022 22:13

It’s not £100 per month is it?

Iliveonahill · 19/07/2022 22:17

I tried this for my son on my 13 plate CMax. They want an additional £600 which I can’t justify.

Maladicta · 19/07/2022 22:19

What size is the engine? Ds2 only cost an extra £70 to add to our multi car policy when he passed and was named on a 1.0l Micra. When we bought a 1.25l Fiesta a few months later, it was an extra £750.

HisNibs · 19/07/2022 22:24

Providing you remain the main driver of the car that's fine and a great quote if you still have 9 months until renewal but..... if your DS becomes the main driver, you be committing insurance fraud (fronting) - www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/what-is-car-insurance-fronting/

It does sound cheap. My DS has his own car, 4 years NCD and they still want £300 to put him on my car (2.0l diesel estate)

jcyclops · 19/07/2022 22:48

As a previous poster said, beware of fronting. You must drive more miles in the car than your son.

The reason it is cheap is that it is still only one car, so theft and fire risk hardly changes, nor does the risk of someone crashing into it when it is parked or stationary. Most importantly, if your son crashes, you will lose your no claims discount.

gogohmm · 19/07/2022 22:57

My dd was only charged £410 to add her car to my multi car (admiral) when she passed her test at 20. I couldn't believe it

gogohmm · 19/07/2022 22:58

She was the main driver

Kite22 · 19/07/2022 23:04

£750 excess is HUGE though.
That will bring the premium down.

Then, if your premium is already high, it doesn't make as much of a difference as it would if your premium is low,

Motherofgrownupkids · 19/07/2022 23:08

I had this and it turned out the company had listed my child as provisional not as having passed their test.

LikeADogWithABone · 20/07/2022 00:05

You can double check the details on the policy but I think it will be the £750 excess. Plus, I'm guessing, you are deemed low risk too.

Taz0032 · 20/07/2022 00:20

My Son passed his driving test in March. I added him as named driver and it cost us an extra £164 with an excess of £500. Just like you I was really surprised so gave the company ( Privilege Insurance) a call just to confirm everything was right. They confirmed everything was correct. I did all this at renewal so covered for 12 Months.

Taz0032 · 20/07/2022 00:22

Sorry I forgot to mention my Son is also 18 years old

Original poster
seebreem · 20/07/2022 07:36

DS will never be the main driver - we live in London so he can get to most places by public transport, and I use the car regularly for work. He doesn't need his own car yet - we just want him to drive regularly enough to maintain his confidence and skills.
I was worried about losing the No Claims Bonus in the event of an accident, but they let me add No Claims Protection for just £14.
The £750 excess is large but affordable enough to warrant the risk.
I suppose there may be a loyalty factor - maybe companies don't want to lose long-time customers, and want to gain the loyalty of new drivers.

OP posts:
maddening · 20/07/2022 07:46

Will you still be the main driver?

maddening · 20/07/2022 07:47

Sorry cross post.

Sounds fine then, he just won't build up no claims so will eventually have an expensive.first year.or so.

Neolara · 23/07/2022 10:13

My only just 18yo passed her test last week I've just added her as a named driver to our car insurance for £277 for a whole year. £800 excess. I was amazed. I thought it was going to cost thousands. I'd got a quote from Marmalade for over £1k, and to insure her for a month on Veygo was going to be £250.

TeenDivided · 23/07/2022 10:17

I wonder whether as you are the main driver they assume you will be keeping an eye on when/where he is driving it so far less risk to them than if he had his own boy racer car?

OneTC · 23/07/2022 10:19

It's a pretty high excess

Mmmmdanone · 23/07/2022 10:53

I'd been given a quote of £2000 from Churchill to add my dd. She's 17 and passed in March. How is mine so high? I just had to remove her for now. Will it go down when she turns 18?

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