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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Dancingsquirrels · 07/08/2025 11:31

Surely this must be a hoax

But just in case it's not, adding a learner driver doesn't add much £. It becomes much more expensive once they're driving on their own

Duffybearblue · 07/08/2025 11:32

It is hard to believe you have actually asked this question. Veygo is one of the best for learner driver insurance, it's very reasonable.
It will be a lot more once she's passed.

zingally · 07/08/2025 11:33

Umm... OF COURSE she needs insurance!! I can't wrap my brain around your thought process that she wouldn't...

Couldyounot · 07/08/2025 11:34

Okay. She's not insured to drive the car. There are various undesirable consequences that might flow from this, which include prosecution and seizure of the car, and that's before we get anywhere near what might happen if (God forbid) she has an accident. It is simply not worth the risk.

KatieDidIt · 07/08/2025 11:34

Is this for real?

goldenquestion · 07/08/2025 11:34

of course she needs to be insured, for the same reason as anyone else behind the wheel needs to be insured.

FrenchLavendar · 07/08/2025 11:37

Good god! Of course she needs to be insured! You should inform your insurance company immediately and get your daughter added to your policy.
Do not let her drive the car again until the insurance is in place - and make sure you put clearly visible L-plates on the car when she is driving.

Be aware also that, as the person supervising a learner driver, you cannot use a mobile phone or any other handheld device while you are supervising. To do so could land you with a hefty fine and six points on your licence. You must pay attention to the road at all times, just as if you were the driver.

PollyBell · 07/08/2025 11:37

Does this mean people can not pay their home insurance when they go on holiday? Woo hoo!

BellaVita · 07/08/2025 11:37

Get a bloody grip.

How can you be so stupid?

NidaNearby · 07/08/2025 11:38

You know she’ll get a driving ban if you get caught, right? How do you think your daughter will feel once your cheapskating gets her banned from driving?

Bambamhoohoo · 07/08/2025 11:38

PollyBell · 07/08/2025 11:37

Does this mean people can not pay their home insurance when they go on holiday? Woo hoo!

well they can, can’t they? 😂 home insurance isn’t a legal obligation.

Elizabeth1000 · 07/08/2025 11:39

legogal1 · 07/08/2025 11:22

Some of the comments on here are really quite insulting, the people on here could answer without being offensive,

mnhq can delete anything that you report - if you think it’s against talk guidelines, then report it.

personally I think it’s a wind up thread so I’ve reported it.

Clarinet1 · 07/08/2025 11:41

I’m in my 60s and have never learned to drive but even I know that every driver needs insurance and that some insurance only covers particular vehicles.
As PP have pointed out, the consequences of not having any could be catastrophic and possibly life-long.

Buxusmortus · 07/08/2025 11:42

I can hardly believe that someone, who is old enough to have a child learning to drive, has gone through life not realising that it's illegal for someone to drive a car on public roads without insurance.

The monumental ignorance and stupidity of some people is breathtaking.

JSMill · 07/08/2025 11:42

This post cannot be serious.

Canonlythinkofthisone · 07/08/2025 11:45

And you're teaching her how to drive.
Jesus wept.

Silvers11 · 07/08/2025 11:45

@flawless234 As you have been told already by many posters on here, it is illegal to drive without Insurance and the penalties for that can be very severe, both for your daughter AND for you, because you are letting her drive, KNOWING that she isn't insured to drive your car. That is also an offence under the Road Traffic Act.

You could be fined a lot of money, will get at least 6 points on your own licence, and your car may be impounded. I can't believe that this question is real though - surely you already know this??

user9064385631 · 07/08/2025 11:45

This is so ridiculous it can’t be real…not only not insured if she has a prang, you’re also not insured if someone runs into her. The learner drivers insurance isn't so bad, its once they’ve passed their test that its ££££

Reallynotsure25 · 07/08/2025 11:45

What were you planning to do should you and her be involved in an accident whilst driving? She and most definitely YOU wouldn’t be insured, it’s illegal. You do know there are loads of dashcams and CCTV around? So what happens if she injures the other party, let alone damages their car? What were you thinking!

CandyCane457 · 07/08/2025 11:46

My parents thought the same as you, and on one of my little “practice sessions” with them, I crashed the car into a brick wall. It cost them an absolute fortune because I wasn’t insured. Don’t risk it.

Kaybee50 · 07/08/2025 11:50

Get yourself on Veygo (today!)

MyDeftDuck · 07/08/2025 11:52

You most certainly do need to inform them…….failure to do so will void your policy and if she has an accident and either injures or kills someone you will all be in seriously deep doo dah!

Shatteredallthetimelately · 07/08/2025 11:54

What would your intentions be if by chance your DD hit another car or pedestrian?

Or even if someone hits your car while she's driving they'll need your details and will pretty much notice who was driving at the time.

BashfulClam · 07/08/2025 11:54

Age is driving uninsured which is illegal. If someone hits her she becomes the at fault party. She then has to pay for the other persons costs and repairs and will receive points on her licence. My colleague got 7 points (lost her licence as she had only been driving 3 months) and a £900 fine that was several year ago so the penalty will be higher now. She also has to declare that she was disqualified from driving so her insurance has always been high. If she’d been insured the other driver would have been at fault as he hit her. You are both breaking the law..,are you really that dense?

VickyEadieofThigh · 07/08/2025 12:00

Silvers11 · 07/08/2025 11:45

@flawless234 As you have been told already by many posters on here, it is illegal to drive without Insurance and the penalties for that can be very severe, both for your daughter AND for you, because you are letting her drive, KNOWING that she isn't insured to drive your car. That is also an offence under the Road Traffic Act.

You could be fined a lot of money, will get at least 6 points on your own licence, and your car may be impounded. I can't believe that this question is real though - surely you already know this??

Indeed - I saw such a case on an episode of 'Police Interceptors'. Both the parent and learner driver with no insurance child got charged by the police.