Page 2 | Help! Our car insurance won’t cover our learner sone

DeadlyDozen · 2025-12-27T10:28:19+00:00

We’re picking up a new car today. Just tried to get driving insurance do car for me as the main driver and my husband and son. Direct line won’t insure our son. Who do people use? Thanks.

ZenLikeAlways · 27/12/2025 12:14

27pilates · 27/12/2025 11:28

I moved to another company that would insure him. However, before you do that OP it may be cheaper to just use Veygo which is like a pay as you go type insurance by the hour.

Oooh interesting

titchy · 27/12/2025 12:39

DeadlyDozen · 27/12/2025 11:23

Thank so much everyone.

To clarify: I meant new to us but didn’t actually say that. It’s a second hand car.. Not too old as we wanted a warranty (no mechanical or electrical skills in our family!) but Kia so their warranty lasts to 7 years old.

It will be a third family car as our other 2 cars are work cars but it won’t be his even after he passes and I’ll drive it the most.

I’ve done as some suggested and got a separate insurance for him with marmalade. I probably haven’t done it the cheapest way but my last minute panic is resolved and we can go collect the car with proper insurance in place.

Thanks so much for the replies.

What was the urgency? Couldn’t you just have insured yourself and added him later? Use a price comparison site next time though rather than just the one insurance company - you’re probably paying way more than you need.

hidinginthebathroomagain · 27/12/2025 12:42

DeadlyDozen · 27/12/2025 11:23

Thank so much everyone.

To clarify: I meant new to us but didn’t actually say that. It’s a second hand car.. Not too old as we wanted a warranty (no mechanical or electrical skills in our family!) but Kia so their warranty lasts to 7 years old.

It will be a third family car as our other 2 cars are work cars but it won’t be his even after he passes and I’ll drive it the most.

I’ve done as some suggested and got a separate insurance for him with marmalade. I probably haven’t done it the cheapest way but my last minute panic is resolved and we can go collect the car with proper insurance in place.

Thanks so much for the replies.

Why did you need him insured today. He can’t drive the new car home alone anyway.

if he wasn’t driving it you didn’t need to insure him on it today at all.

Original poster

DeadlyDozen · 27/12/2025 13:02

Well the urgency was because I was planning to get us all insured together on the car.

I also didn’t want to sort just us out for insurance on car without an insurance provider definitely letting us add him onto a separate learner insurance on the actual car we were getting. If we couldn’t get insurance for him on this car, we wouldn’t go ahead and buy this car.

All sorted now.

OP posts:

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 27/12/2025 13:06

My DC both had separate learner policies with Marmalade. Once DC1 passed, it was cheaper to buy an old car and insure him on it rather than have him on my policy for my very big standard, 5 year old hatchback.

Glittertwins · 27/12/2025 13:41

DeadlyDozen · 27/12/2025 13:02

Well the urgency was because I was planning to get us all insured together on the car.

I also didn’t want to sort just us out for insurance on car without an insurance provider definitely letting us add him onto a separate learner insurance on the actual car we were getting. If we couldn’t get insurance for him on this car, we wouldn’t go ahead and buy this car.

All sorted now.

That’s exactly why we moved insurance companies, there was no point staying with DL because the whole point of having that 3rd car was for DCs to learn and drive. Our cars ended up being half the price and this years renewal with 3 cars is less than what I paid for one of our cars 18 months ago.

RecordBreakers · 27/12/2025 13:50

It will be a third family car as our other 2 cars are work cars but it won’t be his even after he passes and I’ll drive it the most.

Clearly the insurance company are assuming you are fronting your ds and therefore didn't want to know.
You might be being truthful, but the fact you and your dh already have a car each, and have been managing nicely that way, but then suddenly need a 3rd car between you at the same time your child is learning to drive does kind of suggest the third car is going to be for the new driver......

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 27/12/2025 15:20

RecordBreakers · 27/12/2025 13:50

It will be a third family car as our other 2 cars are work cars but it won’t be his even after he passes and I’ll drive it the most.

Clearly the insurance company are assuming you are fronting your ds and therefore didn't want to know.
You might be being truthful, but the fact you and your dh already have a car each, and have been managing nicely that way, but then suddenly need a 3rd car between you at the same time your child is learning to drive does kind of suggest the third car is going to be for the new driver......

Why would the insurance company assume that, how could you be fronting for someone who hasn't passed their test?

mondaytosunday · 27/12/2025 15:48

I just got temporary coverage for my DD home from uni for Christmas- her test is next month. £85 for four weeks with Veygo by Admiral.

MargaretThursday · 27/12/2025 16:07

Warning though:

It's even more expensive and harder to get insurance for a teen just passed than a learner!

StripyHorse · 27/12/2025 16:50

Southernecho · 27/12/2025 10:45

Well i wouldn't be using a new or newish car for a teenager to learn in.

They will need their own car once they pass.

Otherwise, as pp have said, use a comparison site.

Edited

What do you suggest people do if they have a newish car for DC but can't afford another car?

And no, you don't have to get them a car when they pass.

OP - we used Marmalade, and then Veygo. DD1 is now home from uni and we have used Veygo to add her to DH's car for the holidays (she has passed now).

BellaVita · 27/12/2025 16:58

aquaaerobicschaos · 27/12/2025 10:44

I'm using Collingwood (it was considerably cheaper than Marmalade for me this time but used Marmalade with older dc)

We used Collingwood too.

Original poster

DeadlyDozen · 27/12/2025 19:40

MargaretThursday · 27/12/2025 16:07

Warning though:

It's even more expensive and harder to get insurance for a teen just passed than a learner!

Yes I’ve heard that!

OP posts:

GriftyShades · 27/12/2025 20:08

Try Veygo for learner driver insurance (you can insure for as little as 1 hour or buy a rolling monthly policy). It's separate from the main policy on the car, so your no claims discount is not affected.
You may find that the most difficult time to buy insurance is just after he passes his test. My daughter either was declined or quoted around £24k! Finally managed to get her added as a named driver on a tiny Peugeot once she turned 18 (£240per month).

ZenLikeAlways · 28/12/2025 10:41

TheatricalLife · 27/12/2025 11:02

DD has a separate policy with Collingwood for her car.
We didn't even try to put her on our insurance as the cars we have wouldn't be suitable for a learner really. She has a cheap little starter car which she absolutely loves.

How much is insurance for a cheap little starter? Looking at this next year for DS

ZenLikeAlways · 28/12/2025 10:41

GriftyShades · 27/12/2025 20:08

Try Veygo for learner driver insurance (you can insure for as little as 1 hour or buy a rolling monthly policy). It's separate from the main policy on the car, so your no claims discount is not affected.
You may find that the most difficult time to buy insurance is just after he passes his test. My daughter either was declined or quoted around £24k! Finally managed to get her added as a named driver on a tiny Peugeot once she turned 18 (£240per month).

Wow!

TheatricalLife · 28/12/2025 10:53

ZenLikeAlways · 28/12/2025 10:41

How much is insurance for a cheap little starter? Looking at this next year for DS

Show quote history

DD has a little Smart car and it was £230.94 for the policy.

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 28/12/2025 10:57

ZenLikeAlways · 28/12/2025 10:41

How much is insurance for a cheap little starter? Looking at this next year for DS

Show quote history

Not being rude but it's a string measuring question, no one can tell how much anything will be in years time, no one can tell you how much you would pay today. Insurance is a 100% bespoke product

Doubletroubledoubled · 28/12/2025 11:25

How times have changed. I’m mid 40’s passed my test at 17 and when I was learning mum and dad bought their first brand new car -a vauxhall corsa that came with 12 months free fully comprehensive insurance. I can’t remember now which company the insurance was actually with but I was included as both a learner and a new driver. I cost them nothing!

Iloveeverycat · 28/12/2025 11:31

All mine just used driving instructors never drove our car to learn.

SayingThisWithLove · 28/12/2025 11:34

We used Colingwood too, just be mindful if you have to cancel due to passing a test, you are hit with fees. I think we paid £33 for the first month, she then passed before the next month was due but had to pay £240 to cancel. They do let you pay that monthly, and it was still cheaper in the end this way but I wish I had known that first.