Car insurance

[Bedbouncer]

DF is almost 88 and was driving up to 18 months ago, when he had a fall and broke his arm. He was hopeful to get back to driving, but the break hasn't healed, despite surgery, and his eyesight is also now too poor, so he is planning to inform DVLA that he can't drive anymore. The problem is that DM (83) can still drive, but is only a named driver on the insurance policy. I contacted the insurers months ago (when the policy was up for renewal) about transferring it to her name, but they wouldn't, so we just kept it as it was. Will the policy automatically be void once DF gives up his licence? Will we need to try and find a new insurer straight away, or can DM continue driving on that policy?

You need to contact them. I bet you already know that.
The reason you have insurance is in case anything bad happens. Do you really want to risk the insurance being invalid

Yes, I do know that. It's DM dragging her heels tbh - she's frightened she will not be able to drive. Also, they are not easy to contact; it's a right PITA - it took HOURS last time I called them - I had to repeat the situation about 10 times to different departments. I suppose I just have to bite the bullet 😩

I completely understand that it's difficult for your Mum. Being able to drive is such a huge deal. 🫤 Can you find out how much it would be to insure her properly. It might not be too bad.
My Mum doesn't have a car but uses taxis fairly readily, she justifies the cost as the amount she saves by not having a car.

The insurance was taken out as your Dad being the main driver. This is no longer the case as your Mother is now the main driver, this is not what the insurers were told when they agreed to insure your father. Therefore the insurance is already invalid. Surrendering his licence is a red herrring.
I’m not sure you are able to transfer the insurance from person to person. She more than likely needs insurance in her own name.

Actually, they were told the situation when the policy was renewed. We asked them to transfer it to my mum - they wouldn't, but went ahead and renewed it as it stood. So, while the policy states he's the main driver, they have been informed otherwise.

@Bedbouncer what I say is correct. How long ago did you renew the policy? If your Dad was hoping to get back to driving soon when it was renewed then that would be ok as it was only a temporary situation. However 18 months of not driving is not temporary. Your Dad is no longer the main driver and that would be easily proved if your Mum had a bump.

Ask an insurance broker to help.

I was a named driver on my DH's policy when he became ill. At the first renewal it still seemed temporary so we didn't change anything. At the second renewal it was clear that he probably wouldn't be driving again so I wanted to become the policyholder, with him as a named driver. A broker sorted this with no difficulty. Apparently there are several companies who are willing to transfer the NCD to the other driver if the named/additional drivers swap.

If you're nowhere near a renewal date I would still talk to a broker, it may be possible to cancel the old policy and take out a new one with a minimal penalty.

You will only have to have one conversation with the broker instead of dozens of frustrating calls with the insurers.

I had always been an additional driver on DH's insurance. When I had my own car I had to start again with the NCD.

If you can find someone young to add to your Mum's policy as an additional driver e.g. you if you are a driver, this may bring the premium down. Probably a good idea anyway in case you ever need to drive it.

Thanks, that's really helpful. I do drive their car regularly anyway- I will look in to it. Had a chat with mum today and she has acknowledged we need to get it sorted.

That's good that your Mum has listened to you and is willing to sort it out.

I do drive their car regularly anyway Whose insurance are you covered under when you do that ?

Mine

Em you really need to check that it's ok if it's regular.

I would ask your own insurance company, carefully phrased.

I wonder what the premium would be if you added a 17 year old great grandson

Driving other cars - insurance

I've checked. I'm covered. Thanks for your concern, but this wasn't the topic of the post.

When I started driving, I was automatically covered to drive other cars. This isn't the case nowadays. It's easy for things like that to pass one by. There's lots of lurkers on any thread, and anything posted may be helpful to people who haven't asked about it, which is why I posted the link. But I'll be sure to remember next time of the importance of keeping strictly to the terms of the original question, and keeping to myself anything I think might be useful to others.

I had this a few weeks ago.
Mums licence was cancelled by the DVLA due to dementia but car was in her name. The insurance wrote giving 30 days notice to cancel the insurance. Tried to move it to dads name but the computer said no and they then said that they couldn't offer him a policy (83- never had an accident ever!) as he had no no claims and was 83.

Finally asked for the bereavement department (major insurer) and they managed it all and transferred it. Did go up by 50% which was a bit ripe as only Dad had driven the car for at least 5 years. They had 2 cars until about 2 years ago and with hindsight sold the wrong one, the no claims lapsed after 2 years.

As soon as the licence is cancelled with DVLA the insurer will write to you and give you just 30 days to re-insure the car.

Try the bereavement department of the insurer.

Thank you @Ametora, that's really helpful and sounds like a similar situation.

Did go up by 50% which was a bit ripe as only Dad had driven the car for at least 5 years You wouldn’t get anywhere arguing it as strictly the insurance should be in the name of the main driver. With hindsight, transferring the insurance 5 years ago would have been the way to go, then he’d have 5 years ncb

The insurance knew as they spoke to them a few years ago when they got rid of the 2nd car and said that it didn't matter as my mother held a licence even if she didn't drive it (much). It was totally above board UNTIL her licence was cancelled.

He has ended up with a full no claims through the bereavement department. he has been insured with them for 30 odd years. Although its went up 50% it is still under £500- was £350 odd for a 5 year old small car before.

The insurance knew as they spoke to them a few years ago when they got rid of the 2nd car and said that it didn't matter as my mother held a licence even if she didn't drive it (much). That’s interesting, as at the other end of the age range, putting a car insurance in the parents name with 17 year old son as additional driver, when in fact the son is the main driver, is something they take a dim view of. But i guess it’s a different matter when one of the drivers is in a much higher risk group than the other.

But if they knew, it’s outrageous you had to go to all that effort to get the swap.

If you speak to the insurer they will be able to change the policy to your mums name or even yours. If you drive the car regularly put it in your name and your mum and a named driver. if they wont then cancel it and consider a new policy in your name with your mum as a named if you're going to be doing most of the driving.

FYI though your driving other cars extension is for emergency use and not for regularly driving another car. It's only Third Party Cover so would be no good if you crashed the car or it was stolen whilst you had it.

Thanks for all your help. All sorted now. Their insurance company wouldn't transfer the policy to DM, but we got a fairly reasonable quote from Tesco bank, with me as a named driver. DF has surrendered his licence and the original insurer are refunding the unused portion of the premium. It wasn't as painful as expected.

That's great it's all sorted.