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Original poster

Can anyone advise about getting car insurance for a 17 yr old boy?

33 replies

SmellsLikeTeenSweat · 15/10/2010 09:55

He drives a moped & is taking driving lessons.

My own insurance company have quoted £2600 to add him on as a named driver to my (very cheap) policy.

A friend has offered us a car, an old Peugeot, for £300. I've just had a quote to insure it for ...£4700

Hmm

Any ideas please, or is this just a pian barrier we have to go through - ay up or he doesn't drive until he's 45 20?

OP posts:
Original poster
SmellsLikeTeenSweat · 15/10/2010 09:56

pain barrier
pay up

Sorry

OP posts:
Maisiethemorningsidecat · 15/10/2010 09:57

Did you just answer your own question there?! Confused

LucindaCarlisle · 15/10/2010 10:05

In my experience, while the young person is an L driver on a provisional licence the Insurance is not as high as that. because the L driver will be accompanied. But when they pass the test, it is then that the premium will go up.

Original poster
SmellsLikeTeenSweat · 15/10/2010 10:17

Do you mean that it's better that we don't buy him his own car atm?

The quotes I've had have all been stupid for him as of now, as a learner. So you think they will go up even higher when he passes his test?

Shock

I'm starting to understand why some young men drive around without insurance.

OP posts:
Maisiethemorningsidecat · 15/10/2010 10:19

I think you may be able to get it cheaper if he passes and Advance Motorist test - might be worth looking into?

Original poster
SmellsLikeTeenSweat · 15/10/2010 10:21

I suppose what I'm asking is, what's best:

a) Add him as a named driver to my insurance (car worth around £2000)

b) Buy him old banger in his name

c) Buy old banger in my/DH's name & add him as named driver

d) Something else?

I've looked into the first three options & they all seem to come out the same, regardless of the value of the car. Unless someone knows of an insurance company that specialises in youngsters.

OP posts:
Original poster
SmellsLikeTeenSweat · 15/10/2010 10:22

Good idea Maisie, but that's a while down the line. At this rate I'll still be driving him around until he's 30!

OP posts:
pooka · 15/10/2010 10:44

The issue with getting him a banger but in your names with him as a named driver is I think that's seen as fraudulent by insurance companies. If he is the driver most of the time and it's really his car in all but name I think he's supposed to be the 'head' driver on the policy.

LucindaCarlisle · 15/10/2010 11:01

Go to Swinton Branch in person and say that he is learning to drive. What is the best quote they can get for you and him.

tokyonambu · 15/10/2010 11:07

"Fronting". It's illegal.

LucindaCarlisle · 15/10/2010 11:09

What does that mean?

cat64 · 15/10/2010 11:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LucindaCarlisle · 15/10/2010 11:16

Try Direct Line

tokyonambu · 15/10/2010 11:17

Sorry, I meant to paste in the definition from the previous item. "c) Buy old banger in my/DH's name & add him as named driver" is fronting: he's not an additional driver, he's the main driver, and if the insurance company have reason to believe that the main named driver is not at least an equal user (and the fact that you have another car in your name is a pretty good clue) then they'll tear up the insurance policy, possibly in the aftermath of a claim.

There was a preposterous complaint in the money section of the Graun a couple of weeks ago regarding someone who was getting upset about Tesco not being willing to allow them to use their NCD twice, once on their own car, once on a second car in their name with their young son as a named driver. As a letter the following week pointed out, they were bloody lucky not to end up in court, never mind having to pay the full premium.

LucindaCarlisle · 15/10/2010 11:25

Why would they tear up the Insurance Policy. There is no need for that.

tokyonambu · 15/10/2010 11:33

Because you lied on the application. Insurance is an "utmost good faith" transaction, and if you have been dishonest in obtaining it, the insurance company can simply cease the cover. They might refund the premium you paid, on the grounds that had they known they would have refused cover. More plausibly, they'll state that the risk they carried from policy inception to the date of the dishonesty being uncovered was such that the entire premium is fair payment for that period, see you in court.

nocake · 15/10/2010 16:38

Unfortunately your DS is the highest risk driver there is (once he passes his test). Have a look at the accident stats and you'll see young men at the top by a long way. That means however you try and do it, insuring a car for him to drive will be expensive. He could take some additional training to prove that he's a better driver than average, such as the Pass Plus scheme.

I should also add that 17 year olds are also the most likely to die riding a motorbike or scooter!

higgle · 15/10/2010 16:46

My DS1 learned to drive with a driving school at 17 and has resolved not to drive again or get a car before he really needs to as we simply cannot afford the insurance. By the time he can say he is 21 or 25 and has held a licence for "X" years without an accident he should get a reasonable premium.
Also not at risk of having his licence taken away for minor infringements on points.

SuzieHomemaker · 15/10/2010 16:53

To get the premium down name other responsible adults on his policy (both parents if their licences are clean). This will bring the cost down - still leaves it horrendous but for DD I was able to bring the premium down from £2500 to £1500.

This is not the same as fronting as the policy is your DS's it is just that you are allowing other more insurance friendly people drive the car as well which spreads the risk.

Do shop around, insurance companies do vary.

Original poster
SmellsLikeTeenSweat · 17/10/2010 19:05

Hello people, thanks for your replies. Sorry I haven't been back before now, our internet connection has been down all weekend. Will digest the relpies now!

OP posts:
Original poster
SmellsLikeTeenSweat · 17/10/2010 19:13

SuzieHomemaker I'll try that, thanks. I'll also pop into the Swinton office in person as them who insure me, so thanks for that one Lucinda.

What a bloody nightmare this is. I have twins, so twice the headache. At least the other one is a girl so insurance won't be so silly (around £800) but it's a while away for her. She had her first driving lesson yesterday - quote : "It's not as easy as it looks, is it?" Er, noooo... Hmm

I told her not to be disheartened, but to think of the stupidest person she could who can drive: if they can do it, so can you. I just hope she didn't think of me! Grin

OP posts:
mumblechum · 18/10/2010 11:21

I just did an online quote with Tiger and the highest was £8.5k, lowest £4.2k (with Kwikfit).

Am now lying in a darkened room

Original poster
SmellsLikeTeenSweat · 18/10/2010 17:38

Yes, it's pretty scary.

OP posts:
mumblechum · 18/10/2010 17:41

I wouldn't mind if there was public transport in our village.

As it is I can see me either driving him around or funding taxis till he's about 40.

frenchbulldog · 18/10/2010 17:45

Don't ask me the details but they can take a Pass Plus course and get cheaper insurance. It's kind of more advanced driving.