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Owner/ keeper and main driver insurance please help

35 replies

Teal222 · 28/10/2023 19:10

Hi
we just bought a used car we used my savings so it’s going in my name on the log book
however after doing insurance checks it’s cheaper for my partner to be the main driver I assume because he is older.
anyway it asks on the quote if he is the registered keeper clicked no and clicked my name ( additional driver )
before going through with it I want to make sure it’s legal and I’m doing it correctly as first car
so I’ll be on log book and I assume tax will be in my name and can he be main driver on insurance .

thank you

OP posts:
Teal222 · 29/10/2023 14:07

I guess we cam decide who’s name on log book on delivery I’m not sure what to do , partner will be main driver on insurance

OP posts:
ReturnOfTheRainMac · 29/10/2023 14:14

Don't wait til delivery. The car won't set off to you without all docs and money in place so call them to check the cut off and decide by then.

Sugarfree23 · 29/10/2023 14:16

Are you married, if you are it doesn't matter.

If not married who's putting most of the money in, who's bank account is the payments coming out of?
It only really matters should you split. But definitely worth thinking about

Teal222 · 29/10/2023 15:04

Sugarfree23 · 29/10/2023 14:16

Are you married, if you are it doesn't matter.

If not married who's putting most of the money in, who's bank account is the payments coming out of?
It only really matters should you split. But definitely worth thinking about

Not married and it’s being paid from my account I’m putting more money into it . Should I be the owner / keeper then and him the main driver that is ok ?

OP posts:
Sugarfree23 · 29/10/2023 15:24

Yes definitely have you as the registered owner.
You don't want to find yourself with the debt for the car and for you to split in 6mths time and him to drive off into the sunset and nothing you can do because he's the registered owner.

Insurance policy in your name. If one of you is likely to use it for commuting to / from work, doing the daily school run, then they are the main driver.

If you drive 50/50 then ask Insurance company what happens with the no-claim bonus should it be your policy but DP as main driver.

ReturnOfTheRainMac · 29/10/2023 15:54

Unrelated but get gap insurance! I used to work in insurance and countless people wrote their car off, received a book price payout of thousands less than was owed on finance.

steppingcarefully · 29/10/2023 19:05

ohtowinthelottery · 29/10/2023 09:38

@steppingcarefully See my post at 19.37 yesterday.
There are many circumstances in which the registered owner/keeper is not the main driver. The insurance company is just interested in their risk factor so base their premium on who is driving the most (plus additional drivers).

Your son took the insurance out in his name. In this circumstance the parent has the insurance in their name with the child named as the main driver. Does that make a difference?

ohtowinthelottery · 29/10/2023 19:10

@steppingcarefully I've never seen a 'main' driver named in a policy. It's usually the policy holder that's the main driver and other drivers a 'named' drivers.
I suppose if the main driver is a child under 18 then they probably do it in the parent's name due to contract law re a minor. My DS was already 18 when he did his as he was a named driver on DHs car and policy when he was 17.

Shade17 · 29/10/2023 19:13

Yes definitely have you as the registered owner.
You don't want to find yourself with the debt for the car and for you to split in 6mths time and him to drive off into the sunset and nothing you can do because he's the registered owner

No such thing as a registered owner. The only thing that proves ownership is the purchase receipt.

Fifthtimelucky · 31/10/2023 10:12

steppingcarefully · 29/10/2023 06:12

I'm a bit confused by all this. Is it legal for a parent to have a car registered in their name but take out an insurance naming the child as the main driver?

This is perfectly fine.

I am the registered keeper of two cars. They are both insured on the same policy.

I am the main driver of one. My husband is also a named driver.

When I bought the other one, for the children to learn in, I was the main driver of that too. My husband and children were named drivers.

One daughter has since moved away and we agreed that she could take the car with her.
I still own the car but the insurance policy now names her as the main driver and her address as the one where the car is kept.

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