Car insurance - can you get joint policies?

[ChessieFL]

My family has 1 car. I am the registered keeper and the associated finance is in my name. However, it is driven by both myself and DP. Neither of us is the 'main' driver - we use it equally. He tends to drive when we're both going somewhere, but I have to drive fairly often for work so drive it myself then. Some weeks he may drive more if I'm not going far for work, other weeks I may drive more so it probably balances out overall.

What should I do re car insurance? Until now I've had a policy in my name with me as the main driver and DP as a named driver. However, as I explained above describing myself as the 'main' driver isn't strictly true. If I carry on doing this, would they pay out if anything happened when DP was driving and I was in the car, or would they say that as the main driver I should have been driving it?

Otherwise, is there such a thing as a joint policy where we can both be named as main drivers? Or should we each have a policy in our own names - although this seems silly as we can't both drive the car at the same time!!

Is there anyone out there who works in insurance and can advise?
Thanks!!

Thanks Tired - hope you're right! I just worry too much.....

Can anyone else reassure me that what we're doing is OK?!

We have a single policy. Car registered in DP's name, as is insurance with me as named driver.

I have car all week he has it weekends. How do insurance companies know who uses it most. I'm sure this is fine.

Thanks Turns, looks like this is what most people do then and I shall gaily continue!!

Completely normal practice. Fyi the significance of the "main driver"/"named driver" distinction is that the main driver, if fully comp, will be insured to drive any car (cars other than the main one will be on a third party basis only), whereas the named driver is only insured to drive the car for which the insurance is bought.

Thanks suburban, didn't realise that! Makes sense really.

i work in insurance, main driver is the person who drives the car the most, when it comes to your spouse this is not a big deal as usually it is the case where the car is driven equally by each person and wont effect your insurance, but for example if you have yourself and a young driver on the policy and the young driver is the main driver but have the policy as your main driver and young driver as named driver so the insurance policy is cheaper this would be illegal and the policy would be void. as long as its you and dp it is ok.
in reply to suburbandweller fully comp does not give you driving other cars automatically it depends on your circumstance i,e job, age it will be on your insurance certificate if you have that, but you are right with named driver they only are insured to driver the car on the policy.

Yeah Terilou. I used to think being fully comp meant you could drive any car, but like you say, thus is not the case. Always check, and often it costs nothing to have this added onto your policy.

I always add it now, as I had to drive my Mum's car when she broke her arm. You never know when you'll need it.