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Original poster

Car Insurance... can this be done?!

19 replies

Pombliboo123 · 04/09/2017 19:25

Brief bit if back story... me and DP are "taking a break" for 6 months (this deserves a thread all of its own believe me).

I am moving out into a rented property the other side of town.

We wish to continue to "share" the car.

Basically he has a works van which he uses 95% of the time (he is allowed to use it for reasonable personal use) and the only time he needs the car is for driving anywhere further than say 15 miles away (his mum's for example).

I use the car to get to and from work and nipping into town at the weekend, nipping to the supermarket etc.

The car and finance are in his name. We pay half of the car each, half the insurance and half of any maintenance etc. I mostly pay for fuel because I mostly use it.

SO can we continue this arrangement in the eyes of the insurance company where the overnight address for the car is not where the main driver lives?!

Please help. I only passed my test in December and this is the first car I've ever "had".

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 04/09/2017 19:31

Are you registered with the insurance as the main driver with business use as it sounds like you use it the most? I don't know how the address thing would work

Original poster

Pombliboo123 · 04/09/2017 19:34

No, I was under the impression that you couldn't be the main driver if you weren't the registered keeper of the car?

The car insurance company do know that I use the car for commuting daily and "social use" (was asked what my usage if the car was whilst doing the insurance over the phone)

OP posts:

Manclife · 04/09/2017 19:37

You'll need to change the address where it's mainly parked at night and put yourself as main driver.

dementedpixie · 04/09/2017 19:41

If you are using it the most then you need to be down as the main driver or you are committing fraud

dementedpixie · 04/09/2017 19:44

From online:

If you are the main driver of a vehicle the insurance for that car must be in your name. If it isn’t you are breaking the law and committing a crime called fronting. Your motor insurance is effectively invalid and if the insurer finds out, you are likely to have any claim turned down.

TheFallenMadonna · 04/09/2017 19:47

It's up to the insurance company.

dementedpixie · 04/09/2017 19:50

You will have to talk to your insurer as to whether they will accept you as the main driver despite not being the registered owner as it sounds like you do use it the most. Can he transfer ownership to you?

Original poster

Pombliboo123 · 04/09/2017 19:54

To clarify, I use it to commute daily (and the insurance company know this) and picking up shopping etc on the way home. Occasionally to nip into town at a weeks d but if we were ever going anywhere he woukd always drive.

Regardless, it seems it isn't going to work... but will get him to call when he returns from holiday.

He could transfer ownership to me but neither of us can really afford the car alone (could afford it but be mega skint)

OP posts:

HappyAsASandboy · 04/09/2017 19:56

Being the main driver of someone else's car isnt a problem with most insurers IME.

I am not sure what they'd think of the main address of the car being somewhere the owner doesn't live though. I think it would be madness to not disclose it, so I'd give them a call and find out.

dementedpixie · 04/09/2017 20:06

If you are using it more than 50% of the time then you need to be down as the main driver. Speak to the insurer as they may be happy for you to be main driver on a car in his name

Manclife · 04/09/2017 20:06

@dementedpixie

That's not what fronting is. Thats when mum/dad clame to be the main driver when actually it's son/daughter.

dementedpixie · 04/09/2017 20:10

It's the same principle as the policy may be higher if op is down as the main driver as she is a new driver. It will look to the insurance company as if they are trying to lower the cost by having her dh as the main driver and op as the named driver

dementedpixie · 04/09/2017 20:14

Doesn't just apply to parent/child:

While car insurance fronting is most common among parents and their children, it can also occur when any car insurance application is taken out in one driver’s name on behalf of another in order to cut the cost – whether that’s because the named driver is inexperienced or has existing claims or convictions that could push their premiums up if they take out a policy in their own name.

Essentially, fronting is defined as providing false information to try to get a cheaper premium on behalf of an at-risk driver.

Farfromtheusual · 04/09/2017 20:19

With regards to not being able to be main driver on insurance if you aren't the registered keeper, DP had his own policy on a car that was registered in my name, wasn't a problem at all! It may be for some companies but I believe most are ok with it.

wheresmyphone · 04/09/2017 20:21

Be honest with insurance company and just ask.

Manclife · 04/09/2017 20:33

@dementedpixie mum/dad was just used as an example.

dementedpixie · 04/09/2017 20:35

Why are you disagreeing then?

Manclife · 04/09/2017 20:38

Because this

"If you are the main driver of a vehicle the insurance for that car must be in your name. If it isn’t you are breaking the law and committing a crime called fronting. Your motor insurance is effectively invalid and if the insurer finds out, you are likely to have any claim turned down."

Isn't true. It doesn't have to be at all.

Hollyandtheiveee · 04/09/2017 20:38

I'm not registered owner on our car (do is) but I am main driver on insurance

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