Car insurance question

[GurlwiththeCurl]

I hope someone can help with this. DH is the registered owner of the car, insured as the main driver and DS and I are insured as “other” drivers. DH and I are both in our 60s and experienced drivers with long no claims bonuses. DS is mid 20s and has never owned his own car. Recently, DS has moved out quite a long way away, over 2 hours, and we have allowed him to take the car on a semi-permanent basis. He now is wondering whether he should change his address with the insurance company. He has changed his address with the DVLA as well as other organisations. If he changes the address with the insurance company and has an accident, will this have any implications? Would the company insist that he becomes the main driver and refuse to pay out? If we change him to the main driver with DH and I as “other” drivers, would that cost us more? I am not sure how to advise him. Thanks in advance and apologies for the lack of paragraphs, MN seems to be having issues with this today.

It sounds as if he is the main driver and so really he needs to be listed as such (with the policy in his own name) and have the address corrected. The insurance company will be able to advise specifically to their policy, but if you don't do this and there is a claim, the cover will likely be invalid and could be considered 'fronting'. I'd give them a call tomorrow

Effectively you are fronting the policy if he is main driver and the car is 2 hours away. It may cost more or the area may be cheaper which could offset some of the difference.

Thanks for the very quick answers. You have both confirmed what I was worrying about. We have only just renewed the insurance before he suddenly told us he was moving out! Thanks again.

This is fronting and you need to be careful. It sounds like he should get the car transfered to his name, at the address he will be living, and take out car insurance as the main driver.

The sad thing is he will be starting with 0 No claims discount, but he can build that in his own name over time.
You should also remember that you'll lose your NCD if you don't use it on a policy over two years

Please transfer the insurance to his name as soon as possible. The address needs to change as well as postcodes have an implication on premiums

It will be a bit more expensive for him to have insurance in his own name but the insurance won't be valid if the details aren't accurate so you are effectively throwing the premiums away.

He can built up a no-claims quicker by buying from a provider which allows you to buy 10 months at a time and gives a full year of no-claims after 10 months - so after only 30 months he'd have 3 full years of no-claims. There are also insurers that can make insurance more affordable by fitting a black box to measure how he's driving and reward good behaviour.

Fronting will always be found out sooner or later. They are happy enough to keep taking your money if he's not having any accidents, but when a claim is made they will check and they won't be fooled.

I agree with others that he should take out his own policy. You might also find that he needs to be the registered keeper of the vehicle as well, at least that's certainly an explicit condition in my insurer's terms and conditions. That also saves any issues with parking tickets or speeding fines as they will go to him and not your DH.

Ooh, I just saw more posts. Thank you for your advice. I have been explaining all of this to DH, who didn’t realise the implications!