Insuring a car when you have no licence

[catman]

Hi all,

A friend of mine will have to hand in his driving licence in the near future, due to health problems. He will still need to get around though, and he has a lady friend who currently drives the car, who can help with this.

I believe that she is a named driver at the moment, but obviously that is about to change very soon. He regards her as his partner, but they live separately.

Can he still keep the car in his name, but have her as the sole driver? It isn't practical to put the car into her name. I'm only looking for replies from people who know for sure, thanks.

[Carbon Sasquatch]

She can insure a car that she doesn't own - if that's the question.

Won't benefit from any NCD that he has though - it will be a fresh policy in her name - if I understand the proposal correctly.

[catman]

Hi, and thanks for the reply.

Yes, she will in effect go from being a named driver, to the sole driver of his car. I thought that was the case, but I didn't want to tell him until I was sure. Thanks again.

[OutInTheShed]

You can insure a car while banned, so insuring one as the keeper with named drivers must be possible.

Might be worth asking an actual broker.

[catman]

Thanks for your reply. Yes, the Broker idea is a good one. I'll probably try that tomorrow. He has a lot going on right now, so that will be one less thing to worry about.

[Grumps.]

OutInTheShed said:

You can insure a car while banned, so insuring one as the keeper with named drivers must be possible.

Might be worth asking an actual broker.

Can you?

I’m sure some of the questions on many forms specifically asks about having a current valid licence and being disqualified.

I guess if the answers is no and yes but will have the premium heavily loaded?

[Justin85]

Yes. I've just instigated a policy on a car that I own but my partner is the registered keeper. I am the sole name on the insurance policy. They don't even know the registered keeper's name. All done through e-sure online.

We bought the car for her but she never uses it. I'd rather not add another keeper, hence it's been renewed as above. Seemingly no difference in price. We live in the same house, but that shouldn't matter, as long as the address where the car is mainly kept is correct etc.

[Brassblaster]

OutInTheShed said:

You can insure a car while banned, so insuring one as the keeper with named drivers must be possible.

Might be worth asking an actual broker.

Interesting! I presume that's insuring it to sit on the drive unused (in case something were to happen to it)??

Would've thought the policy holder being banned (or license surrendered) but having named drivers using the car would be akin to fronting??

[E-bmw]

But it is nothing like fronting is it?

Fronting is hiding a high risk behind a lower risk front by basically lying.

She will be insuring a car she doesn't own, which is fine when declared as such.

Broker question - Are you the registered owner & keeper? - No.

Broker question - Who is? - F.Bloggs of any street, any town, any post code.

Broker question - Where is the car kept? - any street, any town, any post code.

etc.

Edited by E-bmw on Sunday 5th February 19:35

[elanfan]

You can insure a car in owners name with them excluded on the certificate. They’ll want details of the person driving of course.

[catman]

Great replies all, thanks! 👍🙂

[austina35]

My classic cars are in my wife's name. She cannot drive. I am the only one insured to drive them. Been like that for years.

[catman]

Thanks, that's great!

[Om]

Grumps. said:

OutInTheShed said:

You can insure a car while banned, so insuring one as the keeper with named drivers must be possible.

Might be worth asking an actual broker.

Can you?

I’m sure some of the questions on many forms specifically asks about having a current valid licence and being disqualified.

I guess if the answers is no and yes but will have the premium heavily loaded?

You can insure a car without a current driving license - banned, license revoked/returned or even never had one! Sadly, insurers rarely seem to ask the question. Makes it easy to appear to drive around legally and only if caught may there be issues (obv. in this case there is a legitimate reason for this).

[deja.vu]

Om said:

Grumps. said:

OutInTheShed said:

You can insure a car while banned, so insuring one as the keeper with named drivers must be possible.

Might be worth asking an actual broker.

Can you?

I’m sure some of the questions on many forms specifically asks about having a current valid licence and being disqualified.

I guess if the answers is no and yes but will have the premium heavily loaded?

You can insure a car without a current driving license - banned, license revoked/returned or even never had one! Sadly, insurers rarely seem to ask the question. Makes it easy to appear to drive around legally and only if caught may there be issues (obv. in this case there is a legitimate reason for this).

Did I imagine the bit where they ask “ Any accidents, claims or convictions” or “ any medical conditions” or even “ how long have you held a licence for”?

[98elise]

Carbon Sasquatch said:

She can insure a car that she doesn't own - if that's the question.

Won't benefit from any NCD that he has though - it will be a fresh policy in her name - if I understand the proposal correctly.

This.

My partner and I are not married. When my partner ended up being the main driver of "my" car we insured in her name, but told the insurance company she was neither the owner or RK (because that was the true situation). The policy document had that written on it.

This was a few years ago and the company was Direct Line but I assume things haven't changed.

The only difference is we live at the same address. I don't think that would be an issue though. Not everyone fits the one person owner/keeper/policyholder model.

[catman]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, it does seem that it isn't such a big deal as he imagined. It will be great to give him some good news.

[classicfred]

98elise said:

Carbon Sasquatch said:

She can insure a car that she doesn't own - if that's the question.

Won't benefit from any NCD that he has though - it will be a fresh policy in her name - if I understand the proposal correctly.

This.

My partner and I are not married. When my partner ended up being the main driver of "my" car we insured in her name, but told the insurance company she was neither the owner or RK (because that was the true situation). The policy document had that written on it.

This was a few years ago and the company was Direct Line but I assume things haven't changed.

The only difference is we live at the same address. I don't think that would be an issue though. Not everyone fits the one person owner/keeper/policyholder model.

I lost my driving licence October last year due to having a defibrillator fitted into my chest. I still own my car and it is insured/taxed as it is on the drive outside. My brother ( who I live with at the moment ) was a named driver on the policy previously . I spoke with the insurance company and although I remain the owner/policy holder, I am not named on the policy as a driver but my brother is now named as the sole driver. He takes me to my many hospital appointments in it and drives it occasionally to keep battery/brakes etc in condition which I explained to the insurance company. The lady on the phone wasn't sure at first but put me through to the broker who agreed the above . I also got £25 back as apparently he is cheaper to insure than me ! Insurance company is SAGA for reference. Whether I will get my licence back I am not sure yet. Hope this helps.

[catman]

Hi, yes that is exactly comparable I would say! That's very helpful, thanks.

[Om]

deja.vu said:

Om said:

Grumps. said:

OutInTheShed said:

You can insure a car while banned, so insuring one as the keeper with named drivers must be possible.

Might be worth asking an actual broker.

Can you?

I’m sure some of the questions on many forms specifically asks about having a current valid licence and being disqualified.

I guess if the answers is no and yes but will have the premium heavily loaded?

You can insure a car without a current driving license - banned, license revoked/returned or even never had one! Sadly, insurers rarely seem to ask the question. Makes it easy to appear to drive around legally and only if caught may there be issues (obv. in this case there is a legitimate reason for this).

Did I imagine the bit where they ask “ Any accidents, claims or convictions” or “ any medical conditions” or even “ how long have you held a licence for”?

Such complicated hoops can be jumped through by saying 'no', 'no' and '10 years'. Beyond that there is little in the way of checks (I should have been clearer - I meant to say verification checks such as requesting a license no. rather than simply asking the question). Again, this doesn't apply in this situation, but the point was that there are not really any checks beyond self-certification.