New driver insurance
Discussion
Number one son has passed his test!
That’s the good news. Now comes the thorny problem of insurance. For the foreseeable future he will be using his Mum’s car. There are policies available from companies like Marmalade which allow a new driver to have their own policy and build up their own no claims, but use a parent’s car which sounds ideal. It needs an app/black box. Anyone any experience of these policies, or any better ideas?
First quote is £1,500…
That’s the good news. Now comes the thorny problem of insurance. For the foreseeable future he will be using his Mum’s car. There are policies available from companies like Marmalade which allow a new driver to have their own policy and build up their own no claims, but use a parent’s car which sounds ideal. It needs an app/black box. Anyone any experience of these policies, or any better ideas?
First quote is £1,500…
Have you added yourselves as named drivers?
Also fiddle with the mileages, it's all done off statistics so you want to get an annual mileage which is less risky.
I would avoid black boxes if possible, they can penalise you for day to day driving or put time limits etc. Also the insurance companies like to cancel policies if they don't like your driving. Obviously you would then have to declare this for the next 5 years.
Also fiddle with the mileages, it's all done off statistics so you want to get an annual mileage which is less risky.
I would avoid black boxes if possible, they can penalise you for day to day driving or put time limits etc. Also the insurance companies like to cancel policies if they don't like your driving. Obviously you would then have to declare this for the next 5 years.
Bear in mind on comparison sites some will only quote a small number of times, a providers quote will differ between the multiple comparison sites, and calling them direct also, often the ones with best prices then quotes will either not show from those providers or then rise sharply. Keep or have email notice of quotes so you can use them and call that insurer direct for a quote and ask if they can do any better, as you've been told to go to a broker and its close call but you'd like to go with them if possible could get up to 10% off.
Go to a broker, can often do better than comparison sites but try get a well established one, fakes that get you a policy then cancel it do exist leaving his insurability in tatters.
MoneySavingExpert had a good article a while ago, explaining: (Many insurers change up there algorithms for pricing filtering out/chasing select groups all the time)
Mileage has funny results, try putting in a few k miles then 8/10k and see what happens,
include any relationship status as it helps compared to single,
Have yourself as named drivers on his policy if gets his own car, but try not to front him, by insuring him as a named driver when he is in it 90% time etc..
Shopping for insurance starting in a month or so can work out cheaper than imminent need.
Adding license number can knock some off as a percent is also tied to potential identity fraud/false details,
try a few but honest ways to describe any occupation is what moneySavingExpert said a while ago as insurers consider one description like shopworker more risky than say retail assistant/stockist. But don't claim to be something your not, claiming to be an engineer because stacking box's are involved or designer as pattern of product layout is within your grasp if your stocking shelves would likely be fraud.
Some non common cars for youth can be cheaper also simply because it's not common for those to be seen as high risk if outside the normal youth choices & accident counts.
Voluntary excess of 0 can sometimes be as good or better than offering up 500-2k..
Paying policy in full can knock hundreds off a young drivers policy over months.
If he is genuinely hopping between cars, say uses mums for less than 14 days, then dads and perhaps a cheap few hundred quid car of his own that then fails MOT so he is back to lending mums then dads car while he saves up for parts, all for less than 14 days then you will find around six insurers have no fee for canceling within the lawfully obliged 14 days cool off period, but for how long they would entertain constant cancelations cycling through the I think 6 insurers that do that I have no idea.
I knew someone that tried to cycle through them all for a year and sadly had to make a claim obliging him to pay the policy until end date before he cycled through them more than twice, I was waiting to hear they suddenly didn't want to insure him if he was going to cancel within 14 days for the 6th time in a year etc..
Go to a broker, can often do better than comparison sites but try get a well established one, fakes that get you a policy then cancel it do exist leaving his insurability in tatters.
MoneySavingExpert had a good article a while ago, explaining: (Many insurers change up there algorithms for pricing filtering out/chasing select groups all the time)
Mileage has funny results, try putting in a few k miles then 8/10k and see what happens,
include any relationship status as it helps compared to single,
Have yourself as named drivers on his policy if gets his own car, but try not to front him, by insuring him as a named driver when he is in it 90% time etc..
Shopping for insurance starting in a month or so can work out cheaper than imminent need.
Adding license number can knock some off as a percent is also tied to potential identity fraud/false details,
try a few but honest ways to describe any occupation is what moneySavingExpert said a while ago as insurers consider one description like shopworker more risky than say retail assistant/stockist. But don't claim to be something your not, claiming to be an engineer because stacking box's are involved or designer as pattern of product layout is within your grasp if your stocking shelves would likely be fraud.
Some non common cars for youth can be cheaper also simply because it's not common for those to be seen as high risk if outside the normal youth choices & accident counts.
Voluntary excess of 0 can sometimes be as good or better than offering up 500-2k..
Paying policy in full can knock hundreds off a young drivers policy over months.
If he is genuinely hopping between cars, say uses mums for less than 14 days, then dads and perhaps a cheap few hundred quid car of his own that then fails MOT so he is back to lending mums then dads car while he saves up for parts, all for less than 14 days then you will find around six insurers have no fee for canceling within the lawfully obliged 14 days cool off period, but for how long they would entertain constant cancelations cycling through the I think 6 insurers that do that I have no idea.
I knew someone that tried to cycle through them all for a year and sadly had to make a claim obliging him to pay the policy until end date before he cycled through them more than twice, I was waiting to hear they suddenly didn't want to insure him if he was going to cancel within 14 days for the 6th time in a year etc..
Edited by NFT on Monday 4th July 19:37
LTEcactus said:
Have you added yourselves as named drivers?
Also fiddle with the mileages, it's all done off statistics so you want to get an annual mileage which is less risky.
I would avoid black boxes if possible, they can penalise you for day to day driving or put time limits etc. Also the insurance companies like to cancel policies if they don't like your driving. Obviously you would then have to declare this for the next 5 years.
We found direct line to be both reasonably priced, and didn't penalise my daughter at all.Also fiddle with the mileages, it's all done off statistics so you want to get an annual mileage which is less risky.
I would avoid black boxes if possible, they can penalise you for day to day driving or put time limits etc. Also the insurance companies like to cancel policies if they don't like your driving. Obviously you would then have to declare this for the next 5 years.
I think you are all misunderstanding the OP's question. His son doesn't have a car. He will be using his mum's car. And he's looking for the best way of doing that. So questions like "have you added yourselves as named drivers" are not relevant.
OP, you have 2 options.
1. The Marmalade (or similar) route. Your wife has her own policy for her and you. And sonny boy takes out a policy for him specially designed for driving a car that isn't his. Benefit is that if he crashes, it has zero effect on mum's policy. Downside, you 're paying for 2 policies.
2. You find an insurer that will add him as an additional driver to his mums car. Benefit, 1 policy covers all 3 of you. Downside, if he crashes, mum's ncb is screwed.
OP, you have 2 options.
1. The Marmalade (or similar) route. Your wife has her own policy for her and you. And sonny boy takes out a policy for him specially designed for driving a car that isn't his. Benefit is that if he crashes, it has zero effect on mum's policy. Downside, you 're paying for 2 policies.
2. You find an insurer that will add him as an additional driver to his mums car. Benefit, 1 policy covers all 3 of you. Downside, if he crashes, mum's ncb is screwed.
I am currently considering this subject as my 18 year old son passed his test on Friday. As he will probably be at University for most of the next few years, I was thinking of a pay as you drive type of insurance, but thought I would get some standard quotes anyway.
I was expecting the sort of huge quotes seen in other posts, but was surprised to find several around the £6-700 area.
The car is a 13 year old 1.6 Auris owned and driven by his mother. Is this sort of ‘staid’ small family car cheaper to insure than the tiny runabouts normally associated with new drivers (despite the relatively large engine)?
I was expecting the sort of huge quotes seen in other posts, but was surprised to find several around the £6-700 area.
The car is a 13 year old 1.6 Auris owned and driven by his mother. Is this sort of ‘staid’ small family car cheaper to insure than the tiny runabouts normally associated with new drivers (despite the relatively large engine)?
Here’s a thing I didn’t know, but found out recently. It’s a great way of quickly gaining the first years no claims for a new driver. It works on multi car policies, or it does on mine.
Here’s how it works. For example father has a car, main driver, mother has a car, main driver, new driver gets car, whilst learning, learner is main driver on that. This is the important bit. When learning it’s cheap, less than £500/yr or so for you’re average fiesta/corsa.
But, every main driver earns no claims on a multi car policy and what I was told is that if an extra car and extra ‘main driver’ is added part way through an annual policy, they will be given a full years no claims at renewal time, even if they have not been on the policy for the full year. The minimum time on the multicar policy required……….. 90 days!
Therefore I believe this could be done;
Insure 2 cars on multicar policy in January (parents cars).
Get car for young driver in august to learn in, add to multicar policy with learner as main driver.
Renewal comes through following January and all 3 drivers have accrued 1 year no claims!
New driver passes test in February (having only started learning 6 months earlier) and can insure as qualified driver (this is when the price shoots up) but with 1 years no claims! This will drop the £1500 bill down by 30%, which is a lot.
Maybe someone in the industry can debunk this but it is exactly what I was told by my provider.
Here’s how it works. For example father has a car, main driver, mother has a car, main driver, new driver gets car, whilst learning, learner is main driver on that. This is the important bit. When learning it’s cheap, less than £500/yr or so for you’re average fiesta/corsa.
But, every main driver earns no claims on a multi car policy and what I was told is that if an extra car and extra ‘main driver’ is added part way through an annual policy, they will be given a full years no claims at renewal time, even if they have not been on the policy for the full year. The minimum time on the multicar policy required……….. 90 days!
Therefore I believe this could be done;
Insure 2 cars on multicar policy in January (parents cars).
Get car for young driver in august to learn in, add to multicar policy with learner as main driver.
Renewal comes through following January and all 3 drivers have accrued 1 year no claims!
New driver passes test in February (having only started learning 6 months earlier) and can insure as qualified driver (this is when the price shoots up) but with 1 years no claims! This will drop the £1500 bill down by 30%, which is a lot.
Maybe someone in the industry can debunk this but it is exactly what I was told by my provider.
ITP said:
Here’s a thing I didn’t know, but found out recently. It’s a great way of quickly gaining the first years no claims for a new driver. It works on multi car policies, or it does on mine.
Here’s how it works. For example father has a car, main driver, mother has a car, main driver, new driver gets car, whilst learning, learner is main driver on that. This is the important bit. When learning it’s cheap, less than £500/yr or so for you’re average fiesta/corsa.
But, every main driver earns no claims on a multi car policy and what I was told is that if an extra car and extra ‘main driver’ is added part way through an annual policy, they will be given a full years no claims at renewal time, even if they have not been on the policy for the full year. The minimum time on the multicar policy required……….. 90 days!
Therefore I believe this could be done;
Insure 2 cars on multicar policy in January (parents cars).
Get car for young driver in august to learn in, add to multicar policy with learner as main driver.
Renewal comes through following January and all 3 drivers have accrued 1 year no claims!
New driver passes test in February (having only started learning 6 months earlier) and can insure as qualified driver (this is when the price shoots up) but with 1 years no claims! This will drop the £1500 bill down by 30%, which is a lot.
Maybe someone in the industry can debunk this but it is exactly what I was told by my provider.
I don't question it, insurers even deliberately created a no claims bonus package that gave new drivers a no claims after 9/10/11 month I believe.Here’s how it works. For example father has a car, main driver, mother has a car, main driver, new driver gets car, whilst learning, learner is main driver on that. This is the important bit. When learning it’s cheap, less than £500/yr or so for you’re average fiesta/corsa.
But, every main driver earns no claims on a multi car policy and what I was told is that if an extra car and extra ‘main driver’ is added part way through an annual policy, they will be given a full years no claims at renewal time, even if they have not been on the policy for the full year. The minimum time on the multicar policy required……….. 90 days!
Therefore I believe this could be done;
Insure 2 cars on multicar policy in January (parents cars).
Get car for young driver in august to learn in, add to multicar policy with learner as main driver.
Renewal comes through following January and all 3 drivers have accrued 1 year no claims!
New driver passes test in February (having only started learning 6 months earlier) and can insure as qualified driver (this is when the price shoots up) but with 1 years no claims! This will drop the £1500 bill down by 30%, which is a lot.
Maybe someone in the industry can debunk this but it is exactly what I was told by my provider.
Insurers can also be persuaded to mirror your no claims from another car, say if you have bought a second car and have 6 years on the old one, they will accept six years on the new one if requested. Otherwise your no claims history can only be used on one car at a time, bit of a silly rule some insurers have where you can only use your no claims on one car, the second you must start with 0 if the rest are in with another insurer.. Odd concept if you ask me.
And also combine no claims, say you have 8 years with one insurer, and 4 years with another on two separate cars, some will treat you as having 12 years.
Plus getting into cars/bikes from bike/car can see insurers accept your no claims for pricing as you've used the road for years..
Sometimes it seems like each insurer just makes up there own rules and prints no claims years out randomly to me.
And classic car insurers commonly don't use no claims bonus, if you go with a classic insurer for years, you can loose all your no claims history as it won't be carried over or issued in a confirmation letter as happened to a friend of mine.
Also not driving for years most will claim you have 0 no claims, but some will let you have them back or use years driving abroad.
Edited by NFT on Monday 4th July 22:57
TwigtheWonderkid said:
I think you are all misunderstanding the OP's question. His son doesn't have a car. He will be using his mum's car. And he's looking for the best way of doing that. So questions like "have you added yourselves as named drivers" are not relevant.
OP, you have 2 options.
1. The Marmalade (or similar) route. Your wife has her own policy for her and you. And sonny boy takes out a policy for him specially designed for driving a car that isn't his. Benefit is that if he crashes, it has zero effect on mum's policy. Downside, you 're paying for 2 policies.
2. You find an insurer that will add him as an additional driver to his mums car. Benefit, 1 policy covers all 3 of you. Downside, if he crashes, mum's ncb is screwed.
Thanks Twig. This is indeed the case.OP, you have 2 options.
1. The Marmalade (or similar) route. Your wife has her own policy for her and you. And sonny boy takes out a policy for him specially designed for driving a car that isn't his. Benefit is that if he crashes, it has zero effect on mum's policy. Downside, you 're paying for 2 policies.
2. You find an insurer that will add him as an additional driver to his mums car. Benefit, 1 policy covers all 3 of you. Downside, if he crashes, mum's ncb is screwed.
Other benefit to 1 is son starts his own no claims record - hopefully!!
I'm struggling to find anyone other than Marmalade who run a similar policy. The Ticker site someone else mentioned is "undergoing maintenance".
Foss62 said:
I am currently considering this subject as my 18 year old son passed his test on Friday. As he will probably be at University for most of the next few years, I was thinking of a pay as you drive type of insurance, but thought I would get some standard quotes anyway.
I was expecting the sort of huge quotes seen in other posts, but was surprised to find several around the £6-700 area.
The car is a 13 year old 1.6 Auris owned and driven by his mother. Is this sort of ‘staid’ small family car cheaper to insure than the tiny runabouts normally associated with new drivers (despite the relatively large engine)?
Sounds like it. Insurance is driven by statistics. An Auris is not the sort of car your average boy racer would buy, not is it a popular first car.I was expecting the sort of huge quotes seen in other posts, but was surprised to find several around the £6-700 area.
The car is a 13 year old 1.6 Auris owned and driven by his mother. Is this sort of ‘staid’ small family car cheaper to insure than the tiny runabouts normally associated with new drivers (despite the relatively large engine)?
As long as the few teenagers that have them haven't crashed then they will be statistically low risk.
RicksAlfas said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
I think you are all misunderstanding the OP's question. His son doesn't have a car. He will be using his mum's car. And he's looking for the best way of doing that. So questions like "have you added yourselves as named drivers" are not relevant.
OP, you have 2 options.
1. The Marmalade (or similar) route. Your wife has her own policy for her and you. And sonny boy takes out a policy for him specially designed for driving a car that isn't his. Benefit is that if he crashes, it has zero effect on mum's policy. Downside, you 're paying for 2 policies.
2. You find an insurer that will add him as an additional driver to his mums car. Benefit, 1 policy covers all 3 of you. Downside, if he crashes, mum's ncb is screwed.
Thanks Twig. This is indeed the case.OP, you have 2 options.
1. The Marmalade (or similar) route. Your wife has her own policy for her and you. And sonny boy takes out a policy for him specially designed for driving a car that isn't his. Benefit is that if he crashes, it has zero effect on mum's policy. Downside, you 're paying for 2 policies.
2. You find an insurer that will add him as an additional driver to his mums car. Benefit, 1 policy covers all 3 of you. Downside, if he crashes, mum's ncb is screwed.
Other benefit to 1 is son starts his own no claims record - hopefully!!
I'm struggling to find anyone other than Marmalade who run a similar policy. The Ticker site someone else mentioned is "undergoing maintenance".
How old is your Son?
Issue i found with Admiral Multicar when my Son passed his test a couple of weeks ago is they really don't like having a 17yr old as the Policyholder.
Was no issue having him noted as the Main Driver (it's basically his car, but owned by me & V5 in my name). So in his case, i'm the Policyholder & he along with my Wife are named drivers, however he's noted on the Policy as the Main Driver.
Cost for the change from him being a Leaner & me as the Policyholder/Main driver to him being a new driver with him now as the Main driver but me still as the Policyholder was £1030 (didn't think that was too bad).
Downside is he won't earn his own NCB (but nowadays most insurers will use no claims experience as a discount, as per Company Car drivers getting their own car), but also if he does claim it will sting my premiums. Upside is this route was the best part of £2000 cheaper as they wanted to heavily load the premium having a Child (under 18) as a Policyholder.
Issue i found with Admiral Multicar when my Son passed his test a couple of weeks ago is they really don't like having a 17yr old as the Policyholder.
Was no issue having him noted as the Main Driver (it's basically his car, but owned by me & V5 in my name). So in his case, i'm the Policyholder & he along with my Wife are named drivers, however he's noted on the Policy as the Main Driver.
Cost for the change from him being a Leaner & me as the Policyholder/Main driver to him being a new driver with him now as the Main driver but me still as the Policyholder was £1030 (didn't think that was too bad).
Downside is he won't earn his own NCB (but nowadays most insurers will use no claims experience as a discount, as per Company Car drivers getting their own car), but also if he does claim it will sting my premiums. Upside is this route was the best part of £2000 cheaper as they wanted to heavily load the premium having a Child (under 18) as a Policyholder.
RicksAlfas said:
robdcfc said:
I got my eldest insured with Ticker for £1100 Fc back end of last year including rac home start on his own policy.
That was for 8k per year and Ive since added him another 2k miles for £43
Thanks. Was that on his own car, or a parent’s?That was for 8k per year and Ive since added him another 2k miles for £43
LTEcactus said:
Also the insurance companies like to cancel policies if they don't like your driving. Obviously you would then have to declare this for the next 5 years ever.
Unless it's changed recently, the question that they love to ask is "Have you ever had an insurance policy refused or cancelled", and "ever" is a long time...It'd be the most ultimate of s
t times to pass your test at 17, then get a policy cancelled for something stupid, and have to declare it for the rest of your driving career.Of course, I dare say there's a lot who get a policy cancelled then just say no to the question when asked again, and they probably will get away with it until they need to call upon that policy, then defecation meets oscillation...
98elise said:
Foss62 said:
I am currently considering this subject as my 18 year old son passed his test on Friday. As he will probably be at University for most of the next few years, I was thinking of a pay as you drive type of insurance, but thought I would get some standard quotes anyway.
I was expecting the sort of huge quotes seen in other posts, but was surprised to find several around the £6-700 area.
The car is a 13 year old 1.6 Auris owned and driven by his mother. Is this sort of ‘staid’ small family car cheaper to insure than the tiny runabouts normally associated with new drivers (despite the relatively large engine)?
Sounds like it. Insurance is driven by statistics. An Auris is not the sort of car your average boy racer would buy, not is it a popular first car.I was expecting the sort of huge quotes seen in other posts, but was surprised to find several around the £6-700 area.
The car is a 13 year old 1.6 Auris owned and driven by his mother. Is this sort of ‘staid’ small family car cheaper to insure than the tiny runabouts normally associated with new drivers (despite the relatively large engine)?
As long as the few teenagers that have them haven't crashed then they will be statistically low risk.
The MINI is a surprise in this respect. Daughter is getting quotes around £1,100 for a 1.4 One at 17, and £1,500 on a Cooper! Can't get a 1.25 Fiesta or 1.2 Corsa insured for less than £1,800.
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