Insurance problem for 17 year old learner driver - group 47
Discussion
My car is group 47 insurance and its not the car I want my 17 year old son to learn to drive in
My plan at the moment:
Buy him a mk1 Nissan leaf and teach him some basics of driving, before handing him over to a proper instructor to (i) finish the job properly and (ii) teach him in a manual car as my car and the leaf are both automatic
The reason I'm not buying him a manual is that he wants a leaf after passing his test, so I can do that on one purchase rather than buy a car to learn in and buy another car that he actually would like for daily driving. In any case, I would like him to go to a proper instructor anyway so it makes sense to buy him the right car straight from the start.
I got a quote for insurance with me as the named driver on the leaf and him as a learner and its about £1k with a little box thing fitted (Admiral insurance). But I don't believe you can use your NCD twice. If I put in zero NCD for this 2nd car, and him as a learner, it comes out at £1.3k, so only £300 more, which is pretty damn good I guess.
I'm sure many a PH'er has been down this route before. Effectively, I want to be the owner of 2 cars and insure my son on just one of the cars as a learner. Comparison sites draw a bit of a blank on this as they don't quote for this circumstance.
So I guess my question is, do any of you have any recommendations of insurers that I should pick the phone up with? I'm currently insured with LV and I'll be ringing them today, but I feel its going to take a while going to insurers one by one, which is why I'm asking for pointers towards recommended insurers, where I can either use my NCD on two cars, or maybe get a discount on the 2nd policy.
As a side note, when quoting with zero NCD, but saying yes to 'I'm a named driver on my wifes car for many years with no claims', I get a quote of £1.3k with the little box fitted, so exactly the same as me saying zero NCD end of story. So it looks like that part is irrelevant
Any thoughts on which insurers I should tap up for my circumstance?
My plan at the moment:
Buy him a mk1 Nissan leaf and teach him some basics of driving, before handing him over to a proper instructor to (i) finish the job properly and (ii) teach him in a manual car as my car and the leaf are both automatic
The reason I'm not buying him a manual is that he wants a leaf after passing his test, so I can do that on one purchase rather than buy a car to learn in and buy another car that he actually would like for daily driving. In any case, I would like him to go to a proper instructor anyway so it makes sense to buy him the right car straight from the start.
I got a quote for insurance with me as the named driver on the leaf and him as a learner and its about £1k with a little box thing fitted (Admiral insurance). But I don't believe you can use your NCD twice. If I put in zero NCD for this 2nd car, and him as a learner, it comes out at £1.3k, so only £300 more, which is pretty damn good I guess.
I'm sure many a PH'er has been down this route before. Effectively, I want to be the owner of 2 cars and insure my son on just one of the cars as a learner. Comparison sites draw a bit of a blank on this as they don't quote for this circumstance.
So I guess my question is, do any of you have any recommendations of insurers that I should pick the phone up with? I'm currently insured with LV and I'll be ringing them today, but I feel its going to take a while going to insurers one by one, which is why I'm asking for pointers towards recommended insurers, where I can either use my NCD on two cars, or maybe get a discount on the 2nd policy.
As a side note, when quoting with zero NCD, but saying yes to 'I'm a named driver on my wifes car for many years with no claims', I get a quote of £1.3k with the little box fitted, so exactly the same as me saying zero NCD end of story. So it looks like that part is irrelevant
Any thoughts on which insurers I should tap up for my circumstance?
Why not insure your son as the main driver on the leaf and you as named driver. See if it makes any difference to price.
You should not be the main named driver on the policy if you are not going to be driving it most of the time.
He will also accrue his ncb faster.
I do think its stupid to buy him an automatic and get him to learn in a manual.
Buy him a manual. Let him sell it for what he wants once he has passed his test.
You should not be the main named driver on the policy if you are not going to be driving it most of the time.
He will also accrue his ncb faster.
I do think its stupid to buy him an automatic and get him to learn in a manual.
Buy him a manual. Let him sell it for what he wants once he has passed his test.
Not sure there are any cast iron ways to beat the system here…
If you see him owning/driving his own car once passed, why not get him to take out the new policy in his own name with you as a named driver?
The price (whilst he is on his provisional) may not be too dissimilar.
The pinch-point will come when he passes, as his initial insurance cover is no longer valid from the moment that that the examiner signs him off.
E.g., if someone was to sit and pass their test in their own car, they could not legally drive home after the test (even if under supervision) as their driving status has permanently changed (full vs. Provisional licence) unless and until they have updated their insurance cover accordingly…
He can of course expect a material bump in the premium at that point (to cover the duration of the first year’s cover).
Therefore, it could be argued that he could profit from up to a year of comparatively inexpensive insurance on his provisional licence if he goes for his test towards the end of that year, if that works for you/him.
The premium in year two should be correspondingly less if there is a years NCD available, but it probably will still be a bit salty as they will also know the date that he passed as that is deemed to be relevant.
If you see him owning/driving his own car once passed, why not get him to take out the new policy in his own name with you as a named driver?
The price (whilst he is on his provisional) may not be too dissimilar.
The pinch-point will come when he passes, as his initial insurance cover is no longer valid from the moment that that the examiner signs him off.
E.g., if someone was to sit and pass their test in their own car, they could not legally drive home after the test (even if under supervision) as their driving status has permanently changed (full vs. Provisional licence) unless and until they have updated their insurance cover accordingly…
He can of course expect a material bump in the premium at that point (to cover the duration of the first year’s cover).
Therefore, it could be argued that he could profit from up to a year of comparatively inexpensive insurance on his provisional licence if he goes for his test towards the end of that year, if that works for you/him.
The premium in year two should be correspondingly less if there is a years NCD available, but it probably will still be a bit salty as they will also know the date that he passed as that is deemed to be relevant.
Edited by Mogul on Friday 5th May 08:58
Have you looked at a specialist learner policy instead?
For example: https://www.collingwood.co.uk/learner-driver-insur...
For example: https://www.collingwood.co.uk/learner-driver-insur...
Id agree flipping him halfway through learning to a manual isn't optimal. Let's be honest you can barely drive by the time you pass the test, so flipping from one process and muscle-memory to another during the "induction" seems mad.
Way things are going manual isn't the imperative it once maybe was so pick one and stick to it..
Way things are going manual isn't the imperative it once maybe was so pick one and stick to it..
KTF said:
Have you looked at a specialist learner policy instead?
For example: https://www.collingwood.co.uk/learner-driver-insur...
We're in NI so we can't avail of that company unfortunatelyFor example: https://www.collingwood.co.uk/learner-driver-insur...
sherman said:
Why not insure your son as the main driver on the leaf and you as named driver. See if it makes any difference to price.
You should not be the main named driver on the policy if you are not going to be driving it most of the time.
He will also accrue his ncb faster.
I do think its stupid to buy him an automatic and get him to learn in a manual.
Buy him a manual. Let him sell it for what he wants once he has passed his test.
I actually didn't even realise a learner could be a main driver on a car, with me as the named driver. I thought they could only be the main driver once they passed their test.You should not be the main named driver on the policy if you are not going to be driving it most of the time.
He will also accrue his ncb faster.
I do think its stupid to buy him an automatic and get him to learn in a manual.
Buy him a manual. Let him sell it for what he wants once he has passed his test.
Mogul said:
Not sure there are any cast iron ways to beat the system here…
If you see him owning/driving his own car once passed, why not get him to take out the new policy in his own name with you as a named driver?
The price (whilst he is on his provisional) may not be too dissimilar.
The pinch-point will come when he passes, as his initial insurance cover is no longer valid from the moment that that the examiner signs him off.
E.g., if someone was to sit and pass their test in their own car, they could not legally drive home after the test (even if under supervision) as their driving status has permanently changed (full vs. Provisional licence) unless and until they have updated their insurance cover accordingly…
He can of course expect a material bump in the premium at that point (to cover the duration of the first year’s cover).
Therefore, it could be argued that he could profit from up to a year of comparatively inexpensive insurance on his provisional licence if he goes for his test towards the end of that year, if that works for you/him.
The premium in year two should be correspondingly less if there is a years NCD available, but it probably will still be a bit salty as they will also know the date that he passed as that is deemed to be relevant.
Some good points there thanks, and as I mentioned in response to shermans post, I didn't even know a learner could be the main driver. Definitely an avenue for me to explore now. That bit of extra NCD gained as a learner might come in handy.If you see him owning/driving his own car once passed, why not get him to take out the new policy in his own name with you as a named driver?
The price (whilst he is on his provisional) may not be too dissimilar.
The pinch-point will come when he passes, as his initial insurance cover is no longer valid from the moment that that the examiner signs him off.
E.g., if someone was to sit and pass their test in their own car, they could not legally drive home after the test (even if under supervision) as their driving status has permanently changed (full vs. Provisional licence) unless and until they have updated their insurance cover accordingly…
He can of course expect a material bump in the premium at that point (to cover the duration of the first year’s cover).
Therefore, it could be argued that he could profit from up to a year of comparatively inexpensive insurance on his provisional licence if he goes for his test towards the end of that year, if that works for you/him.
The premium in year two should be correspondingly less if there is a years NCD available, but it probably will still be a bit salty as they will also know the date that he passed as that is deemed to be relevant.
Edited by Mogul on Friday 5th May 08:58
soupdragon1 said:
KTF said:
Have you looked at a specialist learner policy instead?
For example: https://www.collingwood.co.uk/learner-driver-insur...
We're in NI so we can't avail of that company unfortunatelyFor example: https://www.collingwood.co.uk/learner-driver-insur...
https://www.sterling-insurance.co.uk/northern-irel...
https://www.compareni.com/insurance/car/learner-dr...
KTF said:
There are others that cover NI.
https://www.sterling-insurance.co.uk/northern-irel...
https://www.compareni.com/insurance/car/learner-dr...
I was on gocompare there and using my son as the main driver and low and behold, it was sterling insurance that you just mentioned that came back with the best quote....my son as the main driver and me as a named driver....https://www.sterling-insurance.co.uk/northern-irel...
https://www.compareni.com/insurance/car/learner-dr...
£352.66
WTH!? Why so cheap.The excess is £899 which is fairly high but other than that, seems good. Comes with legal expenses cover as standard, as well as courtesy car and personal accident cover.
I'm floored with the price. Can't quite believe it. Need to make sure I haven't made any mistakes filling it in but I don't think I have.
soupdragon1 said:
Some good points there thanks, and as I mentioned in response to shermans post, I didn't even know a learner could be the main driver. Definitely an avenue for me to explore now. That bit of extra NCD gained as a learner might come in handy.
Did this with both my sons in the early noughties.Main driver with their mother & I as named drivers.
Started driving on their respective 17th birthdays on L-plates on their own (cheap!) cars.
Both passed within a few months - professional lessons & lots of practice with us.
Insurance went up slightly after they'd passed - 'They can drive unaccompanied now'.
But then fell rapidly over the next few years as the NCD built up.
Unlike some of their friends who had been named drivers on mum/dad's car & had a bit of a shock when they got their own cars.
soupdragon1 said:
KTF said:
There are others that cover NI.
https://www.sterling-insurance.co.uk/northern-irel...
https://www.compareni.com/insurance/car/learner-dr...
I was on gocompare there and using my son as the main driver and low and behold, it was sterling insurance that you just mentioned that came back with the best quote....my son as the main driver and me as a named driver....https://www.sterling-insurance.co.uk/northern-irel...
https://www.compareni.com/insurance/car/learner-dr...
£352.66
WTH!? Why so cheap.The excess is £899 which is fairly high but other than that, seems good. Comes with legal expenses cover as standard, as well as courtesy car and personal accident cover.
I'm floored with the price. Can't quite believe it. Need to make sure I haven't made any mistakes filling it in but I don't think I have.
We're also in NI, think it was an Admiral policy?
soupdragon1 said:
I was on gocompare there and using my son as the main driver and low and behold, it was sterling insurance that you just mentioned that came back with the best quote....my son as the main driver and me as a named driver....
£352.66
WTH!? Why so cheap.The excess is £899 which is fairly high but other than that, seems good. Comes with legal expenses cover as standard, as well as courtesy car and personal accident cover.
I'm floored with the price. Can't quite believe it. Need to make sure I haven't made any mistakes filling it in but I don't think I have.
Its relatively cheap ( assuming you've keyed in the right details ) as your son is only on a Provisional licence so cannot drive on his own.£352.66
WTH!? Why so cheap.The excess is £899 which is fairly high but other than that, seems good. Comes with legal expenses cover as standard, as well as courtesy car and personal accident cover.
I'm floored with the price. Can't quite believe it. Need to make sure I haven't made any mistakes filling it in but I don't think I have.
Logic also dictates that as the main driver the car won't be used a huge amount of time and probably not much at night etc.
Obviously when he passes and assuming the policy remains the same that's when you might just see a pretty large jump in premiums !
paintman said:
Did this with both my sons in the early noughties.
Main driver with their mother & I as named drivers.
Started driving on their respective 17th birthdays on L-plates on their own (cheap!) cars.
Both passed within a few months - professional lessons & lots of practice with us.
Insurance went up slightly after they'd passed - 'They can drive unaccompanied now'.
But then fell rapidly over the next few years as the NCD built up.
Unlike some of their friends who had been named drivers on mum/dad's car & had a bit of a shock when they got their own cars.
Exactly this for us as well -3 children - tried to drum it in to them to get to that magic 1 year NCB which thankfully worked !Main driver with their mother & I as named drivers.
Started driving on their respective 17th birthdays on L-plates on their own (cheap!) cars.
Both passed within a few months - professional lessons & lots of practice with us.
Insurance went up slightly after they'd passed - 'They can drive unaccompanied now'.
But then fell rapidly over the next few years as the NCD built up.
Unlike some of their friends who had been named drivers on mum/dad's car & had a bit of a shock when they got their own cars.
Always found Admiral good for the kids cars especially using their multi car policy.
Also of course no issue with " fronting issues" which caused a lot more than just pricing shocks.
As others have said insure in the childs name with parents as named drivers. I would not encourage him to get a Leaf. I believe that electric cars are more costly to insure. Something like a Panda will be cheper I reckon. Think nipper was £820 fully comp after his test and now at 21 he has just renewed at £240 for the same car. He wants a GR Yaris when he starts work in August and the quote was £575 fully comp so thats the reward for having a cheap car and keeping your nose clean. Daughter has just renewed her Fiat 500 at £390/19yo - 2 years driving. We are still named drivers on both policy and it is still making a difference.
My son just took lessons in the instructor’s car and that was it.
You may spend a bit more on lessons but it’s still cheaper than getting a whole practice car to tax, insure, etc, etc.
Re. young persons insurance, I found that my own particular young person was way ahead of me in terms of what was out there insurance wise, because he’d been talking to his mates in a similar situation.
You may spend a bit more on lessons but it’s still cheaper than getting a whole practice car to tax, insure, etc, etc.
Re. young persons insurance, I found that my own particular young person was way ahead of me in terms of what was out there insurance wise, because he’d been talking to his mates in a similar situation.
soupdragon1 said:
Now to decide about the whole manual/automatic part. Lots of pro's and con's to consider on this
Everyone has their own situation and only you/your child can make the decision, but do bear in mind that in mainland Europe and much of India and Asia autos are the exception and demand a premium in terms of car hire, as well as the fact that by passing an automatic only test you can't physically drive a 'manuel' and probably never will. That potentially means no cheap track days or banger rallys etc.Plus, learning a manual does give you a feel for what the car is actually doing and IMO will probably result in a better all round driver.
Forums | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff