Insurance for a learner
Discussion
My wife, who doesn't drive, has started making noises about learning to drive again (had lessons in her early 20's but failed a couple of tests, lost confidence and gave up). Initially this made me nervous but it might be a way to justify getting myself something with only 2 seats....
She's got as far as getting a new provisional license and I guess at some point is going to want to practice in one of my cars after having some proper lessons.
What's the best way of getting her insured? There seems to be specific learner policies that go alongside the main policy or just adding the learner on to the current insurance. My Dad never let me drive any of his cars so this is the first time I've dealt with this.
Any idea of what the rough cost is likely to be? (She's 38 so not a younger driver any more).
She's got as far as getting a new provisional license and I guess at some point is going to want to practice in one of my cars after having some proper lessons.
What's the best way of getting her insured? There seems to be specific learner policies that go alongside the main policy or just adding the learner on to the current insurance. My Dad never let me drive any of his cars so this is the first time I've dealt with this.
Any idea of what the rough cost is likely to be? (She's 38 so not a younger driver any more).
lufbramatt said:
My wife, who doesn't drive, has started making noises about learning to drive again (had lessons in her early 20's but failed a couple of tests, lost confidence and gave up). Initially this made me nervous but it might be a way to justify getting myself something with only 2 seats....
She's got as far as getting a new provisional license and I guess at some point is going to want to practice in one of my cars after having some proper lessons.
What's the best way of getting her insured? There seems to be specific learner policies that go alongside the main policy or just adding the learner on to the current insurance. My Dad never let me drive any of his cars so this is the first time I've dealt with this.
Any idea of what the rough cost is likely to be? (She's 38 so not a younger driver any more).
I have a 19 year old who is starting lessons this week, so once he has had a few am going to insure him on mineShe's got as far as getting a new provisional license and I guess at some point is going to want to practice in one of my cars after having some proper lessons.
What's the best way of getting her insured? There seems to be specific learner policies that go alongside the main policy or just adding the learner on to the current insurance. My Dad never let me drive any of his cars so this is the first time I've dealt with this.
Any idea of what the rough cost is likely to be? (She's 38 so not a younger driver any more).
Looking at specific learner policies it looks like about £55 a month for my car for him
Pieman68 said:
I have a 19 year old who is starting lessons this week, so once he has had a few am going to insure him on mine
Looking at specific learner policies it looks like about £55 a month for my car for him
Thanks- who is that with if you don't mind pointing me in the right direction? Do I have to inform the existing insurer if there is a separate learner policy on the car?Looking at specific learner policies it looks like about £55 a month for my car for him
Not too bothered how much it costs once she's passed as I won't be paying it
It's difficult to predict.
Most learner policies for my 17 year old son were about £250 (he paid 428 for an MR2 Mk 3 since you mention 2 seaters) but these policies end, the second you pass your test so they provide decent value if you predict a long learner period, less so if you pass quickly.
The second they pass, the learner policy ends and in comes the sledgehammer big premium, even with a black box, for at least a year. My son's MR2 was just under £2500.
My partner is 47 and has returned to driving after 15 years in a Fiat Panda ( stupidly, adding her to my Insignia policy brings the premium down a small amount but she would never drive it). Panda insurance was under 240 in my name, her as registered keeper, her as main driver but she has held a full licence for over 25 years and this is obviously a big factor as (not) adding my son as an additional driver would have jerked that up to about 650.
Obviously your postcode is key and will make a nonsense of those prices but you get the idea. Just try comparison websites and play with adding additional drivers. The Judi Dench website was easiest but the opera singer offers free excess insurance. Don't play with the voluntary excess as 250 seems cheapest.
Most learner policies for my 17 year old son were about £250 (he paid 428 for an MR2 Mk 3 since you mention 2 seaters) but these policies end, the second you pass your test so they provide decent value if you predict a long learner period, less so if you pass quickly.
The second they pass, the learner policy ends and in comes the sledgehammer big premium, even with a black box, for at least a year. My son's MR2 was just under £2500.
My partner is 47 and has returned to driving after 15 years in a Fiat Panda ( stupidly, adding her to my Insignia policy brings the premium down a small amount but she would never drive it). Panda insurance was under 240 in my name, her as registered keeper, her as main driver but she has held a full licence for over 25 years and this is obviously a big factor as (not) adding my son as an additional driver would have jerked that up to about 650.
Obviously your postcode is key and will make a nonsense of those prices but you get the idea. Just try comparison websites and play with adding additional drivers. The Judi Dench website was easiest but the opera singer offers free excess insurance. Don't play with the voluntary excess as 250 seems cheapest.
Edited by LuS1fer on Tuesday 5th September 09:33
lufbramatt said:
Thanks- who is that with if you don't mind pointing me in the right direction? Do I have to inform the existing insurer if there is a separate learner policy on the car?
Not too bothered how much it costs once she's passed as I won't be paying it
Try this company for starters. They have learner insurance that piggybacks existing car insurance. No need to inform the other insurer:Not too bothered how much it costs once she's passed as I won't be paying it
https://www.collingwood.co.uk/learner-driver-insur...
When the learner passes, the learner insurance becomes invalid.
Thanks all. Currently I have an e39 530i which she won't be driving and a Honda Jazz which I use for commuting and ferrying the kids around. If/when she passes I'll probably give her the Jazz to use and use the e39 for commuting on days she needs the car or I fancy a ND MX5- in 1.5 litre form they appear to be pretty frugal on fuel.
lufbramatt said:
Pieman68 said:
I have a 19 year old who is starting lessons this week, so once he has had a few am going to insure him on mine
Looking at specific learner policies it looks like about £55 a month for my car for him
Thanks- who is that with if you don't mind pointing me in the right direction? Do I have to inform the existing insurer if there is a separate learner policy on the car?Looking at specific learner policies it looks like about £55 a month for my car for him
Not too bothered how much it costs once she's passed as I won't be paying it
I believe it was insurelearnerdriver.co.uk - it was just a quick look to be honest as he's having some lessons before he's allowed in it
Learning would be a lot cheaper if I was further into my training (part 2 test working towards becoming an ADI in a couple of months)
Resurrecting this thread. I'm about to insure my daughter for 24 weeks on a learner policy with Collingwood. She'll be having lessons with an instructor but also practicing with me in a car we've bought her.
On the basis that she can't drive at all & needs me to drive the car to & from the classic empty supermarket car park to preactice getting the hang of the controls, at least in the early stages, do these policies cover that? I'm not the insured driver, she is, so I want to be certain I'm not landing myself in it with the cops.
On the basis that she can't drive at all & needs me to drive the car to & from the classic empty supermarket car park to preactice getting the hang of the controls, at least in the early stages, do these policies cover that? I'm not the insured driver, she is, so I want to be certain I'm not landing myself in it with the cops.
President Merkin said:
Resurrecting this thread. I'm about to insure my daughter for 24 weeks on a learner policy with Collingwood. She'll be having lessons with an instructor but also practicing with me in a car we've bought her.
On the basis that she can't drive at all & needs me to drive the car to & from the classic empty supermarket car park to preactice getting the hang of the controls, at least in the early stages, do these policies cover that? I'm not the insured driver, she is, so I want to be certain I'm not landing myself in it with the cops.
I would guess you would be driving the car under the third party cover provided by your own insurance in that instance.On the basis that she can't drive at all & needs me to drive the car to & from the classic empty supermarket car park to preactice getting the hang of the controls, at least in the early stages, do these policies cover that? I'm not the insured driver, she is, so I want to be certain I'm not landing myself in it with the cops.
President Merkin said:
Resurrecting this thread. I'm about to insure my daughter for 24 weeks on a learner policy with Collingwood. She'll be having lessons with an instructor but also practicing with me in a car we've bought her.
On the basis that she can't drive at all & needs me to drive the car to & from the classic empty supermarket car park to preactice getting the hang of the controls, at least in the early stages, do these policies cover that? I'm not the insured driver, she is, so I want to be certain I'm not landing myself in it with the cops.
Who is insuring the car you have bought? Her learner policy sounds like it is a "piggyback" policy for provisional licence holders, so the car will need to have "proper" insurance as well. Usually the "driving other vehicles" bit of your insurance only covers you if the car is also insured in someone else's name.On the basis that she can't drive at all & needs me to drive the car to & from the classic empty supermarket car park to preactice getting the hang of the controls, at least in the early stages, do these policies cover that? I'm not the insured driver, she is, so I want to be certain I'm not landing myself in it with the cops.
We bought my daughter a Yaris and I have insured it in my name, with me as main driver, and then she has got a six month learner driver policy that means she can drive it as long as i am in the car.
Once she passes we will either get her a policy in her name, or add her her as a named driver on my policy , as she won't be using the car much.
Just for info: Car is insured via Direct line fully comp, no no claims, for £150. Adrian Flux 6 month learner policy was £180.
Pieman68 said:
lufbramatt said:
Pieman68 said:
I have a 19 year old who is starting lessons this week, so once he has had a few am going to insure him on mine
Looking at specific learner policies it looks like about £55 a month for my car for him
Thanks- who is that with if you don't mind pointing me in the right direction? Do I have to inform the existing insurer if there is a separate learner policy on the car?Looking at specific learner policies it looks like about £55 a month for my car for him
Not too bothered how much it costs once she's passed as I won't be paying it
I believe it was insurelearnerdriver.co.uk - it was just a quick look to be honest as he's having some lessons before he's allowed in it
Learning would be a lot cheaper if I was further into my training (part 2 test working towards becoming an ADI in a couple of months)
Assuming she has a provisional licence just add her to your insurance and crack on (with L plates and passenger mirror being the only other requirements I believe) once she passes take her off your insurance sharpish or it will skyrocket as they are no longer under your supervision. We found it cheaper to get day insurance once passed for occasional usage.
President Merkin said:
It's a learner policy for the car in her name, not a piggy back. £170/six months.
Ah, OK. It was just that everything on the website said it was a policy allowing learner drivers to drive a relative or friend's car, which sounded a lot like a piggyback insurance policy. In that case, your insurance should cover you as long as you have "driving other vehicles" on it.Forums | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff