Registered keeper and/or owner?

[Elderly]

My son-in-law is giving me or lending me his small 2+2 until his kids have grown out of child seats.

I will be the keeper, sole user and maintainer (paying all costs) of the car until such time as he wants it back.

Are there any advantages, disadvantages or rules regarding whether I should also become the owner whilst the car is in my possession ?

[R8VXF]

No need to become the registered keeper. You will lose out on 4 months of tax as a family if you transfer the v5 if you are not careful. Just let the insurance company know that your son is the rk.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Agreed, plus changing it will put an extra 2 owners on it after he reclaims the car and puts it back in his name.

But beware, some insurers have no problem with policyholder insuring someone else's car, but some do.

[Elderly]

Thanks ..... so do nothing except get it insured with me as the only driver,
and garaged at my house.
I presume he will still get the annual reminders and have to pay VED when due and I'll then reimburse him.

And I'll have to own up to any driving offenses

[R8VXF]

Elderly said:

Thanks ..... so do nothing except get it insured with me as the only driver,
and garaged at my house.
I presume he will still get the annual reminders and have to pay VED when due and I'll then reimburse him.

And I'll have to own up to any driving offenses

When he gets the VED reminders, just get him to text you the ref no and pay it yourself. Saves hassle.

[Who me ?]

I'd check out payment by DD, as DVLA don't seem to care who (RK or anyone else) pays it as long as they get their cash.

[Elderly]

Just rang the broker who I have my classic insured with and he said that I would have to be the r k to insure it.
He suggested that the bst way would be for my s-I-l to add me as an extra driver and change the address at which the car is kept .......... is he talking bks?

[Adrian E]

Elderly said:

is he talking bks?

It'll just be their policy on an accepted risk - shop around and you'll find others who are happier to take you on.

I've had numerous cars over the years registered in my wife's name but insured in mine - less of an issue since we co-habit, but some companies would still refuse to quote.

As is often stated on here, being the registered keeper doesn't make you the 'owner' of the vehicle in any case. it's simply a record of where paperwork should be sent relating to the vehicle.

Is it eligible for classic insurance? Might make it a bit more tricky if so as they're generally less flexible in setting up a policy.

[Elderly]

I've also just tried my everyday car insurers and they won't cover a car that I'm not the registered keeper of unless the r k is a spouse or partner.

ETA I've rung two more brokers and both say that there is no insurable interest
and that nobody should be willing to insure the car under my desired circumstances.

Edited by Elderly on Tuesday 17th March 15:32

[Adrian E]

Can your son continue to insure it in his name but list your address as where it is kept and that you're the main driver? You then pay him for the cover, assuming you're content to do that? At least from an insurer point of view their contract is with the RK which is probably what they're worried about

Don't think there's any legal reason you can't do the above, AFAIK?

[Elderly]

I think that is what we will end up doing.

[surveyor]

Have a word with LV. They seem more flexible than most.

[LoonR1]

Adrian E said:

It'll just be their policy on an accepted risk - shop around and you'll find others who are happier to take you on.

I've had numerous cars over the years registered in my wife's name but insured in mine - less of an issue since we co-habit, but some companies would still refuse to quote.

As is often stated on here, being the registered keeper doesn't make you the 'owner' of the vehicle in any case. it's simply a record of where paperwork should be sent relating to the vehicle.

Is it eligible for classic insurance? Might make it a bit more tricky if so as they're generally less flexible in setting up a policy.

It's a world of difference between spouses and children in terms of the legal position. No insurer will have a problem with spouses insuring cars that are in the others name. Children brings out the whole question of fronting (irrespective of age of children the question is there).

[S11Steve]

Elderly said:

I've also just tried my everyday car insurers and they won't cover a car that I'm not the registered keeper of unless the r k is a spouse or partner.

ETA I've rung two more brokers and both say that there is no insurable interest
and that nobody should be willing to insure the car under my desired circumstances.

Edited by Elderly on Tuesday 17th March 15:32

When I've insured leased cars in the past there was no problem with me not being the RK - Swinton, Diamond and Swiftcover all accepted this without fuss.