Just passed test - what next?
Discussion
Our 17 yr old has just passed her driving test at the first attempt 
I realise that this might sound like a dumb question, but is she allowed to continue driving the car that she is/has been insured to drive on her provisional licence, so long as she remains supervised by another adult driver?
Or must we inform the insurance co. who will presumably need to charge more to cover her to fly solo (regardless of whether or not there is another experienced driver on board)?
i.e., I guess that when your learner is driving on their provisional licence (with L-plates and under supervision) that is one thing, but once they have passed... the L-plates need to come off as they can no longer be considered as a learner and they no longer have the right to drive 'under supervision' - they have to stand on their own...
I can see the logic here but at the same time, the additional cost of upgrading the insurance is a disincentive as she doesn't need 24/7 insurance cover but occasional use would be great and would help build experience...
In our case, the V5 and policy (with Admiral) are in her own name so she can't even purchase temp insurance cover.
Wondering if the solution might be to cancel her policy and start again but I recall reading that some insurers can credit you with a full year's NCD after less than 12 months' claims free, so wondering if it's worth hanging on until we reach that milestone before cancelling etc.
Also wondering if worth waiting until she hits 18 or is it more likely that costs start to come down once 12 months post-pass have elapsed - which is another pile of crap as there is no recognition of how many (if any) miles have been driven over that period....
I realise that this might sound like a dumb question, but is she allowed to continue driving the car that she is/has been insured to drive on her provisional licence, so long as she remains supervised by another adult driver?
Or must we inform the insurance co. who will presumably need to charge more to cover her to fly solo (regardless of whether or not there is another experienced driver on board)?
i.e., I guess that when your learner is driving on their provisional licence (with L-plates and under supervision) that is one thing, but once they have passed... the L-plates need to come off as they can no longer be considered as a learner and they no longer have the right to drive 'under supervision' - they have to stand on their own...
I can see the logic here but at the same time, the additional cost of upgrading the insurance is a disincentive as she doesn't need 24/7 insurance cover but occasional use would be great and would help build experience...
In our case, the V5 and policy (with Admiral) are in her own name so she can't even purchase temp insurance cover.
Wondering if the solution might be to cancel her policy and start again but I recall reading that some insurers can credit you with a full year's NCD after less than 12 months' claims free, so wondering if it's worth hanging on until we reach that milestone before cancelling etc.
Also wondering if worth waiting until she hits 18 or is it more likely that costs start to come down once 12 months post-pass have elapsed - which is another pile of crap as there is no recognition of how many (if any) miles have been driven over that period....
The price difference between provision and newly passed drivers are driven by facts in terms of claims frequency and size. The difference in risk is huge.
You basically will need to have insurance covering her as a full licence holder in some way if you wish to her to be able to drive.
This could be via amending the current policy, cancelling it and taking a new annual policy or cancelling it and using temp insurance when she drives. (Note if the car is taxed it will need to be insured to someone, could be you, due to Continuous Insurance rules).
You may benefit slightly from waiting till 12 months past the passing date, albeit at 0 years NCB it’s still going to be expensive.
As for the point about mileage, mainstream insurance pricing is all about data and averages - if you do something out of the norm it isn’t surprising that you don’t necessarily benefit. For this reason it can be the case that garaged parking is more than driveway or street parking if the data shows claims are more likely for any reason up to and including enough people have lied about parking in a garage.
You basically will need to have insurance covering her as a full licence holder in some way if you wish to her to be able to drive.
This could be via amending the current policy, cancelling it and taking a new annual policy or cancelling it and using temp insurance when she drives. (Note if the car is taxed it will need to be insured to someone, could be you, due to Continuous Insurance rules).
You may benefit slightly from waiting till 12 months past the passing date, albeit at 0 years NCB it’s still going to be expensive.
As for the point about mileage, mainstream insurance pricing is all about data and averages - if you do something out of the norm it isn’t surprising that you don’t necessarily benefit. For this reason it can be the case that garaged parking is more than driveway or street parking if the data shows claims are more likely for any reason up to and including enough people have lied about parking in a garage.
Edited by Dingu on Monday 23 January 16:18
Dingu said:
The difference in risk is huge.
I get this - an inexperienced driver, flying solo, will statistically create more carnage.However, we are also saying that the same learner is allowed to drive under supervision (with L-plates) to their test appointment and if they smash (sic) their test, they would not be allowed to drive home under supervision (with or without L-plates) as they have crossed the rubicon...
Mogul said:
Tried to work it out online but it's less than clear - which is odd as it must be a regular issue for new drivers...
I guess I will just have to call them and hope that the person I speak to knows..
Be prepared to make a decision regarding changing the policy or cancelling once you have told them about it. I guess I will just have to call them and hope that the person I speak to knows..
They probably won’t be risking leaving as provisional once they know due to the difference in risk now she has passed. You and your daughter are probably sensible but many 17 year olds will be out driving as soon as possible.
Mogul said:
Dingu said:
The difference in risk is huge.
I get this - an inexperienced driver, flying solo, will statistically create more carnage.However, we are also saying that the same learner is allowed to drive under supervision (with L-plates) to their test appointment and if they smash (sic) their test, they would not be allowed to drive home under supervision (with or without L-plates) as they have crossed the rubicon...
Similarly when you change car you need to inform the insurer before you drive it unless there is some other form of policy. It’s not controversial.
The irony is that if they fail their test, they can legitimately drive home (under supervision, with L-plates) under the pre-existing insurance cover, but 'the reward' for having passed is that they cannot drive home (with or without supervision) unless the insurance cover is upgraded (and the requisite premium paid)... I get it, but it still seems odd.
Anyone know more about my second point - do you need to have cover for 12 months to get a year's NCD (with Admiral)?
Anyone know more about my second point - do you need to have cover for 12 months to get a year's NCD (with Admiral)?
I want to say that normally companies would only provide NCB at the renewal date, so even the ones who would give 1 year for 9 months etc would need it to be when a car is added to a policy 3 months in rather on early cancellation. If that makes sense?
Others experiences may vary though, and worth asking if you do call them.
Others experiences may vary though, and worth asking if you do call them.
Sorry, but I don't quite follow...
If she cancels her current policy after 6+ months and uses temp cover on an ad hoc basis thereafter, before subsequently taking out another annual policy (possibly when 18+ or once her full licence has been held for 12+ months), would the ins. co. have access to a central database of whether or not there was a valid NCD in play, or would it be down to her to ask Admiral if they would provide one in letter format?
If she cancels her current policy after 6+ months and uses temp cover on an ad hoc basis thereafter, before subsequently taking out another annual policy (possibly when 18+ or once her full licence has been held for 12+ months), would the ins. co. have access to a central database of whether or not there was a valid NCD in play, or would it be down to her to ask Admiral if they would provide one in letter format?
Dingu said:
Mogul said:
Dingu said:
The difference in risk is huge.
I get this - an inexperienced driver, flying solo, will statistically create more carnage.However, we are also saying that the same learner is allowed to drive under supervision (with L-plates) to their test appointment and if they smash (sic) their test, they would not be allowed to drive home under supervision (with or without L-plates) as they have crossed the rubicon...
Similarly when you change car you need to inform the insurer before you drive it unless there is some other form of policy. It’s not controversial.
Mogul said:
Sorry, but I don't quite follow...
If she cancels her current policy after 6+ months and uses temp cover on an ad hoc basis thereafter, before subsequently taking out another annual policy (possibly when 18+ or once her full licence has been held for 12+ months), would the ins. co. have access to a central database of whether or not there was a valid NCD in play, or would it be down to her to ask Admiral if they would provide one in letter format?
That's not how NCB works - NCB is based upon holding a policy against which you haven't made a claim - it has nothing to do with how long the license has been held (apologies if I've misunderstood but that's how your post reads)If she cancels her current policy after 6+ months and uses temp cover on an ad hoc basis thereafter, before subsequently taking out another annual policy (possibly when 18+ or once her full licence has been held for 12+ months), would the ins. co. have access to a central database of whether or not there was a valid NCD in play, or would it be down to her to ask Admiral if they would provide one in letter format?
Mogul said:
Sorry, but I don't quite follow...
If she cancels her current policy after 6+ months and uses temp cover on an ad hoc basis thereafter, before subsequently taking out another annual policy (possibly when 18+ or once her full licence has been held for 12+ months), would the ins. co. have access to a central database of whether or not there was a valid NCD in play, or would it be down to her to ask Admiral if they would provide one in letter format?
I don't think there is a central database, as it's down to the individual insurer as to what NCD/NCB means to them. Otherwise insurers wouldn't keep asking for 'proof of no claims bonus/discount'.If she cancels her current policy after 6+ months and uses temp cover on an ad hoc basis thereafter, before subsequently taking out another annual policy (possibly when 18+ or once her full licence has been held for 12+ months), would the ins. co. have access to a central database of whether or not there was a valid NCD in play, or would it be down to her to ask Admiral if they would provide one in letter format?
They can't even agree on how to implement NCD/NCB, as some will state 75% on your renewal/proof of NC letter, other will state 'Full', others will state '9 years' as their maximum even if you've got 23 year's history of not claiming.
I usually have to get a nice email or letter stating something along the lines of "Mr Mmm-Five brought 17 years of NCB/NCD to us when he took out a policy with us a year ago. Mr Mmm-Five has had no claims in this period of insurance."
Mogul said:
The irony is that if they fail their test, they can legitimately drive home (under supervision, with L-plates) under the pre-existing insurance cover, but 'the reward' for having passed is that they cannot drive home (with or without supervision) unless the insurance cover is upgraded (and the requisite premium paid)... I get it, but it still seems odd.
There is no insurance "reward" for passing your test as a young driver. There is, quite rightly, and insurance penalty, as they've moved from low risk to high risk. Pieman68 - Yes, I appreciate that NCD is all about no claims during the policy term. In this case, the initial annual policy has been for 6+months by a provisional licence holder. If she cancels it now and then (within the next 24 months) takes out another annual policy, she may or may not benefit from 'a year's' NCD depending on how generous Admiral are when asked...
mmm-five - I believe that you are right and it appears to be down to the discretion of (the person at) the insurer who responds to any request as to how they support the whole NCD regime which seems surprising, in 2023, but we are where we are.
Thanks all!
mmm-five - I believe that you are right and it appears to be down to the discretion of (the person at) the insurer who responds to any request as to how they support the whole NCD regime which seems surprising, in 2023, but we are where we are.
Thanks all!
Inform your insurance company.
Had this with both of my sons.
Notified the insurers (insured in his own name) after the first passed his test & was slightly surprised to be asked for more money.
On asking why, the answer was that he would now be able to drive unsupervised.
Paid what was required.
Premiums dropped significantly over the next few years.
Same experience with my youngest.
Had this with both of my sons.
Notified the insurers (insured in his own name) after the first passed his test & was slightly surprised to be asked for more money.
On asking why, the answer was that he would now be able to drive unsupervised.
Paid what was required.
Premiums dropped significantly over the next few years.
Same experience with my youngest.
Edited by paintman on Monday 23 January 17:59
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