Adding your children to your car insurance

Adding a young named driver allows them to use your car and be insured as long as they drive it occasionally and you are the primary driver. Since a young driver is usually a less experienced driver, it likely increases the policyholder's premium. It's important to know that naming yourself as the main driver when your child drives most of the time is illegal, a practice called 'fronting.'

EASY AS HACK 

Should I add my child to my car insurance policy?

Taking the time to understand how to add a learner or young driver to your car insurance policy, allowing them to drive your car occasionally, can help you decide whether you want to go ahead.

We’ve listed the benefits – and the drawbacks of adding a child to your insurance:

• The cost of adding your child as a named driver may be cheaper than having a policy of their own, but they will only be insured to drive your vehicle occasionally.
• If you’re the policyholder, you’re likely to see an increase in the cost of your premiums if you add a driver who is less experienced than you are as the insurer views them as high-risk.
• A young driver who has an accident that results in a claim may affect your no-claims bonus.
• Insurers can void a policy and may take legal action for fraud if you give them false information about who actually drives the car most of the time.

The car owner’s insurance policy will usually cover learner drivers who are practising in your car. However, some insurers require the supervising person to be over 25.

GOV.UK has more information on practising to drive with family.

will they earn their own no claims discount?

One important consideration is that named drivers will not earn a no-claims bonus at Ageas and many other insurers. The insurer will only award the main driver a no claims bonus at the end of the policy period (where applicable).

This insurance rule means that it could end up being more expensive when your child decides to get a policy in their own name. However, other insurers will consider any years spent as a named driver.

how to add a named driver to your car insurance

You must give your insurer any relevant details about your child to add them as a named driver to your car insurance policy.

When you contact your insurance provider, you should have the following details to hand to add a new driver to your car insurance:

• Full name of the driver
• Age
• Address
• Occupation
• Driving history
• Medical conditions/disabilities (also tell the DVLA)
• Driving licence number and licence type
• Any accidents or claims in the past 3-5 years, depending on insurer
• Any motoring convictions

Insurance companies call adding a driver to your existing policy a ‘mid-term adjustment’.

Then, decide how long you want to add the driver to your policy:

• Rest of the policy term
• Short-term basis (up to 90 days)

Another consideration is driving abroad. Many insurers only provide third-party cover when driving outside the UK. Ask your insurance provider if they will extend your insurance to comprehensive cover if your child plans to get behind the wheel of your car while abroad.

Read our tips on driving abroad for the first time.

how old does my child have to be before i can add them to my insurance?

Generally, insurers require a child to be 17 (the legal minimum age for driving cars in the UK) and hold a provisional or full driving licence before you can add them as a named driver to your policy. Other specialist or short-term insurers will cover 17-year-olds when they start on a provisional (learner) licence.

how MUCH WILL IT COST TO ADD SOMEONE TO CAR INSURANCE?

The cost of adding a driver to your car insurance policy will involve paying an administration fee. The charge can vary depending on the insurer. With Ageas, you can make the change for just £25 by phone, email or live chat. Plus, it’s free when you change it through your online customer account.

In most cases, your insurance premium is also likely to go up. Insurers take various factors into account when calculating your premium’s price, including who’s driving the vehicle.

Young drivers’ policies are often more costly as insurers consider their inexperience to be risky. Figures from Brake, the road safety charity, show one in five young drivers have crashes within a year of passing their test.^[1]

how MANY DRIVERS CAN YOU ADD TO YOUR INSURANCE?

How many drivers you can add to your insurance depends on your insurer, but usually four or five is the typical maximum. Some may allow named drivers with restrictions, such as age or a full driving licence. Make sure you check your insurance provider’s policy rules, as each one will have different restrictions.

Ageas allows 4 additional named drivers for the whole policy term or on a short-term, temporary basis.

WILL THEY EARN THEIR OWN NO-CLAIMS DISCOUNT?

One essential consideration is that additional named drivers will not earn a no-claims bonus. Insurers only award the policyholder a no-claims discount when the policy period ends (where applicable).

When your child decides to get a policy in their name, it could be more expensive, although some insurers will consider any years spent as a named driver.

Read our guide to no claims discount.

WILL MY NO-CLAIMS DISCOUNT BE AFFECTED IF MY CHILD NEEDS TO CLAIM?

If the named driver is at fault in an accident and needs to make a claim, it will affect your no-claims bonus, even if you were not involved.

THE DANGERS OF FRONTING

The practice of ‘fronting’ is a type of car insurance fraud that reduces premium costs, which is tempting to some parents.

Fronting refers to a situation where a parent or experienced driver takes out a car insurance policy, misrepresenting themselves as the ‘main driver’ and their child as a ‘named driver’ to obtain cheaper insurance. In truth, their less experienced child does most or all of the driving in the vehicle.

Insurers rely on people answering questions honestly when they take out a policy. Trying to disguise the main driver is illegal. It can lead to serious consequences, from an invalidated policy to criminal prosecution for some of those involved. You may also find it challenging and more expensive to secure insurance and other financial products, such as mortgages and credit cards, in the future.

GETTING YOUR CHILD A SEPERATE CAR INSURANCE POLICY

If your child is the primary or sole driver of a vehicle, you should get them a young drivers car insurance policy in their name.

You may also consider an independent policy for them if you want to protect your no-claims discount or if your child wants to build up a no-claims discount. They could always add you to their policy as a named driver.

Buying temporary car insurance instead of adding a named driver to your policy can also be helpful in the short term. Insurers typically offer from 1 to 28 days of insurance, but they extend it up to 90 days on request. The costs vary, so it’s worth shopping around.

Discover our range of optional extras, such as breakdown cover.

HOW TO REDUCE A YOUNG DRIVER'S INSURANCE PREMIUM

You can take two practical steps to help reduce a young driver’s insurance premium.

Step 1: Limit their mileage allowance

Insurers will consider your child as a lower risk simply because they’re on the road less. However, you’ll need to check their mileage to ensure they stay within the limit.

Step 2: Buy a car with a small engine

Considering the high number of young drivers involved in accidents, it makes sense to ensure their car also has a high safety rating for both financial reasons and their safety.

Find the right car insurance for you with Ageas car insurance.

FAQs 

CAN I ADD A NAMED DRIVER TEMPORARILY?

Insurers often allow you to add a named driver temporarily. Ageas enables temporary adjustments to its car policies as long as they do not exceed 45 days and you meet our standard acceptance criteria.

Adding a temporary named driver could be worth considering if:

• You are planning a road trip
• You are lending your child your car
• You want insurance cover for a child who is back from university

HOW MANY DRIVERS CAN YOU ADD TO YOUR INSURANCE?

can you change the main driver on an insurance policy?

Yes, you can change the main driver on an insurance policy, but you must call your insurer to update it. At Ageas, we ask the user to review and update questions on their specific online customer journey.

Sources

[1] Young Drivers