How to add a driver to your policy

Adding a driver to car insurance can be straightforward to do and it’s a sensible idea if you have a family who would like to make use of the vehicle. Read our handy guide on what you need to know when adding another driver to your insurance policy.

What is a named driver?

An additional driver that can be added to a car insurance policy to enable them to drive the policy holder’s vehicle. Adding a named driver can potentially impact the car insurance cost. Insurers typically let you add around six as the maximum, which is available on multi-car insurance policies.

Adding an experienced named driver can make car insurance cheaper, especially for younger or less experienced policyholders.

Benefits of adding a named driver

Adding a named driver to your car insurance policy can have several benefits. For one, it allows you to share driving responsibilities with a trusted friend or family member, which can be especially useful for long road trips or when you need to lend your car to someone. Adding a named driver can also help to reduce the cost of your car insurance premiums, especially if the named driver is an experienced and safe driver.

Another benefit of adding a named driver is that it can provide additional protection and peace of mind. If the named driver is involved in an accident while driving your car, your insurance policy will cover the damages, which can help to reduce your financial liability. Furthermore, adding a named driver can also help to build their own driving history and insurance record, which can be beneficial for them in the long run.

Can adding a named driver affect your premium?

Getting a named driver added to your driver insurance policy can affect the policy owner’s premium. Whether it increases or decreases is dependent on the added driver’s circumstances, it can be affected by factors like age and occupation. For instance, adding a younger and less experienced driver to a policy will typically push premiums up as under-25s are considered the riskiest group by insurers.

How to add a named driver to your policy?

Adding a named driver to your car insurance policy is a relatively straightforward process. Here are the steps you need to follow:

• Contact your insurance provider: Reach out to your insurance provider and let them know that you want to add a named driver to your policy. They will guide you through the process and provide you with the necessary forms and information.
• Provide the necessary information: You will need to provide your insurance provider with the named driver’s details, including their name, date of birth, driving history, and any other relevant information.
• Review and update your policy: Once you have provided the necessary information, your insurance provider will review and update your policy to include the named driver.
• Pay any additional premiums: Depending on the named driver’s risk profile, you may need to pay additional premiums to add them to your policy.

What information you’ll need to add a named driver

The details tend to be basic when adding a named driver, they will typically include; name, age marital status, address, occupation, driving licence details and information about any accidents or motoring convictions.

There also may be fee that is charged to add a named driver, this varies between insurance provider. Having your own car insurance policy can impact the no claims discount, as an accident under your own policy will not affect the primary policy holder’s no claims discount.

Who can be a named driver?

Anyone can be a named driver on your car insurance policy, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria set by your insurance provider. Typically, named drivers must be at least 17 years old and have a valid driver’s license. They must also have a good driving history and not have any serious convictions or accidents on their record.

Some common examples of named drivers include:

• Family members, such as spouses, children, or parents
• Friends or colleagues who occasionally borrow your car
• Young drivers who are learning to drive and need to practice in a safe and supervised environment
• Experienced drivers who can help to reduce your car insurance premiums

It’s worth noting that some insurance providers may have specific requirements or restrictions for named drivers, so it’s always best to check with them before adding someone to your policy.

How frequently can a named driver use the vehicle?

The named driver should be using the vehicle less than the main driver and only drive the car occasionally. If the primary user of the car does not use the vehicle the most then this is known as ‘fronting’, a type of car insurance fraud.

Fronting is illegal and if you get caught doing it your insurance will be invalidated and you could be taken to court.

Temporary car insurance could be a more suitable choice

If you’ve added someone to your policy but they only use the vehicle occasionally then it could be cheaper for them to use temporary car insurance whenever they need the vehicle. Additionally, driving someone else’s car is often covered under comprehensive policies, but it is important to understand the specific terms and conditions of your own insurance policy.

This is separate to the vehicle owner’s policy so there’s the added benefit of protecting your No Claims Discount (NCD). As an additional driver, in the event of a claim you’ll be affecting the vehicle owner’s NCD even if they were not involved in the accident.

Short term car insurance is a specialist type of motor insurance which allows you to get covered on a vehicle for the period you need. Insurers tend to offer the cover from as little as one hour up to thirty days. Third party cover is often included in comprehensive policies for emergency situations, but it is limited to third party liabilities and does not cover damage to the vehicle itself.