What does it mean if your a named driver?
Asked by: Kennedy Schuster | Last update: February 11, 2022Score: 5/5 (41 votes)
Also known as an additional driver, a named driver is an individual who has been added to someone else's car insurance policy so that they can legally drive their vehicle with the same level of cover as the main driver. A named driver is not legally permitted to drive the vehicle more than the main driver, however.
What does being a named driver mean?
Named driver insurance, also called additional driver insurance, is the cover someone gets when they're added to your car insurance policy. It means you've told your insurance provider that someone other than you might drive your car.
Is it better to be a named driver?
Named driver car insurance can benefit anyone who would like another person to have access to their vehicle. But it's particularly useful for students and young drivers who are often faced with prohibitively high car insurance costs because they are statistically more likely to make a claim.
Can a named driver drive the car all the time?
Any named driver can use your vehicle occasionally. That means they shouldn't be the permanent driver, nor should they be regularly using the vehicle, for example for driving to work. If someone is named as an additional driver but in fact has main use of the car, this is called fronting, which is illegal.
What are the benefits of being a named driver?
Very often the named driver uses the car more often than the person who holds the policy. Having a Named driver Insurance is a great way to lower your premium car insurance policy for a few years.
What is a Named Driver Only Policy?
Does being a named driver affect my own insurance price?
No. Being listed as a named driver on someone else's policy does not affect your own car insurance if you are involved in a road traffic accident. If you were to have a car accident while driving another person's car as a named driver, you would need to claim on the main driver's insurance policy.
Can a named driver earn no claims bonus?
Named drivers can't usually build up a no claims discount, although they can accumulate their own if they're insured as the main driver on their own car. Some insurance providers may give a named driver a discount – provided they take out their own policy at a later date.
What if named driver has accident?
Your level of no claims discount won't be affected, even if you add a named driver with absolutely no car insurance history. But, if a named driver has an accident whilst driving your car, it will affect your no claims discount in exactly the same way as if you, yourself, had been behind the wheel.
Can a named driver make a claim?
Adding a named driver to your policy won't affect your no claims bonus - unless they have an accident. If they do, it's you who'll need to claim as you're the main driver. You are fully liable for the claim, even if it's the named driver who is in the accident. So, it's your no claims bonus at risk here.
Can the named driver be the main driver?
As a named driver you will be given the same level of cover as the vehicle's main driver. Named driver policies are only appropriate if the named driver is not the main driver (main user) or the owner of the vehicle. Named drivers should be careful to avoid 'fronting', a form of insurance fraud.
Why is it cheaper to add a named driver?
Adding a named driver often makes the premiums cheaper because it's assumed you'll spend less time driving, since the car is shared. This reduces your probability of having an accident and making a claim, which is reflected in cheaper car insurance quotes.
Do I have to declare an accident as a named driver?
Yes, you need to declare all accidents that you're involved in, regardless of who, or what, was at fault. Pretty much all insurance providers will have a clause in their policy requiring you to declare any incidences you're involved in while driving in the past 5 years.
Can I drive my wife's car on my insurance?
Can I drive my partner's car? Driving Other Cars (DOC) insurance isn't usually included as part of a fully comprehensive policy. Unless your policy states otherwise, you'll only be able to drive your partner's car if they've added you as a named driver or have a family or any driver car insurance policy.
Does a named driver have to live with you?
Does a named driver have to live at the same address as the main driver? No, someone does not have to live at the same address as you to be added as a named driver to your policy.
Can you drive any car if you are fully comp?
If I have fully comprehensive car insurance can I drive any car? No. ... So even if you're fully covered for your own car, don't assume you're insured to drive other people's cars otherwise you risk breaking the law. Before getting behind the wheel of another car, speak to your insurer to find out what the situation is.
Can you be a named driver on 2 cars?
Yes, you can. That's no problem. In fact, there is no limit to the amount of cars you can own and insure in your own name. However, no claims bonuses only apply to the vehicle, not to the driver or insurance policy.
Can I remove a named driver from my insurance?
Instead, if the situation has changed since you placed the person on your policy, then it may be possible to remove him from your policy. ... When a named driver exclusion is allowed, your insurer will note the person as an excluded driver on your policy and won't rate on that individual.
How many times can you be a named driver?
How many additional drivers can I add to my policy? If you are renewing your insurance policy, the provider will ask you how many additional drivers you would like to add. The maximum amount of named drivers is usually four.
Is a named driver a policy holder?
The vehicle policyholder is nominated by the principal policyholder as being the person who drives the vehicle most often and earns the no claim discount. Named drivers are additional drivers nominated by the principal policyholder who are entitled to drive the vehicle under the policy.
Do named drivers get no-claims direct line?
Direct Line allows up to four named drivers added to a policy to earn their own NCD. It builds up at a lower rate – around three-quarters of normal discount – but it can be used when people then take out a policy of their own with the firm.
How do car insurance companies pay out claims?
If your claim is approved, you'll receive payment for the amount of the loss as determined by the insurance company. Depending on what the insurance claim entailed, you might receive the payment or the insurance company might send it directly to any vendors involved in the loss, such as a car mechanic.
How do I prove no claims as a named driver?
A renewal letter is usually proof enough if it includes your name as the policyholder, the number of years of no claims discount and the expiry date of your previous policy. You can email or fax it to them, or send the original document by post.
Can you protect 1 years no claims bonus?
Once you've built up a few years' no claim bonus, you can “protect” it with an optional extra fee. This means your no claim bonus will be safe-guarded, even if you make an at-fault claim.
Do I lose all my no claims after an accident?
When you make a claim on your policy you'll usually lose some or all of your NCB if your insurer has to pay out – even if it's not your fault. How much of it you actually lose depends on how many years NCB you have, as well as the insurer. After an accident, there might be some situations where your NCB isn't affected.
Do you have to own a car to be the main driver?
Every car insurance policy has a "main driver". ... The main driver has to drive the car more often than the named driver. If they don't, it counts as a type of fraud called "fronting". But the main driver doesn't necessarily have to be the owner or the registered keeper.