Adding a named driver to your car insurance is one of the more common questions we hear. It often comes up when a young driver first starts learning to drive. As a learner driver, you might be driving on your parent’s or partner’s policy for a while before you get your own.
A named driver is simply someone you add to your policy so that they’re insured to drive your car, alongside you as the main policyholder. Below we’ll explain how it works, what it can cost, whether it counts towards a no claims bonus, and one
important thing to avoid.
What Is a Named Driver?
A named driver is a person you add to your car insurance policy so they’re covered to drive the insured car. The main policyholder is still the person who owns the policy and is the main driver of the car. The named driver is covered to drive it too, but the policy remains in the policyholder’s name.
Named drivers are often family members, such as a spouse, partner or child who’s learning to drive or newly qualified. Adding them means they can share the driving legally and with the right cover in place.
If you have named driver experience, your name appears on a car insurance policy (provided you have a minimum of a provisional license). Your time on this policy adds to your named driver experience. Named driver experience can also be considered when looking for a no-claims discount. You will earn a discount on that policy for your claims-free year(s) as it gives your insurer an idea of your driving ability.
What Is Named Driver Experience?
You will earn a discount for a year of claims free as a named driver up to a limit of five years. It must be a consecutive driving Named Driver Experience is the number of years you’ve spent insured as a named driver under someone else’s policy. A named driver has insurance to drive the vehicle on which someone else, i.e. a parent, is the main policyholder.
There are no restrictions on who can add you as an additional driver; it doesn’t have to be family. You can add anybody over 17 to an insurance policy once they are not the main driver and hold either a valid driving license or a learner’s permit.
It is always good to have named driver experience under your belt. Named driving is measured in months and years, similar to a no-claims bonus. It lets your insurer know you are a safe driver, lowering the insurance premium.
A lot of young drivers spend a few years as a named driver on a parent’s policy before going out on their own as many insurers recognise this experience. So, when you eventually take out a policy in your own name, it can be taken into account and may be offered a discount as a result.
However, how much of a discount you receive, or whether a discount is offered at all, varies from insurer to insurer so it’s always worth asking when you’re getting a quote.
Named Driving experience documentation is not issued automatically, and you must request this from each insurer you were with. If you were a named driver on multiple policies, you must have documents to prove this from each insurer.
How Do You Add a Named Driver to Your Insurance?
Open driving does not count towards named driving experience. OpAdding a named driver is usually a simple process. You’ll need to contact your insurer and provide some details about the person you’re adding. You will need to provide their name, age, licence details and license number and their driving history. Your insurer will then let you know how it affects your own premium and make the updates to your policy.en driving can be helpful if you have a busy house, but it does not count as named driving experience. KennCo does not offer open driving on Car Insurance policies currently.
Benefits of Named Driver Experience
- Discounts: Having named driver experience can lead to discounts on your insurance premium, especially if you’ve had a claims-free year.
- Flexibility: Being a named driver allows you to drive a vehicle without being the primary policyholder, offering flexibility for learners or those without their own cars.
- Building Experience: Even as a named driver, you’re accumulating driving experience, which can be beneficial when you decide to get your own policy.
Does Being a Named Driver Affect My No Claims Bonus?
A no claims bonus is earned by the policyholder on their own policy for each year they drive without making a claim. As a named driver, you won’t be earning your own no claims bonus because the policy isn’t in your name.
If a claim is made on the policy, it’s the policyholder’s no claims bonus that’s affected. So if you’re adding someone to your policy, it’s worth remembering that any claim can have an impact on the bonus you’ve built up over the years.
Can I Save Money By Adding a Named Driver?
There’s no single answer here. When you add a named driver, your insurer will look at a few different factors, like the named driver’s age and driving experience, to calculate how it will affect your premium.
Adding an experienced driver with a clean record may have little effect on your premium. Adding a young or newly qualified driver, on the other hand, will usually increase it, simply because less experienced drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in a claim. The best way to find out exactly what it will cost is to ask your insurer for a quote before you make the change.
Avoiding Insurance Fronting
Insurance Fronting is when the main driver of a car names someone else as the main driver in order to get cheaper insurance. It often happens with new or younger drivers who are usually considered more high risk and pay higher premiums. It might seem harmless but fronting is a form of insurance fraud and is illegal. If an insurer discovers that you’re fronting on your insurance, it can result in your policy being cancelled and potentially a fine or criminal conviction.
Does Having Open Driving On My Policy Count Towards Named Driving Experience?
Open driving does not count towards named driving experience. Open driving can be helpful if you have a busy house, but it does not count as named driving experience. KennCo does not offer open driving on Car Insurance policies currently.
How KennCo Measures Named Drivers
KennCo measures named driving experience in months and years, the same way as a no-claims bonus. You will earn a discount for a year of claims free as a named driver up to a limit of five years. It must be a consecutive driving experience and no gaps in the cover.
The end date of your named driving policy should coincide with the start of your new policy to ensure you can avail of a full named driving experience. Unlike some other insurers, KennCo Insurance will evaluate all your driving experience, so be sure to contact us when you are looking for a quote.
Call KennCo Today to Add a Named Driver
If you have any queries about named driver experience, call us on 01 409 2600 or email us at [email protected] for general questions.
If you want to purchase car insurance, get a quote online today! We have more information and FAQs on young driver car insurance to answer all your questions.
FAQs
KennCo Insurance Services
