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. It's also worth knowing that, generally, named drivers won't earn any no claims bonus as part of the policy. It's only the policyholder that will earn a no claims bonus.
Being a named driver shouldn't impact your own policy. If you're involved in an accident that was your fault, you usually claim on the policyholder's policy.
If you add a named driver to your insurance policy, they can legally drive your car with the same level of cover that you pay for. So if you have a comprehensive car insurance policy, the named driver will also get comprehensive cover.
As a general rule then, adding a named driver will reduce the cost of your premiums if you're young. If you're an older and more experienced driver, however, adding an inexperienced driver such as your child as a named driver will likely increase your premiums.
What happens if a learner driver causes an accident?
As learner drivers have the same duty of care as experienced drivers, they're liable for any injuries you sustain in an accident for which they're at fault. Learner drivers are required to be insured before undertaking driving lessons, so you can normally claim against their insurance.
Auto Insurance Claims Process: Not-At-Fault Accident
Who is at fault if a learner driver has an accident?
According to legal precedent, learner drivers have the same duty of care as those who've passed their test. This means that if you, as a learner, are involved in an accident, the supervising driver won't be the one at fault—you will.
What happens if a learner driver is caught driving alone?
It's illegal to drive on a provisional licence without a qualified driver beside you. If you are caught, you'll receive a fine and penalty points. For new drivers, that could mean an instant ban as soon as you've passed your test.
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.
Adding a named driver often makes the premiums cheaper. This is because, since the car is shared, it's assumed you'll spend less time driving. This reduces the probability of you having an accident and making a claim, which is reflected in cheaper car insurance quotes.
Does being a named driver affect my own insurance? Being a named driver shouldn't impact your own policy. If you're involved in an accident that was your fault, you usually claim on the policyholder's policy. They might see their insurance costs rise as their no-claims bonus could be hit.
What are the disadvantages of being a named driver?
Named drivers usually won't get a no-claims discount
Usually it's only the insurance policyholder or car's main driver that can build up a no-claims discount. Some insurers do offer named drivers a discount if they haven't made a claim and decide to take out their own insurance policy in the future.
Do I have to declare an accident as a named driver?
If a named driver has an accident, the main driver or policyholder will need to make a claim on the policy and this will affect their no claims discount. If a named driver on your policy has an accident the claim will be against your policy even if you are nowhere near the car or accident itself.
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.
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.
Can I drive someone else's car if I am a named driver?
It's important to understand that you can only drive a car if you have insurance. If you don't have your own insurance policy (either on your own car including DOC cover, as a named driver on the car owner's policy, or standalone temporary cover), you are not legally covered to drive.
Despite how it might sound, adding a named driver (a second driver) to your car insurance policy won't automatically mean you'll be paying more for your insurance - it's not like paying for “double the cover”- but it could land you with a lower premium. It really does depend on your circumstances.
Is car insurance cheaper with a named driver? A named driver might be older and more experienced than yourself. So, your costs could go down if you add them to your policy. That's because driver age and on-the-road experience plays an important part in working out the likelihood of a claim.
The main and named driver have the same level of cover on the car. But a named driver could be the main driver on another vehicle. You can be the main driver of more than one car. But insurance companies will often question it… to check for fronting.
When you add a named driver to your policy, the insurance company will typically check their driving history. This includes any motoring convictions they may have, as well as their driving record and claims history.
What does it mean to be insured as a named driver?
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. It is great to be added as a named driver to a policy when you're learning to drive.
How much extra does it cost to add a named driver?
According to our data, having 1 extra driver on your policy costs £560, on average. And adding 4 extra drivers costs £996, on average*. If you don't think adding a named driver is right for you, there are other ways to cut the cost of your insurance.
You can also pass your theory and practical tests as a 17 year old; when you're successful in both, you'll be able to get a full car licence and drive solo. You can apply for a provisional licence when you're 15 and 9 months (15 and 3 quarters, in signing-your-drawing terms).
There are no hard and fast rules about when to start night driving, so when you do it is really up to you. Just make sure that you have a talk to an experienced driver about what to watch out for and properly familiarise yourself with your light controls so that you can operate them in the dark.
