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Named driver insurance

GET QUOTES FOR CAR INSURANCE WITH EXTRA DRIVERS ADDED TO YOUR POLICY

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What is named driver insurance?

Named driver insurance, sometimes known as additional or second driver insurance, lets you add someone to your policy so they can drive your car occasionally - with your permission.

It extends your car insurance to a family member or friend, typically giving them the same level of cover you have as the main driver. For example, if you’ve got comprehensive cover, they’d also have it while driving your car.

While the other driver may already have a policy that includes cover for driving other cars, this is usually only on a third party basis and is designed for emergency situations.

If you want peace of mind that your own car is properly covered while someone else is driving it, they’ll need to be added as a named driver on your policy.

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The benefits of named driver insurance

  • Damage to your car is covered while someone else is driving it
  • It provides you with the flexibility to drive more than one car
  • Your level of cover is usually extended to others when they drive your car
  • Named drivers can benefit from any extras on your policy, like breakdown cover
  • Adding an experienced named driver can reduce insurance costs for young drivers. Be honest about who the main driver is though. Failure to do so could invalidate your policy or lead to a criminal conviction if you're involved in an accident.
  • Named drivers can be added permanently or temporarily to your policy
  • If your policy includes driving abroad, named drivers will also be covered to drive your car abroad.

£4 million refunded to customers with free excess cover^^

If you need to claim, we’ll pay £250 towards your excess^. Just another reason to make your life choices on Go.Compare.

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^Up to £250 refunded after claim settled. Car insurance purchases only. Excludes breakdown, windscreen and glass repair/replacement. Full T&Cs apply.

^^Based on Go.Compare analysis of successful claims, August 2019 - June 2022.

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Who should consider named driver insurance?

Named driver insurance is often taken out by parents of young drivers. It’s usually a much cheaper option than a younger person having a policy in their own name, but the parent must be the main driver of the car.

But named driver insurance is also useful if there’s someone else that you’d like to be able to drive your car, like a partner or spouse.

It’s something to consider if you’re the one who does most of the driving, but you’d like others - like family or friends - to be insured to drive your car when needed.

Will adding a named driver affect the cost of my premium?

It will in some cases. When calculating the price, insurers assess the risks associated with adding named drivers, including:

  • The age of the named drivers
  • How long they’ve been driving
  • Their driving record
  • Whether your named drivers are employed and their occupation
  • Your named driver’s relationship to you
  • The number of named drivers you want to add

If you were hoping to earn a no claims discount as a named driver, think again. Only 10% of 325 comprehensive policies allow you to earn your own

According to Defaqto[1]

Misconceptions about named driver insurance

Some people mistakenly think that:

It’ll make your insurance cheaper

While adding a more experienced driver with a clean driving history can make car insurance cheaper, adding a younger driver to your policy usually means you’ll pay more

Comprehensive policies provide cover automatically

Some policies may include driving other cars (DOC) cover, but this is generally only for someone to drive your car in an emergency, and usually only provides third party cover

You can build up a NCD as a named driver

No, usually it’s only the policyholder that can build up a NCD. Typically, you’ll need your own policy to be able to do this

Your no-claims discount (NCD) won’t be affected

If an accident happens when a named driver is behind the wheel, it’ll still be your NCD that takes the hit

You can’t be a named driver if you’re under 25

This depends on the insurer. Some providers will insure drivers under the age of 25 but adding them to your policy will usually make your premiums more expensive

You’re the main driver if you own the car

If someone else drives your car more than you do, then they should be declared as the main driver on your policy, but they’ll need to live at the same address as you

Tips for choosing a named driver insurance policy

When you’re looking into named driver insurance, it’s a good idea to:

  1. Add drivers to a new policy

    There’s usually an admin fee to add drivers to your existing cover, so it’s often cheaper to do this when you’re taking out a new policy

  2. Compare the costs between providers

    The price you’ll need to pay can vary between insurers, so shop around to find the best deal

  3. Check the terms and conditions

    When you’re taking out cover, check the small print to understand what will and won’t be covered on your named driver insurance

  4. Consider protecting your NCD

    If you’ve built up several years’ worth of NCD, it’s usually possible to protect it by paying an extra fee

  5. Be truthful about the main driver

    Whoever drives the car the most should be the main driver on the policy, falsely naming someone else is known as ‘fronting’ and is illegal

  6. Get fully comprehensive cover

    It’s often cheaper than third party insurance and will provide you and your named driver with more protection

What details will I need to get a quote?

To compare quotes for named driver insurance you’ll need to provide us with a few details about:

  1. You

    Including your full name and address

  2. Your car

    Tell us about the car you want to insure

  3. Any named drivers

    We’ll need to know their name, date of birth and driving history

To add someone to your existing policy, you’ll need to contact your insurer directly and provide them with details about your additional driver.

Fronting and named drivers

It might be tempting to name a more experienced person (a parent, for instance) as the main driver on your policy to reduce the cost of your premiums, even if you’ll be driving the vehicle more.

This is called fronting and it’s illegal. If your insurer discovers you’ve done this, it could invalidate your policy.

You could be made to pay any costs associated with an accident you were involved in and it can even lead to a criminal conviction.

It’s also likely to make it more difficult and expensive to buy insurance in the future.

Many parents are putting themselves at risk of picking up a criminal record for the sake of reducing their child’s car insurance premiums. There may not appear to be any harm in insuring a child’s car in a parent’s name, but fronting is illegal"
Ryan Fulthorpe - Motor insurance expert Go.Compare

Make sure any additional drivers are properly covered to use your car

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Frequently asked questions

  • Yes, if they’re going to be driving your car occasionally, adding a young driver to your policy is often a good way for them to get behind the wheel without paying a high premium.

    There may be age restrictions when adding a named driver to your policy though, so it’s always best to check if you’re planning to add a young person.

    Just be aware that the younger they are, the more your premium will likely increase to cover the perceived risk.

  • This depends on when you’re adding a named driver. If it’s after your cover has started, you’ll usually be charged an admin fee.

    This will be on top of any potential increase to your premium.

    It’s generally cheaper to add a named driver when you come to renew your cover or take out a policy with a new provider.

  • Your named driver will have the same level of insurance to drive your car as you do. So if you have comprehensive cover, so will they.

    But if they have an accident and need to make a claim, it’ll be your NCD that’s affected.

  • Depending on your policy, it’s usually possible to add up to three or four named drivers for your car.

  • This largely depends on your insurance policy and the situation. If your policy has DOC, this allows you to drive someone else’s car - but usually only in an emergency.

    If you don’t have DOC cover and you’re not a named driver, you won’t legally be allowed to drive another person’s car and could risk a fine, penalty points on your licence and a driving conviction.

  • Yes, if you need to make a claim after an accident that involved your named driver, it’s your NCD that will be affected, even if they have their own car insurance policy.

  • You can take out temporary car insurance if you want to insure someone to drive your car for a short amount of time. This can provide cover from one hour up to 90 days, or more in some cases.

    As it’s standalone cover and separate to your policy, your NCD won’t be affected if they’re involved in an accident while driving your car.

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Page last reviewed: 16th March 2023
Page reviewed by: Jasmine Hembury

[1]Last checked 3 January 2023