Car insurance Questions

meths · 29 Aug 2015 at 17:30

A little advice would be appreciated here as I'm not sure what the best course of action is.

My policy is due for renewal on the 7th September and my wife is due to sit her driving test on the 13th. She's on my current policy as a provisional driver so if I renew just now I'll have to phone up a week later if she passes her test to have the policy amended to show her as having a full license. I assume that at this point the insurer will have me over a barrel and either charge a fee to amend the policy, give me a high quote as I'm already tied in, or both.

I had thought about taking a short term policy with only me on it to see if she passes but that's coming in at over £100 for 8 days and if she doesn't pass I'd have to extend it until she can resit the test.

Do I just need to accept the fact that I'm going to be paying through the nose this time around or is there a better option?

iaind · 29 Aug 2015 at 17:33

You'll probably pay a fee to change but it'll hardly be barrel bending. Do the quotes with her as a full license holder as the cheapest for your current situation may not be the cheapest with her having passed - the price will go up regardless though

StevieP · 29 Aug 2015 at 17:44

I've seen quotes sky-rocket with drivers going from a provision to a full licence - although it's usually not too bad when we are talking about a named driver rather that the policyholder!

I'd tend to agree with iaind and say get some quotes based on her just having passed her test but also get a comparison with her still having her provisional just in case!

Haggisman · 29 Aug 2015 at 18:28

You can cancel a policy with no penalty within the first 14 days (they'll charge you for the 14 days, but that's it). I'd be inclined to see what they try to charge you, and if you can get better elsewhere, just cancel the policy

meths · 29 Aug 2015 at 22:10

Haggisman said:
You can cancel a policy with no penalty within the first 14 days (they'll charge you for the 14 days, but that's it). I'd be inclined to see what they try to charge you, and if you can get better elsewhere, just cancel the policy

That's a good shout. I think I'll do some more research and take a policy out on the 6th and that'll give us a couple of weeks to get her through the test.

I'll choose a company that doesn't have a massive difference between having her as a provisional or full license.

Is there any reason to get her her own policy? Will she build up a no claims being a named driver on mine? It doesn't seem worth it as we're a one car household just now?

StevieP · 31 Aug 2015 at 21:57

Meths said:
Is there any reason to get her her own policy? Will she build up a no claims being a named driver on mine? It doesn't seem worth it as we're a one car household just now?

You can't both insure the same car if that's what you mean!

Most policies don't allow for named drivers to earn their own no-claims bonus - and be careful with the ones that do as it's likely that the bonus she does earn is only valid with that particular company!