Some surprising findings here, as people seem confused by policy wording. Maybe asking `which driver covers the most miles in this vehicle/’ during the quote process could of some help?
More than half of UK motorists could be at risk of invalidating their car insurance because they aren’t clear on who should be listed as the main driver on their policy.
A survey from Quotezone.co.uk, researching 1,000 drivers, reveals 56% listed the person who pays for the car insurance as the main driver on their policy.
Four percent admitted the main driver is listed as either the older or more experienced driver, and one percent said it’s the person who gets the cheapest insurance premium.
Insurance experts warn that the main driver should always be the person who uses the car the most, regardless of who pays the policy or who could secure a cheaper premium.
The findings suggest many motorists may be unknowingly putting themselves at risk of having their insurance invalidated if the policy does not accurately reflect who primarily uses the vehicle.
Drivers are being made aware that falsely listing a more experienced driver, is an illegal practice known as “fronting”, often a parent trying to reduce premiums for a younger or higher-risk motorist, given average premiums for young drivers are currently at £1099.
While it may appear to offer a cheaper premium, fronting is considered insurance fraud. If discovered, insurers can cancel the policy and refuse to pay out on claims.
The driver, and even the young motorist in question, could also face prosecution under the Fraud Act 2006, where the penalties can include a criminal record, significant fines set by the court, and even imprisonment.
Convicted drivers may also be added to the Insurance Fraud Register, which can make it significantly harder and more expensive to obtain insurance in the future, as many providers use the database to identify and decline applications involving previous fraud. It could even cause challenges when applying for a mortgage.
Insurance fraud remains a significant issue in the UK, with more than £2.1bn of undetected fraudulent claims estimated to be committed every year.
Greg Wilson, car insurance expert and CEO at Quotezone.co.uk said: “It’s worrying to see over half of the drivers in our survey thought the main driver was the one paying the insurance. Many motorists don’t seem to realise that the ‘main driver’ needs to be the person who spends the most time behind the wheel.
“Our findings suggest confusion around this key distinction, which could leave drivers, perhaps unintentionally, without insurance.
“One of the most common types of fronting is where a more experienced driver is declared as the main driver, to help reduce costs for younger, more inexperienced motorists. While it may seem like a harmless way to save money, it is actually considered fraud and can have serious consequences.
“An insurer could refuse a claim, cancel the policy altogether, and even report the offence as fraud, especially if a policyholder is found to have deliberately misrepresented who the main driver is.
“Reason being, the risk analysis to determine the car insurance premium is carefully calculated based on the profile of the driver, taking into account various individual circumstances such as their driving history, age, claims and convictions.
“The person who drives the car the most will also have a different profile from occasional drivers, given their larger mileage which increases their risk of an incident.
“Adding a more experienced person to the policy as a named driver or as the main driver if they genuinely do drive the car more frequently, is a valid way to find savings. It’s always worth taking a few extra minutes to ensure the information on your policy is accurate. Incorrect or out-of-date information could lead to fines, penalty points or even invalid insurance, leaving drivers unprotected.”
Quotezone helps over 4 million customers every year compare and find savings on all sorts of motoring products such as van, truck and car insurance.
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