Cheaper insurance for young drivers - 'Fronting' - And my opinions in favour of it..

[outrage_uk]

Originally Posted by devilsadvocate

Whats to stop them saying that nobody under 21 can be a named driver?

If they were that concerned about 'fronting' then this is what they would do.

The fact young named drivers are allowed surely says; "we will let you do it - take your £1200 but if you try to claim, we will make it as hard as we can and try avoid paying".

Originally Posted by devilsadvocate

What happens if the police pull you over and start asking questions, they can be arses sometimes and a bit of digging might uncover you are fronting and they have up on no insurance charges....how much will your insurance be after that?

I have been stopped well over 50+ times over the years, mainly because of the times I drive (ive been nocturnal since i was about 14). They have never once questioned the legality of the named drivers. They run an MID check and 'pass named drivers' over the radio, your on the list, so your free to carry on. Like myself and others keep pointing out, what an insurance company defines as a 'main driver' is definitely a black hole. They could try and gather some proof of you breaking the terms and conditions of what they class as a 'main driver' but as in my policy documents, there is no definition, so they could say what they like, it could never be proven. In any case, this would constitute a Civil, not a Criminal Case. Therefore unless you would admit to, or the police gather real evidence such as a recorded conversation between you and your parents saying "dad, im getting the insurance in your name with me as a named driver but you wont ever drive it". - there would never be a Criminal offence such as; "Obtaining property by deception - namely a Certificate of Motor Insurance." or; "Driving without insurance against third party contrary to Section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988." - mealy a civil case of insurance company vs you.

Originally Posted by devilsadvocate

I am glad that I didnt front, means I have 3 years no claims.
If I had, my insurance would be 2.5x what it is now

I still find this hard to believe. When your 25+ you can get insured on a 'proper car' (Group 14+) with 0 years NCD in your own name for less than £500 - then just build your NCD up from there. So your talking maybe a £100 difference than with 6 years NCD - but its not £1000+! Whats the rush from when your 17? The ridiculous cost of insurance from a young age far out weighs the saving you make from your NCD. Remember that after 9 years NCD you dont get a bigger discount anyway, infact some companies its only 5 years.

I think we both agree, in an ideal world car insurance should be in your own name out right (as is mine now) but in reality, it just can not happen with prices as they are, and until the FSA step in, or insurance companies stop offering polices allowing young named drivers - 'fronting' is here to stay, and I for one, im afraid, are all in favour of it.