Named driver insurance - adding other drivers to your car insurance policy

Adding a named driver isn’t just about sharing your car - it can change your price, your risk and even your no-claims bonus. Here’s what to know before you add someone to your car insurance policy.

Is car insurance cheaper with a named driver?

If the named driver is older and more experienced than you, 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.

But it goes the other way, too. An older, more experienced driver might add a named driver to their policy. If that driver looks like a higher risk to an insurer, the policyholder’s costs could rise.

Younger drivers often have faster reflexes and better eyesight. But more experienced drivers tend to have more natural caution and experience. 

If you don't think adding a named driver is right for you, there are other ways to cut the cost of your insurance. These include:

• Adding a 'black box' or telematics policy
• Adding safety features, such as an immobiliser 
• Increasing your voluntary excess

Read our guide on tips for a cheaper car insurance for more information.

How much does it cost to add a named driver to my car insurance policy?

Insurers generally charge when you make changes to your policy. You can call them or make changes to your car insurance policy online.

When you add a named driver to your insurance, you're potentially changing the overall 'risk profile' of the car. This could mean that your car insurance costs could go up or down as a result.

How much adding a driver might cost you depends on the insurance company and the kind of driver you're adding. Younger, inexperienced drivers or those with past claims and convictions, could result in your prices going up. 

Why is it more expensive to add a male relative than a female relative?

Generally speaking, women tend to have lower car insurance costs than men. We see this at a national level, too. Read our car insurance prices report, to find out the lastest average costs of car insurance. 

Although car insurance companies aren’t allowed to take gender into account when working out insurance costs, car insurance for women still tends to be cheaper.

This is because male drivers tend to have more motoring convictions, and make more expensive claims.

How do I add a named driver to my car insurance policy?

Give your insurer a call or contact them online. But make sure you check their T&Cs. Sometimes you can be charged extra for small changes to your policy.

You shouldn't be asked for a lot of information about the other named driver but it's best to have some basic details available. These include:

• Their full name
• Their date of birth
• Their main job
• Their marital status
• Their driving licence number and licence type
• Details of any motoring convictions in the past 5 years
• Any accidents or claims in the past 5 years

A named driver doesn’t have to live at the same address of the policyholder.

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.

In other words, if you drive a friend's car as a named driver and then have an accident, the policy is tied to the car - not the person.

If you’re the policyholder and you're concerned about this risk, think about protecting your no-claims bonus. Especially if you’ve built it up carefully over several years.

It’s not normally possible to build up a no-claims bonus as a named driver.

Some insurance companies do let named drivers build their own. But they usually only transfer it to their own policy with the same insurer.

Does adding a named driver affect my no-claims bonus?

Named driver insurance could impact the policyholder's no-claims bonus in the long run.

If you build up your no-claims bonus over several years, a single accident from a riskier driver could remove that quickly.

When you add a named driver to your policy, they enjoy all the benefits of that policy.

If it’s a comprehensive policy, they get fully comprehensive protection too. This sometimes includes breakdown cover and a courtesy car, if needed.

But the risk of that named driver is passed to you - to your policy.

Even if you've added a responsible named driver, we can't control the behaviour of other road users.

Can I add a named driver temporarily?

If you need to add a named driver temporarily, it may be worth arranging temporary car insurance instead. This way, you can arrange a new policy for the specific length of time needed without having to alter your current policy. 

Temporary car insurance could be worth considering if:

• You're planning a road trip where shared driving can help
• You're borrowing a friend’s car while yours is being repaired or is off the road
• You want extra cover for a child back from university who needs a vehicle

You can buy cover lasting from 1 hour to a month. Short-term car insurance is also flexible and often fairly affordable.