RateCity
How car insurance can turn friends into frenemies
18 February, 2011
Brothers, sisters, partners, friends, cousins, coworkers - these are just some of the people who might have a huge impact on the cost of your comprehensive car insurance this year, depending on who you allow to get behind your wheel.
These extra drivers add convenience and variety to your trip, but what happens when a relaxed drive becomes a disaster?
There's often a lot of confusion when it comes to whether or not you're covered when someone else driving your car is involved in an accident. The common truth is that you are only covered for drivers who are listed on your policy, and conversely, accidents caused by someone else are only covered if your vehicle is listed on their car insurance policy.
This means that if you make a claim where the driver is not nominated in your policy, you could be paying over thousand dollars in excesses. However, this figure varies greatly between car insurers, so it's always important to compare policies and read the fine print.
Consider these tips to save on car insurance
When it comes to insuring an entourage of drivers for your vehicle, there's a lot to consider if you want to save on excessive costs.
Firstly, the age of your drivers makes a big difference. Drivers less than 21 years old will usually add the highest excesses to your policy, while ones between 21 and 24 years old will have moderate costs. Even 25-year-old drivers will add to your excess if they have less than two years' driving experience.
On the topic of experience, drivers who take education courses such as defensive driving classes may be eligible for discounts for being a safe driver.
For students, better grades can even translate to higher discounts, as insurers may assume that academic achievement makes you a more responsible driver.
And lastly, make sure that there are no nasty surprises in their driving histories; those with long records of fault in accidents can put a dent your insurance budget.
Don't rely on guess work
But with all of the above, check with your insurer to make sure that the different excesses and discounts are offered, because each car insurance provider has their own set of rules, costs, and exceptions.
You shouldn't have to choose between your car and your drivers. To keep everyone happy and save thousands on your excesses, compare how different car insurers treat your drivers, and make sure you have the best policy for anyone in the front seat.
Related car insurance links
Previous Story
Flood Disaster
Next Story
Cars with the worst safety records
