You Own the Car… But Who Drives It Most?

The Driver Behind the Wheel Could Affect Your Cover

Last month, we highlighted the importance of telling us where your vehicle is parked overnight. This month, we're focusing on another detail that can have a significant impact on your insurance: who drives your vehicle most often.

Driving habits change over time.

• Your child starts driving the car to university or work every day.
• Your partner begins using it for the daily commute.
• A family member ends up using it far more than originally planned.

These changes often happen gradually and can easily be overlooked—but they should never be overlooked when it comes to your insurance.

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Who Is the Regular Driver?

The regular driver is the person who uses the vehicle most often.

This isn't always the owner or the policyholder.

For example, you may own and insure the vehicle, but if your child drives it everyday while you only use it occasionally, they would generally be regarded as the regular driver.

Why Does It Matter?

Insurers assess the risk based on who is regularly driving the vehicle. They consider factors such as the driver's age, driving experience, licence details, claims history and how the vehicle is used.

A vehicle driven daily by an experienced driver presents a different risk to one driven daily by a newly licensed driver.

If the regular driver has changed and your insurer has not been informed, this could affect the outcome of a claim. Depending on the circumstances and the terms of your policy, a claim may be delayed, disputed, or even rejected because the insurer was not given accurate information when assessing the risk.

An Important Exception

Some policies are issued on a specified driver basis. If your policy states that only named or specified drivers are covered, then the concept of a "regular driver" does not apply. In these cases, the policy will only respond when one of the specified drivers is behind the wheel.

This is why it is so important to understand the terms of your policy. If you are unsure whether your cover is for any licensed driver, the regular driver, or specified drivers only, please speak to us.

Has Anything Changed?

If someone else has become the main driver of your vehicle, or if you're not sure what your policy requires, please contact us. A quick conversation today can help ensure your policy accurately reflects your circumstances and could prevent unnecessary complications—or even a declined claim—when you need your insurance most.

Keeping your policy up to date is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself. We're here to help.