| You may not think that the world's longest running | | | | illegal. It is considered fraud in the eyes of the car |
| soap opera Coronation Street would have an | | | | insurance company and should an accident occur the |
| important tale to tell about car insurance - but that is | | | | driver would be potentially left with costs reaching tens |
| exactly what occurred in a recent episode. | | | | of thousands of pounds to cover for her own car and |
| As part of the storyline, the 18-year-old character | | | | a third party with no help from the insurer. |
| Amber was seeking her first vehicle. Knowing that car | | | | So if asking an adult to front a policy for you is both |
| insurance costs would be high, her father's girlfriend | | | | illegal and effectively a 'false economy', what can |
| Tara offered her the chance to drive her red VW | | | | young drivers do to keep their car insurance costs |
| Beetle while keeping the insurance policy in the | | | | down? |
| 25-year-old's name. | | | | A legal approach would be to put the policy in the |
| Certainly there could have been significant savings by | | | | youngster's name but add an older, more experienced |
| taking this approach. Tara would currently pay | | | | motorist as a 'named driver' on the policy. This could |
| between £2,000 and £4,000 a year | | | | potentially cut premiums by around five per cent. |
| depending on her claims history - however, if the policy | | | | In addition, there are savings to be made by taking the |
| was put in Amber's name that cost would leap to | | | | Pass Plus course as soon as you pass a driving test - |
| more than £5,000. So, on the surface it seems | | | | some insurers offer discounts of over 10 per cent for |
| leaving the car in Tara's name is a sound financial | | | | completing the course. Indeed there are several |
| approach. | | | | insurers that also offer rapid bonus no-claims discount |
| However, while it might seem like a good way to save | | | | schemes meaning that you could build up a full year's |
| money, fronting a policy on a youngster's behalf is | | | | bonus in just nine or 10 months. |