Need Help in Buying Car Insurance for Learners

TaurusHead on 27/03/2023 - 06:23

Hi All,

My partner has just started driving and got a learners DL issued, I have borrowed an old Car from a friend and thinking about buying a third party fire and theft insurance on it, not sure how to proceed, are there any specific covers for learners, can we just buy a policy for learners or they have to be registered as an additional drivers only.

Thanks in advance.

Note: although she has an overseas full license that needs to be converted but she must get used to the driving rules and condition here in NSW

Financial Car Insurance Insurance

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 27/03/2023 - 06:28
    +4

    So you currently don't have insurance while she's driving?

    • TaurusHead on 27/03/2023 - 07:27

      I have a comprehensive insurance but for a different car

      • pjetson on 27/03/2023 - 07:59
        +6

        So. as Muzeeb said, you currently don't have insurance while she is driving this borrowed car?

      • redfox1200 on 27/03/2023 - 08:44
        +6

        having insurance on a different vehicle wont help you

        • altomic on 27/03/2023 - 08:57
          +1

          I'd like to believe that OP is stating they have borrowed the old car from a friend and are not driving it currently(but are driving the first car -which has insurance) and the partner will begin to drive the borrowed car once they have insurance sorted.

          • Muzeeb on 27/03/2023 - 10:05
            +1

            @altomic: You've been here long enough to understand that what you'd like to believe and what is actually happening are very different 😃

          • TaurusHead on 27/03/2023 - 10:36

            @altomic: That's correct!

    • TaurusHead on 27/03/2023 - 10:41

      I'll try to explain it in a lay man terms as you are using the name of a legend in Ozbargain community:

      I have a first Car, insured on my name and I drive it, my partner is not listed on it as a driver so she doesn't drive it.

      I have borrowed a second car for just my partner to use, which is not in use until an insurance is attached on it with my partner name in it.

      Now the question was do we have to have a primary driver for an insurance to have a learning drive added in it or we can just buy a policy for the learners alone.

      • Muzeeb on 27/03/2023 - 10:50
        +2

        I'm almost certain you need a primary driver. I've never heard of a learners only policy.

        Check your insurance PDS as most insurance companies cover learners as long as you are fully licensed etc etc. She can then drive your car as a learner and the second car is not required.

  • Nugs on 27/03/2023 - 07:20
    +4

    'some' insurers cover the learner as long as the supervising driver is listed on the policy and legally allowed to supervise the learner.
    RAA, NRMA and CGU are three that we have used over the last three years.
    Always read the PDS, do a word search for learner.
    AAMI have an additional excess for learners
    .

  • altomic on 27/03/2023 - 09:06
    +1

    you probably should call an insurance company to specifically question about what they consider an "inexperienced driver", as this may impact your excess if you make a claim.

    And also how old your is your partner?

    for example (looking at suncorps insurance quote system) states for inexperienced driver excess -

    Applies if an inexperienced driver was driving, using or in charge of your car at the time of the incident. Note: An inexperienced driver is someone (including learner drivers) who is 25 years or over and has not held a driver’s licence specific to the car type for at least the past 2 consecutive years prior to the incident. This excess is in addition to any other excess that applies.

    also for age excess-

    Applies if a driver under 25 years of age was driving, using or in charge of your car at the time of the incident. Also applies to learner drivers under 25 years. This excess is in addition to any other excess that applies.

  • afoveht on 27/03/2023 - 09:17
    +2

    I just insured my little runabout the other week. Was thinking of putting my learner kid on the policy, was an extra $900 for the year. Without that it's an extra $1000 excess if they have an accident. I opted for the risk of the latter, seemed better value to me. YMMV.

  • Kremleen on 27/03/2023 - 10:50
    +2

    If your friend is on her L then while driving, she must be supervised by a full license person. Car insurance policies for a L license driver are at the discretion of insurance companies so there's no hard rule in this case. Personally, I use Bingle and prefer their policy in regards to L license driver.

    You don't have to tell us that a learner driver is driving your car or edit your policy. You just need to have a listed driver in the car while the learner is driving, and then the L-plater will also be considered a listed driver

    This is Binge's policy. This means if a listed driver is present inside the car, the L driver will also be a listed driver and enjoy the insurance benefits at the time of accident, without the unlisted driver access. Have a look at different insurance companies and compare their L license policies.

    Be warned that having a separate policy for a L driver will no doubt be expensive and listing a L driver to your policy will also be expensive (but probably less than having a separate policy)

    For example, here are Budget Direct, Suncorp and GIO policies about learners.

    • TaurusHead on 27/03/2023 - 18:25

      In case an incident happens (god forbidden), does that go in my driving history and affect my NCDs?

      • Kremleen on 28/03/2023 - 09:31
        +1

        In the case of claiming an accident, if you claim it on your insurance policy, by that I mean your name is the name of the policy holder, then it'll affect your NCD but probably not your driving history.

        When you sign up to a new insurance policy, companies will ask about your driving history (car accidents where you are the driver) and claim history separately.

        There's definitely a risk factor to doing this but you're actually lowering your liability as a couple. If she gets into an at-fault accident on her own policy, her driving history and NCD will be severely destroyed (when she get a new policy on her P or full) along with huge excess fees payable. In the other case, the driving and claim history penalty will be spread between two people with less payable excess.

        I hope this helps

  • PVA on 27/03/2023 - 10:58

    You get comprehensive cover on the car and the learner is covered.

  • apple2016 on 27/03/2023 - 11:52

    I dont think you can get insurance on a borrowed car unless its lease etc.

  • Love a bargain on 27/03/2023 - 12:16
    +1

    There's no such thing as insurance for learners - probably because they cannot drive in their own right. In general, learners don't need to be named on the policy but the person supervising her would be. (Unless the insurance policy doesn't allow any learners at all, which I haven't come across in any of my previous car insurance research. However, it isn't a feature that I have been particularly concerned about.)

    However, if she is driving on the proviso of her overseas full license, she will need to be.

    & if the borrowed car is already insured by its owner, you should probably just look at its PDS, confirm that it covers learners, and ask your friend to add your name (assuming you're the one supervising) to that policy by offering to pay any increase in premium. They will probably have to update the location of the vehicle too if it's going to be a long term loan.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join