What is fronting in car insurance?
Here we’ll look at everything you need to know about fronting, from what it is to whether it’s illegal and what we mean by a named driver.
What is fronting?
Car insurance fronting is one of the many types of car insurance fraud. Fronting is when someone falsely claims to be the main (or primary) driver of a car when it is in fact someone else. This is a breach of the named driver insurance rules and is illegal.
Common examples of fronting
One of the most common examples of fronting is to do with new drivers and parents. New and younger drivers often pay more for their car insurance, as insurers view them as a higher risk due to less experience on the road. As a result, some parents put themselves down as the main driver on their child’s car to reduce the cost of their premiums. But if they aren’t actually the main driver, this is fronting.
Is fronting illegal?
Fronting is an illegal offence, and the consequences can be severe.
If you are caught fronting, any claims you may have made in the past may be brought into question, and any claims currently being processed or made in the future could be denied.
Your cover will also most likely become invalid, or your insurer will cancel your policy, leaving both drivers without any cover.
What’s the punishment for car insurance fraud in the UK?
As fronting is classed as a criminal offence, it is possible that you will be prosecuted for fraud, and you may even end up in court or with a criminal offence. Additionally, you could face hefty fines and receive points on your licence.
How can I avoid accidental fronting?
To avoid accidental fronting, you’ll need to answer all the questions on your car insurance application honestly and truthfully. You should only put down someone as a main driver if they actually are the main driver.
Who is the main driver of a car?
The main driver is the person who uses the car the most, and it’s this person who should be identified as the main driver on an insurance policy. Anyone else who uses it less frequently would be a named driver.
What does named driver mean?
A named driver is another person that you can add to your existing car insurance policy and is someone you allow to drive your car. Both the main driver and the named driver will be insured on the same car insurance policy and will be insured in the case of an accident.
The named driver has the same level of cover as the main driver. But if the named driver causes an accident, it may affect the no claims discount of the main driver when submitting a claim.
Can you be the main driver on two cars?
Yes, you can be the main driver of two cars. But you will need to be the primary driver, otherwise it would be viewed as fronting.
Can a main driver be different to the policyholder?
Yes, the main driver can be different to the registered keeper of the car. For insurance purposes, the main driver is the person who drives the car the most. This doesn’t necessarily need to be the registered keeper.
How is car insurance fronting detected?
Insurance companies use a range of techniques to try and detect car insurance fronting. One of the most common ways insurers catch people fronting, is when a claim is made.
If the named driver was driving at the time of the accident, your insurance provider will want the full details of what happened. If they think fronting may have occurred, they will likely investigate the claim further. They may interview both drivers and look at the CCTV footage of the accident.
If they decide that fronting did happen, they could refuse to pay out the claim and may even cancel your policy.
Ways to save money on your car insurance legally?
Instead of fronting, there are ways you can reduce your car insurance premiums legally, including:
- Going for a black box or telematics insurance policy – this tracks how you drive and rewards safe drivers with lower premiums
- Choosing a car in a lower insurance group
- Taking a Pass Plus Scheme within a year of passing your test – some insurers (but not all) offer discounts for this
- Increasing your voluntary excess – this is the amount you pay when making a claim (only increase it to something you can afford)
- Avoiding modifying your car as cars with modifications are viewed as being more likely to be stolen
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