Steer in the wrong direction: 35% of parents admit to insurance fraud

New research from Go.Compare Car Insurance has revealed that 35% of parents of young drivers are ‘fronting’ their child's car insurance policy to save money.*

‘Fronting’ is a type of car insurance fraud when an older or more experienced driver declares themselves to be the ‘main’ driver of the car when it is mostly driven by a young or more inexperienced person.

This is done to keep the cost of car insurance low. But ‘fronting’ is illegal and can invalidate an insurance policy. In some cases, the driver could be charged with insurance fraud which is a serious criminal offence. In others, they could risk paying a fine or collect points on their licence.

The research from Go.Compare surveyed 1705 car owners and found that 35% of parents who were surveyed admitted that they, or their partner are listed as the main driver with their child as the additional. When both parents and young drivers were asked if they were fronting, these figures were highest in the North West (36%), Yorkshire and the Humber (35%) and London and South West, both at 34%.

The research further shows that half (55%) of parents of young people say that the cost of car insurance was one of their biggest concerns in getting their children on the road. 38% of parents say safety on the road with other drivers was a concern, and 30% are worried about the cost of driving lessons.

Tom Banks, motoring expert at Go.Compare said of the findings: “With the cost of getting on the road increasing again this year, it’s understandable that families are looking for ways to save money where they can. It might seem like a good idea to put a trusted parent or guardian as the main driver on your insurance policy, but if they aren’t the main driver this is fronting and is an illegal offence - it will likely void your policy and could result in a fine or criminal record.”

“With 35% of parents admitting that they have fronted an insurance policy, and 64% saying that they would consider it, it is clear that the cost of insurance is a big concern for parents and young drivers. It isn’t just the cost of insurance that is a major concern for parents either - 30% said the cost of driving lessons is a big concern, while just over a quarter (26%) said the cost of the car itself.

Tom added, “While fronting is a practice we strongly discourage, there are legal ways to save money and make sure you are getting the best deal on your child’s car insurance. At Go.Compare we have put together our top tips for getting cheaper car insurance:

• Only pay for what you need: There are a whole host of add-ons available from key cover, breakdown cover and windscreen cover to name a few. It can be tempting to get them all but consider which ones you really need, and look at whether purchasing them separately from your main policy is cheaper.
• When you buy: The day you buy your policy can have an effect on the cost. Our research shows that purchasing your insurance on the same day it’s due for renewal, compared to purchasing it 26 days prior could result in you paying 55% more.**
• Shop around: Getting lots of quotes from different insurers is one of the easiest ways to make sure that you are getting the best deal. One of the easiest ways to do this is to use a price comparison website like Go.Compare, allowing you to see quotes from multiple insurers at once.
• Think about your job title: While you should never lie about your occupation, the way you describe your job could have an effect on your premium. For example, a ‘chef’ might pay a different premium to a ‘cook’.

“To read more of our top tips on how to get cheaper car insurance: https://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/guide/top-tips-for-cheaper-car-insurance/"

For more information on car insurance for young drivers: https://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/young-drivers-car-insurance/ 

For more information on ‘fronting’: https://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/fronting/