Show More

What Happens If a Named Driver Has an Accident?

Enter registration no. (optional):

UK Flag Icon
Retrieve an existing quote

What Happens If a Named Driver Has an Accident?

Adding a named driver to your insurance means that someone else is legally allowed to operate your vehicle under your policy. But what happens if the named driver, who legally should be driving the vehicle less than the main driver, has an accident?

While named driver insurance can have benefits for both parties, the policyholder is more at risk. This is because is the named driver on your policy crashes the car, it will be under your name.

So, if you have built up a no claims history of five years, and your named driver crashes, you will lose it if you claim. There’s also a chance it will increase your premiums, even if they are removed from the policy.

On the other hand, the named driver’s no claims bonus won’t be affected if they crash a car under your policy. This means any future premiums on their own policy won’t be negatively affected, unlike yours.

This is why you need to be careful regarding who you add as a named driver, as your generosity could come back to bite you.

*51% of consumers could save £535.17 on their Car Insurance. The saving was calculated by comparing the cheapest price found with the average of the next four cheapest prices quoted by insurance providers on Seopa Ltd’s insurance comparison website. This is based on representative cost savings from May 2026 data. The savings you could achieve are dependent on your individual circumstances and how you selected your current insurance supplier.

Related guides

Can You Buy a Car with a Provisional Licence?

Buying your first car can be a huge moment. It offers independence, flexibility, and freedom from unreliable public transport timetables.Traditionally, people tend to purchase a vehicle after they’ve passed their test, as driving is somewhat limited as a learner. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t an option.There are certain situations where it actually makes sense to buy a car before you pass your test, and in this guide, we’ll be exploring what they are and what you need to do to make it happen.

What to Do If Your Car Is Written-Off

If you're involved in a car accident, the logical next step is to make a claim with your car insurance provider. After this, they will either tell you how much they will pay you for the repairs, or they will tell you that your car is a write-off. But what does a write-off mean? And does this mean the end of your car? Read on to find out more. 

Personal possessions cover with car insurance

Without personal possessions cover, if your vehicle gets stolen you may get a payout to cover its replacement but not the items you had left inside it. Find out how to check if you've got personal possessions cover as part of your car insurance policy, and how to get it if not, in this guide.