Finance glossary
Named Driver
In simple terms
A named driver is someone added to a car insurance policy, alongside the main policyholder, so they are allowed to drive the insured car and are covered while doing so.
On this page
What does named driver mean?
A named driver is a person listed on a motor policy in addition to the main policyholder. They are covered to drive the insured vehicle under the same policy, within its terms.
They are not the policy owner — the policyholder still owns the contract, pays the premium and is responsible for the policy. Named drivers simply gain permission to drive and cover while they do.
How a named driver works
You add the named driver’s details when setting up or amending the policy. Their age, licence and claims history are taken into account, so adding a higher-risk driver can raise the premium and adding a lower-risk one can sometimes lower it.
The car must genuinely belong to and mainly be driven by the policyholder. If a named driver is really the main user, that is “fronting” — insurance fraud that can void cover and lead to a rejected claim.
How could this affect me?
Being a named driver lets you drive legally and covered, but you usually do not build up your own no claims discount from it — that benefit typically goes to the policyholder.
If you are actually the main driver, be honest and take out your own policy. Fronting may look cheaper, but it risks a voided policy, an unpaid claim and a fraud marker that makes future insurance far harder to get.
Things to watch out for
- Naming a higher-risk driver can push the premium up.
- Named drivers usually do not build their own no claims discount.
- “Fronting” — listing the real main driver as a named driver — is fraud and can void the policy.
- The named driver must have a genuine reason to drive the car, not be its main user.
Know your rights
- Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, the policyholder must take reasonable care that named-driver details are accurate.
- If the insurer treats a claim unfairly, you can complain and escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
General information, not personal advice
Consumer Credit is an independent information service. We do not provide regulated financial advice or sell financial products. For advice on your own situation, speak to an appropriately authorised firm or a free service such as MoneyHelper. About Consumer Credit.
Sources
We checked this page against these official and authoritative sources.
- ABI, Fronting and named drivers (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.
- MoneyHelper, Adding a named driver to your car insurance (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.