Giving Up A Driving Licence

[fruitsalad]

If an elderly person, gives up their drivers licence, but wishes someone to drive their car, (as a named driver) for them to be able to get around, should the insurance documents, still show, the registered owner as having a full licence, even though they have surrendered it?

[bhg481]

Since you have to declare that all details are correct when you apply for insurance you have to state exactly what the situation is. The owner will not be listed as a driver and the main driver will be the other person.

[fruitsalad]

The policy documents for the elderly person who has surrender her licence are in her name and state she still holds a full driving licence, even though she doesn't.

[Buenchico]

If the person has submitted a formal 'declaration of voluntary surrender' to the DVLA, then they should inform the insurer, so that the information held on their files is kept up to date.

It's likely that the insurer will then require a new policy to be taken out, with the actual driver of the vehicle named as the policy holder. Otherwise a position similar to 'fronting' (where someone illegally claims to be a main driver in order to get discounted insurance for someone else to drive a vehicle) will have been reached.

The golden rule with any type of insurance is that if one is in any doubt as to whether a material fact should be disclosed, then disclose it anyway!

[New Judge]

There is no such thing as the "registered owner". There is only the "Registered Keeper" who may or may not be the owner. The Registered Keeper is the person whose details the DVLA has and which they will provide if it is necessary to contact somebody about the vehicle.

The proposer of the policy must answer any questions they are asked truthfully.

[barry1010]

It can be done - companies don't have driving licences but own vehicles. You may need to go through a broker. Try phoning some of the well established insurance companies first.

I knew a blind man who was the registered keeper of his vehicle but insured his companion to drive.

[Arrods]

Not quite sure about that Chris. The elderly driver will be the owner and registered keeper of the vehicle and as such will have an insurable interest in it (not only for own damage, theft etc but also for the use of the vehicle (per the RTA) when it is being driven by the named driver for their benefit). I would have thought that the insurer would still wish the elderly person to be the policyholder but as an ‘excluded’ driver.

[Peter Pedant]

we are groping a bit on insurance law
First - insurance contract are uberrima fidei - in the greatest faith
(because termination is governed by statute as well)
so.. you MUST inform the insurance

and inform them! -say you are not driving but there is a named driver. You will be by no means the first to tell an insurance co that. Me, I did. I am not a named driver, but my er driver is.

and they tell you what the loo-loo is ( insurance premium, chrissakes)

honestly it is that simple

[Peter Pedant]

can registered keepers er keep cars but not drive them?
yup - - easy

[Peter Pedant]

yeah I am one of them Barry
this issue is er not an issue

[THECORBYLOON]

If the elderly person is the registered keeper, he or she needs to have insurance for the car still, even if the licence has been surrendered.