Parents and young drivers could face hundreds in fines and thousands in damages over the ‘trick’ (Image: GETTY)
Nearly one in five young drivers are reportedly using the illegal “fronting” method to save money on car insurance, a trick that could potentially cost them thousands of pounds and put their homes at risk.
New research from Aviva has revealed a shocking 21% of male drivers and 15% of female drivers under the age of 35 have falsely stated an older person as the main driver on their insurance.
This lowers the cost of the insurance by having a low-risk person as the main person on the claim despite the younger, more high-risk person actually being behind the wheel.
Known as “fronting”, this trick is worryingly common despite the devastating consequences it can have.
This often happens when well-meaning parents want to help keep costs low for their children as they start their adult life, allowing themselves to be put down as the main driver of their child’s car.
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Falsely stating who the main driver of a car is is illegal and can result in an unlimited fine or a conviction for committing insurance fraud.
The young driver could be treated as an “uninsured” driver if their fronting method is discovered. This offence alone holds fines worth hundreds of pounds, prosecution and potentially even an automatic driving ban.
Having this mark on their record will also force them to face higher insurance costs in the future, negating any savings they would have made.
Martin Smith, a motor technical expert, issued a stark warning to the about the risks of “fronting” for young drivers. He cautioned that if an accident occurs and the insurance firm has to cover third-party claims, they have the “right of recovery against the driver and against the policyholder who put their name to the contract”.
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This means the older motorist listed as the main driver will be responsible to repay the claims. This could see bills ringing up to the millions and potentially putting their assets like the family home at risk when the insurer comes looking to be reimbursed.
The warning comes amid reports of a surge in uninsured young motorists, which has more than doubled in the past two years, likely due to soaring insurance costs.
‘s analysis shared with the shows the steep price for new drivers, with a 17 year old facing an average insurance bill of £3,075, over £1,000 more than last year.
Young drivers might not see insurance relief until their 40s, with 17-24 year-olds paying an average premium of £1,848 annually, while those over 60 pay just £406 on average.