Most drivers remain unaware that "fronting" on an insurance policy is illegal, according to a new survey.
Fronting means listing one person as the main driver of a car and then putting the person who actually uses the car the most as an additional named driver. It's most commonly associated with parents falsely listing themselves as a main driver to allow a teenage child (usually a son) to be covered by the policy without paying the huge premiums they would normally face,
Moneysupermarket found that 19% of drivers mistakenly believed the practice was legitimate, and a further 36% were uncertain, leaving just 45% knowing it was illegal. The survey also revealed that around one in ten families questioned had carried out fronting.
Insurers warned that their was a double legal risk from the practice. Not only does it risk a fraud conviction if discovered, but it could also mean a policy was automatically invalidated, meaning either the parent or the youngster could be guilty of driving without insurance.
