More than half of UK drivers could risk invalidating car insurance over main driver confusion

Insurance fraud remains a major issue in the UK, with more than £2.1bn of undetected fraudulent claims estimated to be committed each year.****

Published: August 27, 2026 at 3:30 PM

More than half of UK motorists could be putting their car insurance at risk because they are unclear about who should be named as the main driver on their policy.

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Research from our partner Quotezone, based on a survey of 1,000 drivers, found that 56% listed the person who pays for the car insurance as the main driver.

Meanwhile, 4% said the main driver on their policy was the older or more experienced driver, while 1% said it was the person who could get the cheapest insurance premium.

But insurance experts warn that the main driver should always be the person who uses the car most often – regardless of who pays for the policy or who might be able to secure a cheaper premium.

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The findings suggest that some motorists could unknowingly be putting themselves at risk of having their insurance invalidated if their policy does not accurately reflect who primarily drives the vehicle.

What is ‘fronting’?

Drivers are also being warned about ‘fronting’, an illegal practice where a more experienced driver is falsely listed as the main driver to reduce the cost of insurance for a younger or higher-risk motorist.

This can often involve a parent being named as the main driver on a policy for their child. Average premiums for young drivers are currently £1,099.

While fronting might seem like an easy way to bring down the cost of cover, it is considered insurance fraud. If discovered, insurers can cancel the policy and refuse to pay out on claims.*

The driver – and potentially the young motorist involved – could also face prosecution under the Fraud Act 2006. Penalties can include a criminal record, significant fines set by the court and even imprisonment.**

Anyone convicted could also be added to the Insurance Fraud Register, potentially making it considerably more difficult and expensive to find insurance in the future. Many providers use the database to identify and decline applications involving previous fraud. It could even create difficulties when applying for a mortgage.***

Insurance fraud remains a major issue in the UK, with more than £2.1bn of undetected fraudulent claims estimated to be committed each year.****

Greg Wilson, car insurance expert and CEO at our partner Quotezone, said: “It’s worrying to see over half of the drivers in our survey thought the main driver was the one paying the insurance. Many motorists don’t seem to realise that the ‘main driver’ needs to be the person who spends the most time behind the wheel.

“Our findings suggest confusion around this key distinction, which could leave drivers, perhaps unintentionally, without insurance.

“One of the most common types of fronting is where a more experienced driver is declared as the main driver, to help reduce costs for younger, more inexperienced motorists. While it may seem like a harmless way to save money, it is actually considered fraud and can have serious consequences.

“An insurer could refuse a claim, cancel the policy altogether, and even report the offence as fraud, especially if a policyholder is found to have deliberately misrepresented who the main driver is.

“Reason being, the risk analysis to determine the car insurance premium is carefully calculated based on the profile of the driver, taking into account various individual circumstances such as their driving history, age, claims and convictions.

“The person who drives the car the most will also have a different profile from occasional drivers, given their larger mileage which increases their risk of an incident.

“Adding a more experienced person to the policy as a named driver or as the main driver if they genuinely do drive the car more frequently, is a valid way to find savings. It’s always worth taking a few extra minutes to ensure the policy information is accurate. Incorrect or out-of-date information could lead to fines, penalty points or even invalid insurance, leaving drivers unprotected.”

Our partner Quotezone helps over 4 million customers every year compare and find savings on motoring products including van, truck and car insurance.

Compare car insurance quotes with Quotezone in partnership with Radio Times

Survey details

Our partner Quotezone’s findings are based on a randomised survey of 1,000 respondents across the UK during June 2026, which represents a margin of error of approximately 5% at a 95% confidence level.

References

*This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes.

Radiotimes.com is published by Immediate Media Company London Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Immediate Media Company Limited. Immediate Media Company London Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Seopa Ltd (trading as Quotezone) (FRN: 313860).

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The insurance quote system is independently owned and operated by Seopa Ltd. Radtiotimes.com may receive a commission for any policies purchased, at no cost to you.

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