Experts at MoneySuperMarket car insurance have issued a warning to parents about a ‘money-saving hack’ which lowers insurance for their kids.

Young drivers currently face a huge barrier to getting on the road, with data finding the average annual insurance premium for a driver aged 17-19 is £1,965 for women and £2,218 for men.

With insurance for young drivers so high, it’s not surprising that many parents are looking at ways to cut costs.

However, insurance experts are urging families to stay on the right side of the law and avoid ‘fronting’ car insurance to reduce the cost.  

‘Fronting’ is when an experienced driver claims they are the primary driver of the vehicle on the insurance policy, when in fact, a younger and less experienced driver is the main person driving the car.  

‘Fronting’ can lower insurance costs, but it is insurance fraud and can land you in serious trouble – and even lead to a criminal conviction.  

What is ‘Fronting’ and why is it illegal? 

‘Fronting’ is a serious form of insurance fraud that can have significant consequences.

Insurers take the view that by ‘fronting’ a policy you are deliberately misleading them on the risks involved by insuring the vehicle by lying about the main driver of the car to get a cheaper premium.  

In addition to invalidating the policy, leaving you on the hook for any damages should there be an accident, ‘fronting’ is a criminal offence, anyone who does it risks a fine, criminal record and even prison time, along with being unable to get any form of insurance in the future. 

MoneySuperMarket’s car insurance expert, Alicia Hempsted, said: “With insurance costs for young drivers reaching astronomical levels, it’s understandable that parents are looking for ways they can cut costs and help their children get on the road. 

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 “Unfortunately, what might seem like a harmless loophole to make premiums more affordable can have serious long-term consequences.  

“In many cases, fronted policies are discovered during an insurer’s investigation after a claim has been made. That means parents are hit with a double blow of finding out they are liable for the full cost of the accident, and they could even end up with a criminal record. 

“If you’re searching for insurance for a young driver, shop around to find the best deals and consider a telematics policy to help bring the cost down.”