Need Advice on Car Insurance for University as a Student Living at Home and Uni Address
I’m planning to buy a car to use while attending university next year, but I’m unclear about how to manage the insurance regarding my addresses. I’ll be purchasing the car in June and will be living at home during the summer, from the end of May until mid-September, so it makes sense to insure it to my home address since that’s where it will be parked for a few months.
However, starting in September, I’ll be moving into my university accommodation. I expect to drive back home about eight times a year while studying. I’ve noticed that the insurance costs differ significantly—around £800 per year for my home address versus £1200 for my university address.
My question is, can I insure the car for the full year at my home address while specifying that it will be “away from home” during the school year? Or do I need to notify the insurance company when I move and pay the adjusted premium?
I definitely want to save money but also don’t want to inadvertently commit insurance fraud.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
It’s great that you’re thinking ahead about your car insurance as a uni student. Here are some key points to consider:
Primary Address vs. Secondary Address: When you buy car insurance, you need to provide your primary address where the car will be kept most of the time. Since you’ll be living at home for the summer, it makes sense to use your home address initially.
Keeping Honest with Insurers: You should always be honest with your insurance provider. If you plan to keep the car at your university address from September and it will be your primary residence then, you should notify them of the address change. Insurance companies may need to adjust your premium based on the new location due to different risk assessments in various areas.
Cost Differences: It’s not uncommon for different addresses to have varying insurance costs. If your uni address has a higher premium, you may consider informing your insurer when the time comes, but it’s essential not to misrepresent where the car is primarily kept.
Temporary Changes: Some insurers may allow you to set up temporary cars for students or accommodate situations where the car will be kept at an address that is not your primary residence for a part of the year. It might be worth asking your insurer if they offer such options.
Informing Insurers About Changes: Typically, you would need to inform your insurance company when you move and may need to pay the difference if your premium changes. This could be done easily over the phone or via their website.
As you mentioned, you want to save money, but it’s essential to avoid potential policy issues or accusations of fraud down the line. It’s best practice to keep your insurer informed of any changes to your living situation. Good luck!