Fronting

With motor insurance costs running high, especially for young drivers, many look to save money where they can. Fronting involves naming a more experienced driver, often a parent or guardian, as the main policyholder when in reality it is the new driver who uses the vehicle most of the time.

Because the price of motor insurance is based on the risk of the individual, the insurer must know who the main driver is so the policy can be valid. If someone misrepresents themselves when taking out cover, this is illegal and violates the policy’s terms and conditions. This leaves the named driver without valid insurance, and both the named and dishonest ‘main’ driver could be found at fault of insurance fraud.

Figures show little over a third of adults (35%) have heard of fronting, and the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) believes thousands of drivers could unwittingly be putting themselves at risk of fraud and driving without valid insurance by participating in the con.

What are the consequences?

If someone has invalid insurance because they’ve fronted, they can face the same consequences as any other uninsured driver. And if they cause a collision, they may be liable for covering all costs.

In addition, when an insurer finds evidence of fronting, the perpetrator can be added to the Insurance Fraud Register (IFR) which is shared amongst insurers and can make it very difficult for them to take out any kind of insurance in the future. This could stop someone legally using a car, running a business or even obtaining a mortgage on a first home.

Fronting is more common than you think. Over 50 people are added to the IFR every week for misrepresenting themselves or deliberately withholding key information on a personal motor insurance application.