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Car insurance for the young driver

Driving is a skill which can mean something different to each person you ask, for some it is simply a way to get themselves from point A to B, for others it can be the source of their income, and there are those who view driving as a big step in gaining a form of freedom and independence that they otherwise would not be able to achieve.

Passing the driving test is a big step to getting on the roads by yourself and should certainly be celebrated but it should be remembered that a licence is just one of the requirements needed to legally drive on the UK’s roads. One of the major factors that is a necessary requirement is car insurance. As a new and probably young driver you will be among the group of drivers with the least experience on the road. Unfortunately statistically these drivers are more likely to be involved in a road accident and therefore make a claim on their car insurance policy. This will mean that insurers will charge a higher premium in representation of the extra risk posed by your inexperience.

What can be done to find affordable young driver car insurance?

Although it is unfortunate that young and new drivers pay a higher premium than those with more experience, there are still things to consider which can keep the price of car insurance at least affordable.

The type of cover should be a big consideration since taking a potentially expensive fully comprehensive cover policy on a car worth only a few hundred pounds is completely pointless, and in the same way taking third party only insurance on a brand new car is likely to lead to tears if the car is stolen and not covered for this event. Consider what each type of insurance policy offers before deciding which cover is right for you, there are three basic types:

· Third Party Only (TPO) – This offers bare minimum legal cover, and will cover for damage or injury incurred by other parties as a result of an accident but on the downside will not cover you or your car.

· Third Party Fire and Theft (TPFT) – This offers the same cover as standard third party only cover but will also cover you against damage to your car as a result of a fire, or in the event it is stolen.

· Comprehensive cover – Generally the most expensive but also generally offers the most cover as well as the most optional extras such as a courtesy car or legal assistance.

After deciding the actual amount of cover you think most suitable or necessary there are still further things which you can factor in to help reduce your premium, among these factors are:

· Car choice – Although many young drivers would like to drive a high performance car in order to impress their friends, that higher performance will result in higher premiums. Instead consider a small engine car as you will pay a lower premium, this can further be helped by the cars age as premiums drop on cars over 5 years old and again over 10 years of age.

· Avoid modifications – As with performance cars adding modifications can increase the cost of your premium as they will increase the risk of having an accident or the cost of the repairs in the event an accident occurs. If you do plan on making modifications discuss it with your insurer first and always declare all modifications to your insurer as failure to do so could invalidate your policy if you ever need to make a claim.

· Advanced driving courses – Passing your test is the beginning stage of a life long skill, doing courses such as Pass Plus will further improve your skills and if taken within the first year of passing your driving test could earn a discount as high as 35% off your premium.

· Consider your options – Many policies will offer a number of options which if you can agree to may help reduce your premium further. It may be well worth considering a specialist young/new driver policy as these will usually come with options specifically aimed at that particular group which could help cut the price of the premium.


· Compare prices – Shopping around is one of the most straightforward and best ways to save on your insurance premium, compare car insurance quotes using a car insurance comparison website to save time and be able to visually compare and contrast a large number of options in just a few minutes.

· Drive safely – Although it may sound like an obvious point but insurers do reward safe drivers in the form of a no-claims discount which can be built over time.

Is there anything I should avoid?

Absolutely, as with most things as well as things you should do there are things you certainly shouldn’t do.

The most obvious thing to avoid when considering car insurance is to think about driving without having any cover at all, this is illegal and could land you in a lot of trouble which could have repercussions long into your future. Having car insurance is a necessity not just to protect you and your property but also to cover those third parties who may also be involved in the accident along with you.

A second temptation to avoid is what is known as ‘fronting’ which is the event of the drivers car being insured with someone else as the main driver while they appear as a named driver, among the younger drivers this is usually in the form of appearing on their parents insurance. The main driver of the car absolutely must be the person named as the principle driver on the insurance policy, the consequences of ‘fronting’ can be invalidation of the policy as well as the young driver facing a court case on a charge of driving without insurance which could result in a fine of up to £5000, 6 - 8 points on their licence which would be enough to have their licence revoked if within the 2 year probation term, and potentially a prison sentence (though only in the most extreme cases).

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