Young Driver Car Insurance

The UK accident statistics for young drivers make grim reading, which explains why they are considered extremely high risk by all UK insurance companies. As a result, it comes as no surprise that first time car insurance can be prohibitively expensive on all but the most budget cars. In addition, the growing number of uninsured drivers on British roads has further increased car insurance premiums in 2011, often by as much as 30-40% compared to 2010 rates.

If we examine the latest crash statistics we find that driver inexperience can have fatal consequences. Whilst only one in eight drivers in the UK is under the age of 25, they account for 25% of accident fatalities. Fatal accidents aside, the overall accident statistics look little better, with one in five new drivers still being involved in an incident in their first year of driving. As a large number of accidents occur at night some young driver car insurance policies have placed restrictions on night driving in return for discount insurance premiums for teenage drivers and those under 25.

Finding the Cheapest Insurance for Young drivers

Some insurance providers including the AA offer discounts on car insurance for young people who have recently passed their driving test if they sit the Driving Standards Agency’s Pass Plus Course. This helps a new driver or student gain valuable experience of driving in a number of ‘real world’ situations including:

City driving
Driving in adverse weather conditions
Night-time driving
Dual Carriageway and Motorway driving

Car insurance quotes for young drivers or a teenage person should be compared carefully to check the level of cover offered including the compulsory excess in the event of making a claim.

How to Reduce the Cost of First Time Driver Insurance

Choose a cheap to insure car – It makes sense to buy an unmodified, factory specification car with a low UK Insurance Group for any first time car insurance. Some of the cheapest to insure cars in Group 1 insurance category include:
- Citroen C1 1.0i Vibe or Airplay 3d and 5d
- Fiat Panda 1.1 Active 5d
- Vauxhall Corsa 1.0i 12V Expression 3d
- Volkswagen Fox Urban 1.2 3d
Earn a no-claims discount – Gaining one year’s no-claims can drastically reduce insurance costs for any young driver at renewal time. To help achieve this, always follow the rules of the road in the Highway Code and stay within the posted speed limit to avoid fixed penalty tickets and reduce the risk of an accident in the first year of driving.
Accept policy restrictions – Some car insurance policies for young drivers offer restrictions which can help to reduce premiums, such as prohibiting driving at night. Ask each insurer about any cheap insurance offers in return for accepting certain restrictive clauses and use.
Park off road – Where you leave your car overnight will affect your first car insurance quote. Park in a locked garage or off-road if possible.

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