Car Insurance for Young Drivers

Car insurance quotes for younger drivers vary enormously
Young drivers are statistically more likely to have an accident and make a claim on their insurance. According to road safety charity Brake, one in eight drivers is under 25, and one in four road deaths is a driver within this age group.

Tips to reduce premiums
Car insurance premiums for younger drivers don't have to cost the earth, but even where they are expensive you can help to limit the impact by following the following tips.

Downsize your engine
Buy a car from a low-risk insurance group, such as a supermini, to limit your premium. Get some quotes before you buy so that you know the rough price bracket it falls into.

Top up your learning
Enrol in a Pass Plus scheme, run by the Driving Standards Agency, to help new drivers gain extra experience.

Look for tailored policies
Some insurers offer policies more suited to young drivers such as the i-kube or Coverbox policies, which offer cheaper premiums in exchange for not driving between 11pm and 5am. According to the Association of British Insurers, 50% of serious or fatal accidents among under-21s happen at night.

The use of 'telematics' or 'black box' systems is becoming more common and allows younger (and older) drivers to secure cheaper premiums in return for 'good' driving behaviour. Policyholders' driving performance is tracked and assessed, with premiums either going up or down depending on the results.

Add a named driver
Adding named drivers to the policy can reduce the premium, particularly if they're older and more experienced. If the insurance policy is to be in the young person's name, transfer the car into their name too – many insurers won't provide cover unless the main driver is also the owner.

Consider increasing the excess
Be realistic though. If you're 17 and don't have much money, could you afford a £600 excess if you had an accident? Explore the options. Don't assume that comprehensive cover is always more expensive than third party, fire and theft. Third-party cover may be cheaper if you're buying a low-value car, but it's worth getting quotes for both.

The risks of 'fronting'
It may seem cheaper to put the policy in the parent's name, with the child as a named driver. However, if the child is actually the main driver, this practice is known as 'fronting' and is illegal. Insurers are increasingly tracing fronted policies.

If your child doesn't drive your car very often – if they're away at university, for example – you may be able to add them to your insurance as a temporary driver for short periods rather than taking out a policy of their own.

If you're fronting and you're found out, the insurer may refuse to pay out in the case of an accident and the parent may lose their NCD. In some cases the insurer may even pursue legal action for fraud.