Young Driver Car Insurance isn't Cheap, Why?

This question always crops up, why is it that when you have just passed your test and are at the time of life when you probably have the least money but the greatest desire to drive, do you get stung for high Insurance.

The simple answer is that Insurance Companies tend to charge higher premiums for young drivers because statistically they are the ones that make the most insurance claims. It really is that simple. Insurance companies have to cover their risks when insuring young drivers, so the only successful way of doing this is by charging a higher insurance premium

There are, however, a few things the young driver can do in order to benefit from cheaper insurance. Firstly, take into account the car you drive. If you have just passed your test and are buying your first vehicle, then the obvious ones to avoid are the fast and sporty type. Look for something with a reasonably modest sized engine, and one that is perhaps several years old too.

Amongst other things, insurance is calculated on the repair cost of a particular model and older cars tend to be a lot cheaper to repair, consequently insuring one is likely to be cheaper as well. Ignore the desire to buy a sports or performance car until you are at least 30, this way age will be on your side and you will be considered less of a risk in the eyes of the insurers. By then you might have also acquired some no claims bonus and this will further boost any discount offered on your insurance premium.

Fully comprehensive Insurance is quite expensive at the best of times, so for the young driver it might be worthwhile just insuring a car for third party fire and theft. If you have a valuable car third party insurance might not be sufficient, but for the younger driver in an older car this kind of insurance is more than adequate, and will help keep insurance costs to a minimum.

Getting Cheaper Insurance Quotes

Don't forget that all insurers have different criteria they use to calculate premiums and no single insurance company will be the cheapest for everyone. This is why it's essential to get various quotes. It might be worthwhile getting a quote from the insurance company that cover your parents, as it might be that insuring other family members is something they look favourably upon.

Pass Plus Course

If you have recently passed your driving test then arrange to do your pass plus. The pass plus consists of 6 modules and will last a minimum of 6 hours. This extra tuition will ensure you gain experience of various driving situations, including motorway driving and driving at night. There is no test to be taken at the end of the course, but you have continual assessment instead.

It will raise your driving skills to another level, and for a younger driver it will generally ensure you receive cheaper insurance because of it. Any savings on your insurance should more than compensate for the cost of doing the course. A lot of insurers will even give a one years no claims bonus just for completing the pass plus, and that could mean anywhere up to 35% off your insurance. Do check with the company you are getting a quote from though, as some may stipulate a minimum age of 20 for this offer.

Car Insurance Tip

Try an instant online quote without mentioning the Pass Plus Course then one adding the Pass Plus to the criteria, you may be surprised at the difference in insurance quotes you get back. Doing this will give you a clearer idea about the affect it will have on your insurance.

Special Insurance Offers at Car Dealers

If you're intent on buying a new car then, once again, opt for a smaller engine size. Also, you often find dealerships run special promotions to increase sales, and if you're lucky find one that is offering free insurance with a car. If you're young and know your insurance is going to be high, then taking the cost of insurance into account could actually make the car a real bargain.

Named Driver on Parent's Insurance

It's possible to be a named driver on one of your parents insurance policies, but do be aware that if you have an accident their no claims bonus will be at risk. If your parents have a protected no claims bonus then this way of insuring young drivers is a good option, and enables the young driver to be on the road and gaining valuable experience. However, you won't start qualifying yourself for a no claims discount until you have insurance in your name, so in the long run this could actually cost more by delaying the start of your own no claims discount.

Insurance Mistakes

Do not be tempted to take out an insurance policy in an older person's name and have a young driver named on it. In the insurance industry this is known as fronting and mis-represents the risk on the policy. It is also tantamount to insurance fraud. Additionally, if the young driver ever needs to make a claim and is not specified as the main risk on the insurance policy, then the claim is liable for rejection by the insurance company.

Online Car Insurance Quotes

The quickest and most effective way of getting an insurance quote for a young driver is online. There are a few insurance sites that offer you the chance to input your criteria only once and receive quotes back from many companies. Although these are useful they can sometimes be inaccurate. The criteria used by each insurance company is so diverse that the only accurate way of receiving a true quote is by inputting details manually to each individual insurance site. The more insurance quotes you get the more likely you are of getting a cheaper policy, so we do recommend always getting at least 3 and comparing prices.