Car insurance for young drivers costs more because insurers see less experience and a higher chance of claims. Premiums vary widely between insurers, and published averages differ from source to source, so this guide doesn't quote a single figure. It covers what actually moves the price and what is worth doing.
What lowers the price
- The car. A low insurance group and a small engine make a big difference
- A black box. Telematics prices you on how you really drive
- An experienced named driver, who genuinely drives the car
- A higher voluntary excess, set at an amount you could afford to pay
- Accurate, lower mileage, declared honestly
- Secure overnight parking, such as a driveway or garage
- Pass Plus. Any discount varies by insurer and has shrunk in recent years, so ask before paying for the course
- Comparing the whole market at every renewal, and paying annually if you can, because monthly payment usually adds interest
How to get cheaper car insurance for new drivers mostly comes down to combining several of these rather than relying on one.
Fronting is fraud
Fronting means listing an experienced driver, often a parent, as the main driver when the young person is the one who mainly drives the car. It is insurance fraud, and it can void your policy and get claims refused. Adding a parent as a named driver who genuinely drives the car is legal.
Car insurance for young drivers with a black box and without
| With a black box | Without a black box | |
|---|---|---|
| How you are priced | On your actual driving: speed, braking, time of day | On age, car, postcode and history |
| Typical result | Often cheaper for careful drivers, though not always | Usually higher for the youngest drivers |
| Trade-offs | Possible limits on night driving or mileage, and a bad score can raise your price | No monitoring |
Car insurance for young drivers with a black box is worth quoting alongside a standard policy. Car insurance for young drivers without a black box is still available from many insurers, so a black box isn't compulsory.
Age and situation
- Car insurance for a 19 year old and new drivers under 21. There is no special young driver product as such, because most policies are open to all ages. What you pay usually falls as you build experience and a no claims discount
- Young male drivers. Insurers haven't been allowed to price on gender since December 2012, so what matters is age, car, postcode and claims history
- Drivers with points. Declare every conviction and point. Failing to do so can void a policy, and some insurers specialise in drivers with convictions
- Under £1,000. Some young drivers get a quote below £1,000 by combining a low-group car, a black box, a named driver and a higher excess, but it depends on your age, postcode and the quote you are offered, so treat it as a target, not a promise
Vans and Northern Ireland
Young driver van insurance depends on how the van is used. Cover for social, domestic and pleasure use is different from cover for carrying goods for your business or for hire and reward, so tell the insurer exactly how you will use it.
In Northern Ireland the same FCA-regulated insurers sell car insurance for young drivers, and the advice on black boxes, named drivers and insurance groups applies. Check any Pass Plus discount, as it isn't discounted in Northern Ireland. Policies sold in the Republic of Ireland are a separate market regulated there and aren't covered here.
Before you buy
- Check the insurance group of the car before you buy it, not after.
- Get quotes with and without a black box.
- Answer every question honestly, including mileage and convictions.
- Compare the cost of paying annually and monthly.
For other cover to review as your finances grow, see our guides to term life insurance and income protection insurance.