Do I need car insurance to drive on a provisional licence?
Do I need car insurance to drive on a provisional licence?
You’ve got your provisional licence and you’re ready to hit the road. But what about car insurance? Here’s what you need to know.
Do I need car insurance to drive on a provisional licence?
The short answer is yes. Before you get behind that wheel, you’ll need to have valid insurance in place.
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What does a provisional licence let me do?
Your provisional licence gives you the right to drive a vehicle, provided you’re accompanied by someone over 21 who’s had a full licence for at least three years. What it won’t do is insure you to drive.
So how do I get car insurance?
That depends on how you’re learning to drive. Are you learning:
…through an approved driving school/instructor?
If you’re learning to drive with an approved driving school or instructor, they will have arranged your insurance. If that’s the case, you don’t need to worry about insurance until you pass your test.
Be aware that it’s illegal for someone to charge for driving lessons if they aren’t qualified or registered, or don’t have a trainee driving instructor licence.
…with a friend or relative in their car?
A number of insurance providers offer ‘learner driver insurance’, which the car owner can add to their policy. You’ll have to sort out who pays for it between you!
The RAC reckons that the average learner needs 20 hours’ driving practice on top of their lessons to pass their test, so you may need to rope in a willing friend or relative.
…with another driver in your own car?
Arrange your own insurance policy and add the person who’ll be taking you out in the car as a named driver. If you take out cover while you’re driving with a provisional licence, you’ll start to build up your no claims discount. This can reduce your car insurance premium, so the sooner you start, the better.
Can I save money by adding an experienced driver to my policy?
Possibly. If you can share your car with an experienced driver, adding them to your policy could reduce the price of your premium.
But make sure you’re not fronting. That’s when you claim another, more experienced driver is the car’s main user to save money. It’s illegal and you could be prosecuted if you’re caught.
Will passing my driving test affect my insurance?
If you pass your driving test in the middle of the insurance year, you may have to pay an extra premium. That’s because provisional licence holders, who are always driving under supervision, are much lower risk than newly qualified drivers. Once you pass your test, you’re still learning, but you’re on your own.
Learn how to save money as a new driver. Or start a quote today and find out how much your cover could be.
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