Does the Pass Plus scheme reduce the cost of your car insurance?

What does the Pass Plus Scheme cover?

Pass Plus covers driving in six different situations:

Driving in town

Most of us will do a lot of our driving in town, so this could help build confidence in this area and help make you a safer driver.

Driving on smaller, rural roads

If you drive in the countryside, you already know just how narrow these roads can be (and how fast some people like to drive on them). 

According to road safety charity Brake, rural roads are the most dangerous for all road users, so this part of the course is well worth taking.

Motorway driving

Because this isn’t assessed in the driving test, it’s possible that young drivers might not have much experience of it. Driving on the motorway for the first time can be daunting – especially without the guidance and support of a trained driving instructor. 

With 4,857 motorway casualties in the UK in 2021, accident statistics show that many UK drivers could benefit from additional motorway lessons. By spending more time learning on the motorway, Pass Plus could help you sharpen your skills and handle busy roads better.

Dual carriageway driving

This is unlikely to be covered in detail by a basic driving instructor. Like motorways, dual carriageways have some of the highest speed limits in the UK, so a little bit of extra training could make all the difference. 

Driving in poor weather conditions

Most young drivers are told to avoid driving in bad conditions. Good advice when you’re new to the road, but what happens when you don’t have a choice? 

Gaining these skills in a formal setting, with advice from someone with a wealth of experience, is much safer than through trial and error.

Driving at night

Reduced visibility can be a challenge to new drivers both in the city and the countryside. Learning how to use your headlights and adapt to poor visibility could make a huge difference in lowering your risk of accidents on the road.

Pass Plus takes at least six hours to complete. You’ll normally book and pay for the course upfront, but it’s recommended to split the lessons up – usually into three two-hour blocks.

Ideally, all modules should be practical sessions, but local conditions might mean some are theory-based.

Is there a test to get a Pass Plus certificate?

No, don’t worry – you won’t have to put yourself through another test at the end of the Pass Plus course. You’ll be continually assessed throughout your training and will have to reach a required standard in each module to pass.

You’ll either have ‘achieved’ the standard required or ‘exceeded’ it. If a module is completed without a practical session, you can only get an achieved grade.

Once you’ve completed the course, you’ll be able to apply for a Pass Plus certificate as proof. You’ll need this to secure any potential discount on your car insurance.

How else can you lower the cost of car insurance for young drivers?

There’s a few other ways you could lower the cost of your car insurance, including:

• Choosing a cheaper car to insure – the make and model of your car is a factor in the price of your insurance. Powerful, expensive cars are likely to cost more to insure, so opting for cheaper, slower models might save you cash. Check a car’s insurance group before you buy to get an idea of how much it will cost to insure.
• Opting for black box insurance – this allows insurance providers to keep an eye on how you’re driving. This could earn you a discount on your insurance if you can show that you’re consistently driving well.
• Sharing your car with an experienced driver – adding a more experienced driver to your policy as a named driver could bring down the cost of your insurance. But the main driver named on the policy must be the one who drives the car the most. Not being honest about this is a type of insurance fraud called fronting.
• Parking your car securely – where your car is parked overnight could affect the cost of your insurance. If you have to park on a public road, fitting your car with an alarm, immobiliser or other security device could help lower the cost of your premium. 

One of the best ways to make sure you’re getting a good deal on your car insurance is to shop around. See if you can save by comparing car insurance quotes.