Learner driver insurance

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What is learner driver insurance?

Learner driver insurance, also called provisional insurance, covers you while you practise driving in your own car or a friend’s or family members car.

If you’re insured on a standalone learner policy, it’s usually separate from the car owner main policy, which can help protect their no-claims discount (NCD) if you have an accident.

Learner driver insurance is available as either annual or short-term cover. Temporary learner insurance can be useful if you want some extra practice before your test.

Do learner drivers need insurance?

Yes, anyone driving in the UK is legally required to have car insurance. You’ll also need a valid UK provisional driving licence.

Most professional driving schools include insurance in the cost of lessons. But if you want to practise in your own car, or someone else’s, you’ll need your own insurance.

If you want to have driving lessons with a driving instructor in your own car, make sure your learner insurance covers this. Not all policies do.

If you’re shopping around for a good deal on learner driver insurance, Compare the Market offers quotes for drivers aged 17 and over.

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Types of provisional insurance policy for learner drivers

Third-party only

Third-party only this is the minimum cover required by law. It only covers you if you injure other people or damage their property.

Third-party, fire and theft

Third-party, fire and theft also offers cover if your car’s stolen or damaged by fire.

Comprehensive

Comprehensive insurance includes all of the above benefits and can also cover injuries to you or damage to your car.

Did you know?

Comprehensive car insurance can sometimes be cheaper than third-party only.

That’s because drivers who choose comprehensive cover may be considered less of a risk by insurance providers than those who take out third-party only insurance, for example.

What length of cover should I get?

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Annual cover

Annual cover is the most common form of car insurance. It gives you cover for the whole year and can be easily renewed at the end of the term.

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Short-term cover

Some insurance providers offer temporary car insurance by the day, week or month. This is more expensive, but might be ideal if you’re only looking to practise with a friend or family member a few times before your test.

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Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) cover

This is a more flexible alternative to annual car insurance. It can be a good option for learner drivers, or low-mileage drivers, who want to pay by the hour or day.

How much is learner driver insurance?

The cost of car insurance varies, but our data shows that learner drivers could expect to pay around3:

£612
a year

Did you know?

Government guidance recommends that learners have an average of 45 hours of professional lessons and 22 hours of private practice before taking a driving test.

How does named driver insurance work?

If you’re going to be practising with one friend or family member in particular, you can be added as a named driver on their policy.

This allows you to drive their vehicle while supervised, although it may increase their premium. 

Unlike learner driver insurance, if you have an accident as a named driver it will affect the car owner’s no-claims discount.

Two people in a car

What is and isn’t covered by learner driver insurance?

Typically covered...

Accidental damage, fire damage or theft

Third-party liability

If you injure someone or damage their property

Medical expenses

If you or one of your passengers is injured

Taking your driving test

Typically not covered...

Driving without a qualified supervisor

See government guidance on supervising learner drivers

Driving without a provisional licence

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Driving after you’ve passed your test

Some policies might also place restrictions on where or how many miles you can drive. Check the policy details carefully to see what you’re covered for.

Will learner driver insurance cover me
when I take my test?

Yes, learner driver insurance will cover you if you take your test in your own car.

However, the moment you pass the test, you’ll no longer be insured. You’ll need to take out car insurance for a new driver before you’re able to legally drive again.

If you fail your test, you should still be covered to carry on practising. But check to make sure that’s the case. If you timed your learner insurance to end on the day of your test, you’ll have to extend it.

Most professional driving instructors will allow you to take your driving test in their car, which should be fully insured for that purpose.

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When is the best time to take my driving test?

You can take your driving test at any time of the year. But GOV.UK statistics from 2025 show that some months had slightly higher pass rates than others.

50.7%
pass rate in August
48.8%
pass rate in February

This could be linked to driving conditions in some parts of the UK, but pass rates are influenced by many factors.

Increase your chances of passing with private practice

Alongside professional lessons, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) recommends getting as much private practice as possible before attempting your driving test.

Learner drivers are encouraged to delay their driving test and give themselves more time if they don’t feel ready to pass.

The DVSA’s Ready to Pass? campaign provides useful advice and tips on increasing your chances of passing your test. This includes help and guidance on learning vital skills, managing your nerves and taking mock tests.

Learner driver throwing away L card

How does car insurance for learner drivers work?

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Get covered

Start practising

Pass your test

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Amy Rootham

What our expert says...

“Everyone needs insurance when learning to drive, but the choice of cover – and the cost – can seem overwhelming. If you’re having professional lessons, then learner driver car insurance is usually included in the price.

“If you want to practise with a friend or parent, you could ask them to add you as a named driver to their insurance policy. This will give you the same level of cover as they have.”

Amy Rootham, Insurance expert

Who is eligible for learner driver insurance?

You’ll need to check whether you and the car meet the typical eligibility requirements for learner insurance (eligibility can vary among insurance providers).

The learner driver must:

  • tick

    Hold a current, provisional UK driving licence

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    Be a permanent UK resident

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    Have no motoring offences, penalty points or convictions

  • tick

    Meet the insurance provider’s age criteria. For example, some insurers require the learner driver to be aged between 17 and 35

The vehicle must:

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    Be UK registered with a valid MOT and no modifications

  • tick

    Be less than 40 years old

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    Be worth less than a certain amount - usually £40,000

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    Not be a hire or rental vehicle

How can I get a cheaper learner insurance quote?

While insurance for learner drivers is unlikely to be cheap, here’s how you could reduce the cost.

Choose your car carefully

Some models are much cheaper to insure than others.

17-year-old drivers typically pay £1,341 to insure a Fiat with comprehensive cover, but £2,711 to insure an Audi4.

Take at look at which are the cheapest car models to insure for young drivers.

Consider black box or telematics insurance

A telematics insurance policy uses a small device or an app to monitor your driving habits, including:

  • Your speed

  • Your steering and braking

  • Where you drive

  • Your mileage.

If you can prove you’re a safe, careful driver, you could save on your insurance when it’s time to renew. Black box car insurance for drivers aged 17-24 typically costs less than £1,324 compared with £1,340 for regular car insurance4.

Share your car with an experienced named driver

You could reduce the cost of your premium by adding an experienced named driver to your insurance policy.

Young drivers could save up to £438 on their car insurance by adding a named driver. Drivers under 25 typically pay less than £1,138 for their car insurance when they add a named driver, compared with £1,576 for those who don’t4.

But be mindful of fronting – a type of car insurance fraud where a more experienced driver claims to be the main driver, when they’re not.

Choosing to pay a higher voluntary excess

The excess is the amount you contribute to a car insurance claim. Choosing to pay more can mean a cheaper premium.

To see how much of a difference it will make, try changing the voluntary excess when comparing quotes. Just make sure you can afford the excess if you need to claim.

Shop around for a competitive quote

It’s always a good idea to shop around before deciding on an insurance policy. You could save up to £485 when you compare car insurance with Compare the Market5.

Get more tips on getting cheaper car insurance.

What do I need to get a learner driver insurance quote?

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Your personal details

Your name, how old you are and where you live.

Details about your car

Including your car registration number.

Your past driving history

Including whether you’ve been involved in an accident or made a claim in the last three years.

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Compare the Market can only offer quotes for those aged 17 and over.

Learner driver guides

Find out about insurance with a provisional licence, learning in your parents' car and what happens after you pass

Woman reading a laptop in a car
Policy & cover
Provisional licence car insurance
Getting insured, avoiding penalties and who can supervise you
Driving tips
Taking your driving test in your own car
Get your head around the rules and requirements
Policy & cover
Can I learn to drive in my parents' car?
Discover the pros, cons and rules of learning with parents vs an instructor
Policy & cover
Learner insurance after passing your test
Passed your test mid-term? Here’s what to do with your policy
All car insurance guides

Car insurance group checker

Check your car's insurance group and how it could affect your premium

FAQs

How long does learner driver insurance last?

Learner driver insurance lasts until the moment you pass your test or need to renew your policy.

Once you’ve passed your driving test, you’ll need to cancel your provisional insurance and take out a new policy as a qualified driver.

What are the rules for learning to drive?

As a learner driver, you’ll have a provisional driving licence, which carries some restrictions. These include:

  • Not driving without supervision. The accompanying driver must be over 21, fit to drive and have held a licence for at least three years

  • Not driving on motorways. Unless you’re with an approved instructor and the car is fitted with dual controls

  • Not driving without L plates. By law, L plates must be displayed at the front and back of the vehicle whenever you’re driving.

Will adding a learner driver to my policy increase my premiums?

Adding a learner driver to your policy could push up the price of your premium. This is because learners are seen as a greater risk by insurance providers.

Will learner driver insurance count towards a no-claims discount?

Typically, yes. Learner driver insurance should count towards a no-claims discount (NCD) as long as you don’t make a claim. But you’ll need to check with your provider to make sure.

A no-claims discount can make your insurance cheaper when you renew it. Drivers with 1-3 years NCD typically pay less than £822 for comprehensive car insurance, while those without a NCD typically pay less than £1,6114.

Can I get learner driver insurance if I need to retake my test because of a conviction?

It’s unlikely you’ll qualify for learner insurance if you need to retake your test because of a conviction or ban. You’ll need to get a specialist policy aimed at convicted drivers.

Can more than one learner driver be insured on the same car?

Yes, more than one learner driver can be insured on the same car. But they’ll need to have separate insurance policies.

Can I be insured for more than one vehicle?

Yes, you can get learner driver insurance for more than one vehicle. But you’ll need a separate policy for each car you drive.

Having access to another car could make your insurance cheaper. If you’re insured to drive a second car, perhaps as a named driver on your parents’ insurance, you’ll typically pay £433 for car insurance. That’s compared with £714 if you only insure your own car4.

Can I get car insurance if I’m aged 16?

Some 16-year-olds can get car insurance, but we only compare quotes for drivers aged 17 and above.

You can legally drive a car when you’re 16 if you receive the higher rate of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for mobility. If you have a car provided by the Motability Scheme, insurance comes as part of the package.

What extra cover is available for learner drivers?

Extra cover you might want as a learner driver includes:

  • Personal accident cover – could pay out if you or a passenger are injured or killed in an accident.

  • Motor legal protection – helps cover the costs of legal fees you might face as a result of an accident that wasn’t your fault.

  • Breakdown cover – roadside assistance to get you back on the road as soon as possible.

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Amy Rootham
Reviewed 28 May 2026 by Amy Rootham Insurance expert

Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.

Substantiations

1 Correct as of June 2026.

2 Based on the % of respondents reporting Compare the Market is their preferred brand in the last 12 months vs. other leading PCWs. Source: Savanta BrandVue Financial Services, National Representative Survey of 12,257 respondents (June 2026)​

3 Based on 51% of customers who compared quotes for this type of policy in June 2026.

4 Based on 51% of customers who compared quotes for this type of policy in June 2026.

5 Based on Online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during June 2026, 51% of customers could achieve this saving on their car insurance through Compare the Market.