At a glance
Learner drivers must have insurance before they can legally drive your car
Adding a learner driver to your policy may increase the cost of your insurance
A standalone learner driver policy can offer flexible short-term cover
You don't need learner driver insurance for lessons with a professional instructor in their vehicle
Do learner drivers need car insurance?
All drivers (including learner drivers) must have insurance before they can drive on public roads.
If the learner is exclusively having lessons with a professional instructor, they won't need insurance. Instead, they'll be covered by the driving instructor's policy.
However, if a learner wants to practise in another vehicle (between driving lessons, for example), they must be insured to do so.
There are two main ways to do this:
Add the learner to your existing policy as a named driver
Take out separate learner driver insurance
Whichever option you choose, the learner driver must be supervised when driving by someone who:
Is at least 21 years old
Has held a full driving licence for at least three years
Is qualified to drive the type of vehicle being used, such as a manual or automatic car.
Did you know?
L plates (or D plates in Wales) with a white background must be clearly displayed whenever the learner driver is practising.
Adding the learner as a named driver
If the learner will be practising regularly, you may wish to add them to your insurance policy as a named driver.
Pros:
Simple and convenient
They can practise in your car whenever you’re supervising.
Cons:
If they have an accident, this could impact your no-claims discount
Your premium may rise, both now and when you renew
If the learner is the main user of the car, but is listed as a named driver, this could be classified as ‘fronting’, which is illegal.
Adding a learner to your policy could be a good idea if you’re happy to share your insurance and they’ll be using your car regularly while learning.
Taking out separate learner driver insurance
Another option is a standalone learner driver policy, which is separate from your car insurance.
This type of cover:
Protects your no-claims bonus if the learner has an accident
Is usually short-term (from one day up to 12 months)
Covers the learner only when they’re driving under supervision
Ends automatically once they pass their test.
A standalone policy could be a good option...
If the learner will only be practising occasionally or for a short period of time
If you don’t want any risk to your own policy
If they’re likely to use different cars to practise in, you can have different temporary learner policies for each vehicle.
What happens when they pass their test?
Once the learner passes, their cover will change.
If they’re a named driver on your policy, you should contact your insurance provider immediately. It’ll need to update the details of the policy. If you want to keep the new driver on your policy, your premium may increase.
If the learner had a standalone learner policy, coverage will end automatically when they pass their test. They’ll need to take out new driver insurance before driving.
It’s worth encouraging learner drivers to compare quotes after they pass their test. Costs can vary widely depending on the car, mileage and level of cover.
Start a car insurance quoteKey things to consider before adding a learner to your policy
How often they’ll drive – regular usage might justify adding the learner to your policy, however, short bursts could suit temporary learner cover
Your no-claims discount – are you willing to risk losing it if they have a bump?
The car’s insurance group – learners should be cheaper to insure on cars in lower groups
Supervision rules – you must meet the legal criteria stated by the government and always accompany the learner
What happens post-test – will you add the new driver to your policy or will they take out their own cover?
Fronting risk – make sure the learner isn’t the main driver.
Checklist for car owners
Before letting a learner drive your car, make sure you’ve ticked off the essentials:
You’ll be supervising according to legal rules
Correct L (D in Wales) plates are displayed
You understand how any accident could affect your policy
You’ve planned what happens when the learner passes their test.
FAQs
Can I just add my learner driver to my insurance?
Yes. Most insurance providers will let you add a learner driver to your existing policy as a named driver, and this is usually quick to arrange.
However, your premium may increase, and if the learner is involved in an accident, it could affect your no-claims bonus.
Does learner driver insurance cover them after they pass?
No. Separate learner driver insurance is designed specifically for provisional licence holders and ends as soon as they pass their practical test.
If someone wants to keep driving your car after passing, they’ll need to arrange a new policy as a qualified driver before getting back behind the wheel.
Some insurance providers make it easy to switch from learner to full-driver cover, so it’s worth checking before the test.
Will my no-claims bonus be affected?
If the learner is added to your main car insurance policy and has an accident, your no-claims discount could be reduced or lost when you make a claim. This may also cause your future premiums to rise.
To protect your no-claims discount, you could consider taking out a separate learner driver insurance policy.
Can my learner use my car for their driving test?
Usually, yes, but it depends on the insurance provider. Many learner driver insurance policies include cover for the driving test itself, but some might not.
If the learner is added to your main policy, you should check with your insurer to confirm they’re covered for the test.
Make sure the car meets the DVSA requirements too. For example, it must display L plates (D in Wales), be roadworthy and have an extra interior mirror for the examiner.
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With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
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