New driver insurance
- Compare deals on new driver insurance
- Enjoy a year of fantastic rewards on us*
- Compare prices on 187 provider products[1]
[1] Correct as of December 2024.
Is new driver insurance essential?
Yes, car insurance is a legal requirement for new drivers. Everyone driving a car on a UK public road is legally required to have car insurance.
If you’re caught driving without insurance, you could face a hefty fine, points on your licence and higher first-time driver insurance premiums. You could even be disqualified from driving.
New driver insurance is the same as regular car insurance. It’s simply cover for those who have recently passed their driving test.
However, cheap car insurance for new drivers can be hard to come by. Read on to find out what you need to know about first-time car insurance.
What type of new driver insurance do I need?
If you’re looking for new driver car insurance, there are three levels of cover to consider:
Third-party
This is the minimum level of cover you’ll need to drive on public roads. It covers the cost of injury to other people or damage you cause to other vehicles. It doesn’t cover the cost of any damage to your own car. You can also claim from a third party in the event of a non-fault claim.
Third-party, fire and theft
Offers the same cover as third-party insurance but could also pay out if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.
Comprehensive
This covers all of the above, plus injuries to you and damage to your vehicle. Although it’s the highest level of cover, comprehensive cover can be the cheapest car insurance for new drivers.
How much is insurance for a new driver?
The cost of car insurance for new drivers will depend on a number of factors, including where you live and what kind of car you drive.
According to our data, the majority of drivers under 25 pay up to £1,641 a year for their car insurance[2]. This compares with up to £729 for drivers across all age groups[3].
How much is car insurance for a new driver per month?
Broken down by month, our data reveals that drivers under 25 pay up to £156 per month for their new driver car insurance [4].
[2] 51% of young drivers between 17-24 years old could achieve a quote of up to £1640.73 for their car insurance based on Compare the Market data in December 2024.
[3] 51% of our customers were quoted less than £728.25 for their comprehensive car insurance in December 2024.
[4] ] 51% of our young drivers between 17-24 years old were quoted less than £155.05 per month in June 2024 for their comprehensive car insurance, based on the monthly cost when paying for the policy in one annual payment, excluding any interest charged on instalment payments.
Why is new driver car insurance so expensive?
According to data from the Association of British Insurers, car insurance premiums in the second quarter of 2024 were 21% higher than the equivalent period in 2023.
This is largely due to the rising costs associated with paying out claims in the 12 months to June 2024. In total, insurers paid out £2.9 billion in motor insurance claims – up 18% on £2.5 billion paid in the second quarter of 2023. Repair costs are 28% higher, totalling £1.9 billion.
Insurance quotes for new drivers can be particularly expensive. This is partly because less experienced or younger drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident. In fact, drivers aged 17-24 account for around 23% of all fatal collisions.
New drivers also won’t have had a chance to build a no claims bonus, which can provide discounts on your renewal premiums.
How to get cheap car insurance for new drivers
There are a few things you can do to help get cheap insurance for new drivers – or at least make the cost a little less eye-watering:
- Compare quotes – shopping around and comparing different providers can help you find the cheapest car insurance for new drivers.
- Buy a smaller car – your car insurance will be cheaper if you choose a standard vehicle with a smaller engine.
- Consider a black box policy – if you use a plug-in device, app or small black box your insurance provider can monitor how safely you drive. This could result in a cheaper premium when you come to renew your insurance.
- Share a car with a parent – adding an experienced named driver to your policy could give you cheaper first-time car insurance. Just make sure you avoid fronting, which is a type of insurance fraud.
- Avoid modifications – modifications, such as alloy wheels or spoilers, can bump up your premium.
- Increase your security – fitting an immobiliser or alarm may give you cheaper cover as your car’s less likely to be stolen. But contact your insurance provider beforehand to see if this is the case.
- Reduce your annual mileage – spending less time on the road is another way to potentially get cheaper car insurance as your insurance provider could see you as less of a risk.
- Choose a pay-as-you-go policy – for low-mileage new drivers, a rolling monthly pay-per-mile policy means you’ll only pay for the distance you’ve driven.
- Pay annually – if you can afford to pay for your car insurance upfront, it’s usually cheaper than paying in monthly instalments.
- Pay a higher excess – paying more towards a claim could help you get cheap new driver insurance. But be sure you can afford the excess if you do need to claim.
- Pass an advanced driving course – by proving you’re a safer driver with a Pass Plus or similar course, insurance providers may reward you with cheaper new driver insurance.
Find our full top tips for getting cheaper car insurance.
What do our customers say about our car insurance comparison service?
Based on 93,685 reviews, customers who bought car insurance rated our comparison service 4.6 out of 5.
Quick, easy and found a good, cheap car insuranceJosephine • 20/07/2024
Good choice of insurers and gives prices for extrasJoanne • 22/06/2024
Obtained good insurance for car which was better than other comparison sitesColin • 18/06/2024
Easy to use this siteSandra • 08/06/2024
What do I need to get a new driver insurance quote?
To help you compare the widest range of car insurance quotes for new drivers, we’ll need a few details about you and your car, including:
- Your car's registration
- What you use your car for
- Where you keep your car
- Your annual mileage
- Where you live
- Your driving history.
Why compare first-time driver insurance with Compare the Market?
We independently compare a wide range of the UK’s insurance providers, to find new and young drivers competitive car insurance deals.
We’ll show you policies based on price, cover level, add-ons and annual or monthly payment terms. This can help you search for cheap first-time car insurance that meets your needs and budget.
We compare prices for 187 car insurance products[1]
Get a quote in just 8 minutes[1]
51% of young drivers could achieve an annual premium of £1,641 [2]
[1] Correct as of December 2024.
[2] 51% of young drivers between 17-24 years old could achieve a quote of up to £1640.73 for their car insurance based on Compare the Market data in December 2024.
Join thousands of Trustpilot reviewers who save with Compare the Market
As of January 2nd 2025, Compare the Market had an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 64,551 people who left a review on Trustpilot. The score 4.8 corresponds to the Star Label ‘Excellent’. Find out more
What our expert says...
“The make and model of car you drive has an impact on how much insurance you pay. Each car is assigned an insurance group from 1 to 50, with the cheapest cars to insure falling into the lowest groups. If you’re a new driver, it’s worth bearing this in mind when choosing your first car.”
- Julie Daniels, Motor insurance comparison expert
Frequently asked questions
What car insurance add-ons can first-time drivers get?
There are several add-ons to consider when it comes to new driver car insurance, including:
- Breakdown cover – provides roadside assistance if you break down.
- Courtesy car cover – offers a replacement vehicle if yours is being repaired.
- Personal accident cover – offers cover if you or a passenger are hurt in an accident. Policies tend to pay out a fixed lump sum, but this varies between providers.
- Windscreen cover – to repair or replace a damaged windscreen.
- Key cover – replaces your keys/fob if they’re lost, damaged or stolen.
- Legal protection – could help cover legal expenses if you’re injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault or have a car-related legal dispute.
- Misfuelling cover – cover if you fill up with the wrong fuel.
Depending on the policy, some of the above might already be included as standard, so always double check.
How long are you considered a new driver?
You’re considered a new driver for the first two years after you’ve passed your test.
Once you’ve been driving for over two years and you’ve started building a no claims bonus, your new driver car insurance costs could start to come down.
What is the best insurance group for young drivers?
If you’re looking for cheap car insurance for new drivers, the best insurance group is likely to be group 1.
Cars in insurance group 1 are generally the cheapest to insure, with cars in group 50 among the most expensive.
However, the cost of your car insurance will still depend on various factors, like your age, claims history and where you live.
Use our car insurance group checker to find out which group your car belongs to.
Can new drivers go on their parents’ insurance?
Yes. If you’re a new driver and can’t afford your own car or insurance, your parents can add you to their policy as a named driver. That means you’re covered to drive their car, with the same protection they have.
However, be mindful that this will likely bump up the cost of their policy. And if you’re the main driver or owner of the car but you’re only added as a named driver, you could be committing fronting which is a type of car insurance fraud.
What’s fronting?
Car insurance fronting is when an experienced driver (often a parent) tries to cut the cost of their child’s insurance by claiming to be a car’s main driver.
If this isn’t true and you’re found guilty of fronting, you could face a substantial fine and six points on your licence.
