New driver insurance

Passed your test? drive with confidence from day one

Drivers under 35 could save up to £820 on their car insurance¹

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Cover designed for new drivers

Find a policy to get you on the road, without the hassle

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^Correct as of June 2026.

Is car insurance required by law?

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 insurance premiums. You could even be disqualified from driving.

New driver insurance isn’t a separate product to 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:

Comprehensive

Although it’s the highest level of cover, comprehensive cover can sometimes be the cheapest option for new drivers.
It typically covers damage or injuries to others, fire damage and theft, and also the cost of repairing damage to your own car – no matter who’s at fault.
Drivers aged 17-24 typically pay £1,338 a year for comprehensive car insurance³.

Third-party, fire and theft

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.
If you’re responsible for an accident, this won’t cover repairs to your vehicle or your medical costs, which you’ll need to pay yourself.
Drivers aged 17-24 typically pay £1,619 a year for third party, fire and theft car insurance³.

Third-party only

Third-party insurance is the minimum level of cover you’ll need to drive on public roads.
If you have an accident, 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.
Drivers aged 17-24 typically pay £2,162 a year for third-party car insurance³.

How much is car 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, you might pay around:

£1,881³

a year, if you've held your licence for less than one year

£1,340³

a year, if you're aged 17-24

£157⁴

a month, if you're a new driver

That’s why it’s a good idea to compare car insurance, to ensure you’re getting the most competitive deal.

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

⁴Based on 51% of customers who compared quotes for this type of policy in June 2026. Based on the monthly cost when paying for the policy in one annual payment, excluding any interest charged on instalment payments.

When do I need to get new driver car insurance?

You'll usually need new driver car insurance as soon as you've passed your driving test and are ready to drive independently.

Learner driver car insurance is designed for drivers who are still learning and it won't cover you to drive back home after you pass your test.

What car insurance add-ons can first-time drivers get?

There are a range of add-ons to consider when it comes to new driver car insurance, including:

Personal accident cover

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.

Breakdown cover

Breakdown cover provides roadside assistance if you break down.

Courtesy car cover

Courtesy car cover offers a replacement vehicle if yours is being repaired.

Legal protection

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.

Windscreen cover

Windscreen cover repairs or replaces a damaged windscreen.

Key cover

Key cover replaces your keys/fob if they’re lost, damaged or stolen.

Misfuelling cover

Misfuelling cover could help 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 before paying extra for add-ons.

Why is new driver car insurance so expensive?

Insurance quotes for new drivers can be very expensive because young and inexperienced motorists are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident.

According to the Department for Transport, around a fifth of all serious and fatal collisions involve drivers aged 17-24.

New drivers also won’t have had a chance to build a no-claims discount (NCD), which can lower your renewal premiums.

Drivers with 1-3 years NCD typically save £794 a year compared with those who have no NCD³.

Despite recent falls in the price of car insurance, cost pressures on new drivers remain a significant issue.

How to get cheap car insurance for new drivers

Compare quotes

Drivers under 35 could save £820 by shopping around and comparing quotes through Compare the Market¹.

Buy a smaller car

Your car insurance should be cheaper if you choose a standard vehicle with a smaller engine.

Choose a cheaper car brand

This can make a huge difference to the cost of your car insurance. Our data shows you could pay around £3,084 for comprehensive cover for a BMW, or £1,341 for a Fiat⁴.

Consider a black box policy

A plug-in device, app or small black box monitors how safely you drive, and it could lead to a lower premium over time.

Share a car with a parent

Adding an experienced named driver to your policy could reduce your first-time car insurance by £438⁴. Just make sure you avoid fronting, where you say someone is the main driver even though they're not – this is a type of insurance fraud.

Increase your security

Fitting an immobiliser or alarm may give you cheaper cover as your car will be 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 can help you get cheaper car insurance, as your insurance provider may see you as less of a risk.

Choose a pay-as-you-go policy

Low-mileage new drivers could choose a rolling monthly pay-per-mile policy. You’ll only pay for the distance you’ve driven, along with a base rate to cover your car against theft and damage while it’s parked.

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 cheaper new-driver insurance. But be sure you can afford the excess if you do need to claim.

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 us 4.6 out of 5

Very easy to use website. Quickly sorted my car insurance

Ron - 21/09/2026

Easy to use and good rewards I saved £160 on my car insurance renewal

Rob - 21/09/2026

Came up with competitive car insurance which I accepted.

MG - 12/09/2026

Top 10 most popular car makes for 17-year-olds

New and young drivers are often drawn to cars that are easy to drive, cheaper to insure and have a good safety record.

According to our data, these are the most popular car brands for 17-year-old motorists, along with how much they typically cost to insure if you're that age:

Car manufacturer	Typical annual insurance cost⁴
Audi	£2,711
BMW	£3,084
Fiat	£1,341
Ford	£1,975
Peugeot	£1,759
Renault	£1,860
Seat	£2,348
Toyota	£1,740
Vauxhall	£1,924
Volkswagen	£2,082

What our expert says...

“If you’ve recently passed your test, remember that six or more penalty points within your first two years could result in you losing your licence. Taking extra care on the road and avoiding common offences can help you stay safe, keep driving and avoid additional costs.”

Amy Rootham, Insurance expert

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.

Start a quote

New driver essentials

Get helpful tips for young drivers, guidance on motorway driving and find out which cars are cheapest to insure

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Driving tips

What is Pass Plus and is it worth it?

Find out whether Pass Plus could cut the cost of your insurance

Driving tips

Top tips for new drivers

See how to stay safe on the road and find the right cover

Driving tips

Driving on a motorway for the first time

Navigating motorways can be daunting at first, but we're here to help

Cost & savings

Young drivers: cheapest cars to insure

We explain how insurance groups affect the price of cover

All car insurance guides

Car insurance group checker

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

FAQs

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. In fact, our data shows that premiums can drop by £851 once a driver has held their licence for 1-3 years⁴.

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 – or one you’re interested in buying – 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.

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Reviewed 18 Sept 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.

Methodology

¹Based on Online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during June 2026, 51% of customers age under 35 could achieve this saving on their car insurance through Compare the Market.

²Correct as of June 2026.

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

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

⁵Based on 51% of customers who compared quotes for this type of policy in June 2026. Based on the monthly cost when paying for the policy in one annual payment, excluding any interest charged on instalment payments.