Young driver insurance
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What is young driver insurance?
Young driver insurance is car insurance for drivers aged 17-24. It’s not a specialist policy or separate product, but it does tend to carry higher insurance premiums.
Cheap insurance for young drivers tends to be trickier to find, compared to other age brackets, because less experienced motorists are viewed as a higher risk to insure.
However, there are options that could help reduce the overall cost and allow you to find affordable young driver insurance.
What type of insurance do young drivers need?
If you’re comparing car insurance for young drivers, there are three types of cover to consider:
Third-party insurance
The most basic level of cover you need to drive legally. It can cover you for damage to another person’s vehicle or any injury you cause to someone else as the result of a collision. It won’t, however, cover you or your vehicle if you were at fault for the accident relating to your claim.
Third-party, fire and theft insurance
In addition to the above, this can cover your vehicle if it’s stolen or damaged by fire. But it won’t cover the costs of repairing or replacing your car following an accident.
Comprehensive insurance
Includes all of the above, as well as cover for you and your car if you’re involved in an accident. By shopping around, this type of cover can work out to be the cheapest car insurance option for young drivers.
If you’re looking for cheap young driver insurance, it’s worth comparing the different types of cover to find a policy at a price that suits your needs as well as budget.
What young driver insurance options are there?
There are a few different options that could be suitable for younger drivers, including:
Black box insurance
Black box, or telematics, insurance monitors your driving through a device that’s fitted to your car. Insurance providers then look at the data collected to judge how safe a driver you are. The safer you are on the road, the lower your premiums are likely to be.
Pay-as-you-go insurance
Those who don’t cover many miles could get cheaper young driver insurance by choosing a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) policy. Instead of paying an annual premium or set monthly instalments, you only pay for the distance you drive.
Named driver insurance
By adding an experienced named driver – a parent, for example – to your policy, you might be able to lower the cost of your young drivers insurance. That’s because you’re likely to be spending less time behind the wheel than if you were the sole driver.
Be mindful of ‘fronting’ though. This is when you mislead insurance providers about who does the majority of the driving. It’s a type of insurance fraud.
Learner driver insurance
Learning to drive in a friend’s or relative’s car? Learner driver insurance gives you separate cover from the car owner’s insurance. This means that if you have an accident, their no claims bonus won’t be affected.
Why is young driver insurance so expensive?
Car insurance for young drivers is typically higher because new drivers are more likely to make a claim.
In fact, according to data from the Association of British Insurers, around 24% of all fatal collisions involve drivers aged 17-24.
However, the average cost of car insurance for young drivers has fallen by £160 in the past year, according to the latest Young Drivers research from Compare the Market. Car insurance premiums for motorists aged under 25 dropped to £1,769 in October 2024, compared to £1,929 a year earlier.
Our figures show that 51% of customers aged between 17 and 24 could achieve a quote of £1,641[1] for their car insurance, compared with £417[2] for 51% of drivers aged over 50.
[1] 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.
[2] 51% of over 50s could achieve a quote of up to £416.27 for their car insurance based on Compare the Market data in December 2024.
How can I get cheaper car insurance as a young driver?
The information in this video is available as a text transcript.
If you’re looking for cheap car insurance for young drivers, think about:
- The type of car you own and its value: the value of your car and the model you drive can affect your insurance premiums. Standard cars with smaller engines tend to offer the cheapest car insurance for young drivers.
- Adding an experienced named driver to your policy: as long as they have no previous claims or convictions, a named driver could reduce the cost of your young driver insurance. But be wary of ‘fronting’, which could invalidate your policy.
- Driving well: penalty points and speeding fines could result in a higher premium, so drive carefully. And consider black box insurance or a Pass Plus driving qualification, which may result in cheaper insurance for young drivers by showing you’re safe on the road.
- Limiting your mileage: limiting your annual mileage will reduce your risk of having an accident and could help lower your premium.
- Paying upfront: if you can afford to, it’s a good idea to pay your yearly insurance in one go. Monthly instalments often end up costing more because you’re likely to be charged interest.
- Opting to pay a higher excess: the excess is the amount you have to pay towards a claim. Opting to pay more could lower the cost of your insurance. But be sure you can afford the excess if you have to claim.
- Shop around: one of the easiest ways to get the cheapest insurance for young drivers is to shop around. Set up automated quotes with us, and we’ll let you know if you can get a cheaper car insurance quote ahead of your renewal.
Did you knowYoung motorists now typically pay £2,829 in annual driving costs compared to £3,109 in 2023, a decline of £280, with insurance representing 63% of the total cost of running a car for young drivers[3] |
Annual cost of running a car for a young driver (aged under 25)
Cost | 2023 | 2024 | % of total cost (2024)[3] |
---|---|---|---|
Car Insurance | £1,929 | £1,769 | 63% |
Fuel | £945 | £815 | 29% |
Est. VED (Road Tax) | £180 | £190 | 7% |
MOT | £55 | £55 | 2% |
Total cost per year | £3,109 | £2,829 | 100% |
[3] According to our latest Young Drivers research
What our expert says...
“Young drivers will welcome falling insurance premiums as motorists in this age group typically face higher premiums. However, motor premiums remain historically high, and many young drivers will still struggle to pay less than £1,500 for car insurance, so it is important they compare prices online before renewing with their existing insurer. Through proactively shopping around, young motorists could save by switching or find a deal that is more suitable for their circumstances such as a telematics or pay by mile policy.”
- Julie Daniels, Motor Insurance expert
How to get car insurance for young drivers
If you’re looking for the cheapest young driver insurance, comparing through Compare the Market is a great way to search for a policy to suit your budget. You could save up to £973[2] by choosing a better deal.
[2] Based on Online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during December 2024, 51% of customers age under 35 could achieve this saving on their car insurance through Compare the Market.
What do I need to get a quote for young driver insurance?
To start comparing quotes for cheap young driver insurance, just tell us a bit about yourself and your car, including:
- Your age, address and job
- Your car registration number
- How you use your car – for work, leisure or commuting
- How many miles you drive in a year
- Your driving history – any convictions, accidents and insurance claims in the last five years
- Details of any additional drivers you want on your policy.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the cheapest insurance group for young drivers?
Cars in the lowest insurance groups – such as group 1 – are generally the cheapest to insure. More expensive makes and models to insure tend to be in the higher groups (for example, group 20 and above).
To get the cheapest car insurance for young drivers, opt for a car in groups 1-19.
What’s the best car insurance for young drivers with no black box?
This will depend on the individual’s circumstances. Besides black box insurance, comparing comprehensive cover, choosing a cheaper, less powerful car and avoiding modifications could all help you get cheaper young person car insurance.
And black box or no black box, if you’re a careful driver, building a no claims bonus can reward you with lower premiums eventually.
Can I get added upgrades or additional cover as a young driver?
Yes, as a young driver it’s possible to add additional cover to your car insurance. For example:
- Breakdown cover – to get you back on the road as soon as possible if you break down
- Personal accident cover – could pay out a fixed amount if you or a passenger are killed or seriously injured in a car accident
- Motor legal protection – could cover expenses if legal action is taken after an accident that wasn’t your fault
- Lost keys cover – can pay towards the costs of replacing and reprogramming keys
- No claims discount protection – if you’ve built up a good no claims discount – this is typically four or more years – it’s worth opting for some protection so you don’t lose it if you need to make a claim
- Windscreen cover – cover to repair or replace your windscreen.
Just remember that some additions can be included as standard in policies but in others they may bump up your premium. So always double check and think about whether you really need them.
Can you get car-sharing insurance for young drivers?
Yes, you can. A car-sharing policy (also known as temporary car insurance) is ideal for young drivers who only drive occasionally.
It’s a short-term, standalone policy that typically ranges between one hour to a month. This type of policy will let you get behind the wheel of someone else’s car – with their permission – while protecting their no claims discount
What’s the cheapest young driver insurance?
The cheapest car insurance for young drivers will depend on a variety of factors.
Adding a named driver, paying for your annual insurance upfront or increasing your excess could all make a difference. The best way to find cheap insurance for young drivers is to compare deals.
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