Learner driver insurance

Buy learner drivers insurance for up to £745/year ^[1]
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^[1]51% of learner drivers could achieve a quote of up to £744.73 for their car insurance based on Compare the Market data in September 2024.

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^[2]Correct as of September 2024.

A handy guide to learner driver car insurance

It’s an exciting time if you’re just taking to the road. But it can be a confusing and expensive time, too. Fear not – we’re here to help.

Whether you’re learning to drive in your parents’ car or getting your friend to teach you, you’re going to need the right car insurance. To help you find a good deal, we’ve put together this easy-to-follow guide answering your most pressing questions.

Plus, check out our Young Drivers report, which will give you an idea of all the other costs involved in running your own car, information on the cheapest cars to insure and our guide for new drivers that’s full of practical help for newbies.

 Find out all you need to know about young drivers car insurance, including car insurance for 21-year-olds.

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Learner driver insurance FAQs

Why is learner driver insurance so expensive?

Simply put, it’s because younger drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident than older drivers. Insurance providers keep a close eye on statistics, and teens (17 and 18 year olds) and early twenty-somethings of student age tend to be involved in more accidents (and worse accidents, for that matter) than older and more experienced drivers. In fact, 19% of all car accidents across the UK between 2010 and 2016 involved someone between the ages of 17 to 25.

Do learner drivers need insurance?

If you’re having lessons with a professional driving school, then most of them include insurance in the price of the lessons. But if you want to practice in your own car, or in a friend’s or relative’s car, then you’ll need insurance.

What’s the most suitable type of car insurance for learner drivers?

Comprehensive car insurance may be the ideal type of insurance for you as a learner driver, as it provides the most cover. However, finding the most suitable policy as a learner driver will depend on your personal circumstances and how much you can afford. There are three main types of cover available:

third party only – this covers you for any injury you cause to other people and any damage to their property
third party fire and theft – similar to a third party policy, except that it also includes cover for the theft of your vehicle or damage by fire
comprehensive – includes all the cover of a third party fire and theft policy, but also protects you as a driver and can pay out for damage you cause to your own car. You might think this would be the most expensive type of policy but that’s not always the case, so it’s worth comparing your options to get the right cover for you

Can I get cheaper insurance by adding an experienced driver to my policy?

It’s possible, yes. If you can share your car with an experienced driver, you could reduce the cost of your premium by adding them to your policy. The insurance provider takes both drivers’ information into consideration and creates a price based on each of you sharing the car.

Is a higher voluntary excess better?

In some cases, yes. If you’re a learner driver looking for cheap insurance, you might want to choose a higher voluntary excess. Although this could cost you more in the event of a claim, as you’ll need to pay the voluntary excess you choose as well as the compulsory excess set by the provider, it could mean a cheaper monthly premium in the short term. Just make sure you could afford the total in the event of needing to make a claim.

Are black box policies good for learner drivers?

Yes – black box, or telematics, policies come with a little device or an app that monitors your driving habits. These are particularly good for learner drivers without a long record of driving safely. If you’re a safe driver, you could save on your insurance.

Will taking Pass Plus courses help me get cheaper car insurance?

Probably, yes. Once you’ve passed your test and you’re no longer a learner, you’ll still probably pay a higher premium. Taking Pass Plus courses could help to increase your experience as a new driver and could decrease your car insurance premium as a result.