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Home > Insurance > Car Insurance >

Young Drivers' Car Insurance

Six ways to bring down the cost of your car insurance

1. Understand why insurance is expensive for young drivers

A look at road accident figures helps explain why insurance premiums are so high for young drivers.

Five facts about accidents involving young drivers

1. 1 in 5 drivers are involved in a crash during their first year on the road
2. male drivers aged under 21 are 10 times more likely to have a car accident than male drivers aged 35 or over
3. young drivers have a higher proportion of crashes at night than older drivers
4. 1 in 8 British drivers are under 25, but a quarter of drivers who die in traffic collisions are in this age group
5. In 2007, 40% of passengers killed or seriously injured – meaning lost limbs, paralysis, brain injury and other life-changing injuries – were in a car driven by a young driver*

Being aware of the risks that come with being an inexperienced driver can help you to think about how you can improve your driving.

2. Concentrate on earning a no-claims discount

If you drive safely by following the Highway Code and staying within the speed limit you will reduce your chances of being involved in an accident. By avoiding accidents you will improve your chances of earning that all important no-claims discount when you come to renew your car insurance.

3. Choose a car in a low insurance group

In the UK every new car is assigned to a car insurance group from 1 to 20 (although the insurance industry is phasing in a new 50 group scheme to give more accurate banding of cars).

A car's insurance group is based on how much the car is likely to cost insurers per claim. Cars in group one represent the lowest cost for insurers, so the lower the insurance group a car is in, the lower your insurance premium is likely to be.

As a young driver it makes sense to look for a car in a low insurance group if you want to pay a lower premium. You can search the ABI database to find the insurance group for a car your interested in, or to find cars in a particular insurance group.

4. Consider your car security

Thinking about the security of your car could help you reduce your premium. Things to consider:

Where your car is kept overnight

If you can, the ideal place to keep your car is in a locked garage. If this isn't an option, your car is best kept off the street.

Security devices

It may be worth considering additional security devices for your car. Your insurer can advise on approved security devices. Devices which may attract lower premiums include:

• alarm/immobiliser systems
• high security door and ignition locks
• mechanical immobilisers
• glass etching – etching the registration number to vehicle glass
• a visible VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) which can be seen through the windscreen acting as a further deterrent to thieves

Remove valuables from you car

Take the stereo, sat nav and valuables with you when you lock your car.

5. Don't modify your car

Fins, spoilers and other extras may look good, but if you modify your car it's likely to mean a higher car insurance bill.

6. Compare like with like when buying car insurance

When you're searching for a policy, make sure you compare like with like. Two car insurance policies with the same price may not offer the same level of benefits, so it's always worth checking to see whether the policy covers everything you need.

If you think you've found a bargain, always look closely at the detail, particularly at any compulsory excesses which you would have to pay when making a claim. What looks like cheap car insurance could actually be expensive if the excess is more than you can afford to pay.

As a young driver you could find car insurance that's right for you with AA Car Insurance.