Car Insurance for New Drivers: How to Get the Best Deal

Summary

• New drivers pay an average of £1,500–£2,500 a year: Young drivers under 25 pay even more due to higher accident risk.
• Black box insurance can save 20–40%: It monitors your driving and rewards safe habits. See our black box insurance guide.
• The car you choose matters most: Insurance groups 1–10 are cheapest. Big engines and performance cars cost a fortune to insure. Check our cheapest cars to insure guide.

Just passed your test? Congratulations! Now comes the painful part — finding affordable car insurance.

Here's how to get covered without spending a fortune.

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Why Insurance Is So Expensive for New Drivers

Insurers base premiums on risk. New drivers have:

• No driving experience: Statistics show new drivers are more likely to crash.
• No no-claims bonus: Each year without a claim earns a discount. New drivers start at zero.
• Age: Drivers aged 17–24 have the highest accident rates in the UK.

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Proven Ways to Reduce Your Premium

1. Choose the Right Car

Insurance groups 1–10 are cheapest. Look for:

• Small engines (1.0L–1.2L)
• Low-power hatchbacks (Polo, Fiesta, Corsa, Yaris)
• Good safety ratings

2. Consider Black Box Insurance

A telematics box monitors your driving. If you drive safely, you get cheaper premiums. Savings of 20–40% are common for good drivers.

3. Add an Experienced Named Driver

Adding a parent or partner with a clean licence can reduce your premium. But you must be the main driver — listing yourself as a named driver when you're the main user is called "fronting" and it's fraud.

4. Increase Your Voluntary Excess

A higher excess means lower premiums. Just make sure you can afford it if you need to claim.

5. Pay Annually

Monthly payments include interest — often 15–30% extra. Pay the full year upfront if you can.

6. Build Your No-Claims Bonus

Each claim-free year earns you a bigger discount:

Years No Claims	Typical Discount
1 year	30%
2 years	40%
3 years	50%
5+ years	60–65%

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Things That Make Insurance MORE Expensive

• Modifications: Even cosmetic changes (alloys, tints, body kits) increase premiums.
• Street parking: Parking on a driveway or garage is cheaper to insure than on the street.
• High annual mileage: The less you drive, the less you'll pay.
• Multiple applications: Too many insurance quotes (hard searches) can increase prices. Use soft-search comparison sites.

Insurance is the biggest cost of driving for new drivers. Choosing the right car and insurer can save you £500+ a year.

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Where to Get Quotes

1. Use comparison sites: CompareTheMarket, GoCompare, Confused.com
2. Try direct insurers: Admiral, Direct Line, Aviva
3. Check specialist young driver insurers: Marmalade, ingenie
4. Get quotes 3 weeks before you need cover — this is when prices are usually lowest

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