Getting your full driving licence is a huge achievement, but for many new drivers, the excitement is quickly followed by a reality check: car insurance can be painfully expensive. Whether you’re 17 or 47, insurers see anyone with little driving history as a higher risk. The good news? There are plenty of ways to cut those costs without compromising your coverage.
Here are practical tips to help you get a better deal:
- Take a Pass Plus Course A Pass Plus course can help you improve your driving skills in areas not covered during your standard driving test, such as motorway driving or night-time driving. While not every insurer offers a discount for it, many still do. The cost of the course can vary, so get a quote and then check with insurers before enrolling to see if it could pay for itself in savings.
- Pay Annually Instead of Monthly It might feel more manageable to pay monthly, but insurers often charge interest or admin fees on monthly payment plans. If you can afford to pay for the year in full, it usually works out cheaper. Consider saving ahead of your renewal date to make an annual payment more doable.
- Increase Your Voluntary Excess Your insurance excess is the amount you pay toward any claim before the insurer pays the rest. Increasing your voluntary excess can lower your premium, but make sure you’d still be able to afford it if you needed to make a claim.
- Choose a Sensible Car New drivers are often tempted by sporty or stylish cars, but powerful or high-value vehicles cost more to insure. Insurers group cars into insurance categories based on things like engine size, performance, and repair costs. A small, reliable car in a low insurance group will be much cheaper to cover. Once you’ve built up a no-claims bonus, you’ll have more flexibility with your choice of vehicle.
- Keep Your Car Secure Where you keep your car overnight can make a difference. Parking in a locked garage or on a private driveway is usually seen as lower risk than parking on the street. You can also consider fitting an industry-approved alarm or immobiliser, which may help reduce your premium.
- Consider a Telematics Policy (Black Box) Telematics insurance policies use a device or app to monitor your driving habits. They track speed, braking, cornering, and the times of day you drive. If you drive safely, you’re rewarded with lower premiums. This type of policy is particularly helpful for new drivers trying to prove themselves to insurers.
- Limit Your Mileage The fewer miles you drive, the lower your risk profile. If you’re not planning to use your car daily, estimate your annual mileage accurately when applying for insurance. Don’t underestimate, as that could void your policy, but don’t wildly overestimate either. Be realistic.
- Add a More Experienced Named Driver Adding a parent, partner, or older sibling with a good driving record as a named driver on your policy can sometimes reduce the premium. Just make sure that you are the main driver of the car — otherwise, you could be committing “fronting“, which is considered insurance fraud.
- Use More Than One Comparison Site Not all insurers are listed on every comparison site. Use a few different platforms to get a full picture of the market. Also consider checking providers who don’t appear on comparison sites as they may offer competitive deals directly.
- Call the Insurer Directly Once you’ve found a decent deal online, it’s worth phoning the insurer directly. Sometimes, customer service agents can offer discounts or tweaks that aren’t available through automated quote forms. It only takes a few minutes and could save you a tidy sum.
- Watch Out for Add-Ons When buying a policy, you’ll be offered extras like legal cover, breakdown assistance, or a courtesy car. These can be useful, but they also add to your premium. Only select the ones you actually need. Some comparison sites include add-ons by default, so check the breakdown of your quote.
- Build Your No Claims Bonus The longer you go without making a claim, the bigger your no claims discount. Even one claim-free year can make a noticeable difference. Drive safely, avoid unnecessary risks, and you’ll be rewarded when it comes to renewal.
Before You Go…
Car insurance as a new driver doesn’t have to break the bank. With the right car, a bit of research, and a few smart decisions, you can get a fair deal. Focus on building a clean driving record from day one — it pays off faster than you think.