You’ve completed your student driving lessons (or driving crash course), you’ve passed your practical test and you’ve managed to get your hands on a car. At this point, the only thing standing between you and the freedom you’ve been dreaming of is an appropriate insurance policy.
Unfortunately, the average cost of insuring a car as a young driver has only increased over time. As things stand in 2020, the average young driver insurance policy now exceeds £2,000 per year.
Pretty steep, when considering the vast majority of new drivers don’t even spend nearly this amount on their first cars.
On the plus side, it is at least easier than ever before to ensure you get the best possible deal and avoid being ripped off. You’ll still be expected to pay a pretty penny, but you can at least avoid overpaying by taking a strategic approach.
Consider Pass Plus
For one thing, taking a Pass Plus course as quickly as possible after your driving test could help bring things under control. Right now, the majority of major insurers in the UK offer discounts of up to 25% for young drivers with Pass Plus certification.
All of which amounts to the kinds of long-term savings that augment those of the course itself, many times over. Just be sure to get it done as soon as possible, as you can only take a Pass Plus course during the first 12 months after passing your test.
Telematics Insurance
This is an interesting new take on classic car insurance, which involves tracking the vehicles (and therefore the driving habits) of younger drivers using GPS and satellite technology. Things like your speed, carefulness and compliance with all road rules in general will be taken into account when calculating your premiums.
None of which will help you when getting on the roads for the first time, but could lead to your premiums coming down significantly over subsequent years. That is, just as long as you behave in an appropriate manner when out and about.
Choosing the Right Car
The car you choose will have the biggest impact of all on how much you can expect to pay for insurance. For obvious reasons, smaller cars with smaller engines and smaller price-tags are far cheaper and easier to insure that their larger and more powerful counterparts.
For the time being, you may have to bite the bullet and opt for something that’s more practical than prestigious.
Adding a Named Driver
Interestingly, adding a second driver to your insurance policy could significantly reduce your annual insurance costs. Someone like a parent or older sibling with plenty of driving experience and a clean licence is ideal, often leading to savings worth hundreds of pounds per year.
Don’t accept any quotation until you query the potential savings of adding a named driver, as it could save you a fortune.
Getting the Best Deal
Last but not least, there are two ways of shopping around to get the best possible deal on your insurance policy:
- Use car insurance comparison sites and then buy online directly from the insurer;
- Use the services of a broker and have them sort things on your behalf.
Technically speaking, both of these are better options than going straight to any given insurer and asking them to set you up. With such a huge range of insurers and policies to choose from, it’s essential to compare as many options as possible to find a competitive deal.