Learner Driver Insurance

Compare car insurance for learner drivers

When you’re ready to start learning to drive the cost of provisional driver insurance could be a painful pill to swallow, but there are a few things you can do to ease that pain.

Of course, you could always forego the need to hunt down the best car insurance policies entirely by accompanying a driving instructor each time you get behind the wheel, since then you’d be covered by your instructor’s policy every time.

If you’re keen to pass your test as quickly as possible, though, you’ll probably want to clock up as many hours behind the wheel as you possibly can, which usually means supplementing your instructor-led training with time spent practicing in a friend’s or family member’s car.

In that case, you’ll need to bite the bullet and take out cover for learner drivers.

Compare quotes for learner driver insurance now

How to lower the cost of your premiums

As a driver with very little experience behind the wheel you represent a bigger risk than a seasoned motorist, so you probably won’t be too surprised to learn that your insurance isn’t likely to come cheap.

There are a few steps you can take to reduce the overall cost of insuring while you’re learning to drive, though. For starters, you could:

• Take out temporary learner driver insurance: Most drivers take out insurance for a year at a time, but many learners pass their test in less than a year so it might be a waste to take out an annual policy. A potentially more cost-effective alternative is to take out temporary learner driver insurance, which could cover you for three months or six months instead of a full year.

• Ask a family member to add you to their policy: When calculating premiums the vehicle’s main driver is given a bigger weighting than any secondary (named) drivers. That’s why asking a family member with a clean driving record to add you to their policy as a named driver is usually cheaper than taking out a standalone one yourself.

• Opt for a car that’s cheaper to insure: If you have the option to choose from a number of different family members’ cars in which to learn it would be advisable to opt for one that falls into a lower insurance group, since this will often make it cheaper to insure.

The final thing to mention is that you should use an unbiased insurance comparison service like Quotezone.co.uk when you’re ready to take out insurance, which will enable you to compare quotes from a wide range of insurance providers in a matter of minutes.

Still have questions about car insurance policies for learner drivers? Then read on.

I’m not sure how long it will take me to pass my test – should I opt for an annual policy?

If you take out an annual policy it’s sometimes possible to cancel early if you no longer need the cover. It’s important to bear in mind that most insurers will charge a cancellation fee, though, so before you sign up for a yearly cover consider how likely you are to pass your test in a shorter timeframe, as well as factoring in what the fee is likely to be if you cancel early.

Should I take out telematics insurance?

It’s certainly worth considering because black box insurance can reduce the cost for some learner drivers by offsetting the risk associated with the fact that they have no track record behind the wheel.

Keep in mind the fact that the cost of your telematics insurance could go up if the black box detects that you’re a high-risk driver, though.

For instance, if you break the speed limit you may end up paying more, and if your driving is particularly reckless the insurance provider could be forced to cancel your policy entirely.

What level of cover should I opt for?

Drivers have three levels of cover to choose from: Third Party, Third Party, Fire and Theft or Fully Comprehensive Car Insurance.

Third Party insurance is usually cheaper than the other two, so this might be worth considering if the quotes you’re offered for third party, fire and theft and fully comprehensive are beyond your budget.

However, it’s important to bear in mind that third party insurance will only cover the cost of damage to a third party’s vehicle if you’re involved in an accident that was your own fault.

The best option is to compare quotes for all three levels of cover, and then opt for the one that offers the most comprehensive coverage at a price you can afford.

Should I opt for a higher excess?

A higher excess is worth considering because it will usually mean you won’t have to pay as much upfront.

This does mean you’ll be lumbered with a larger share of the bill if you are ever involved in a road traffic accident, though, so it’s important to consider how you would cover this cost if you opt for a higher excess and then the worst does happen.