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Compare Young Driver Insurance Quotes in the UK

Adult learners and first-time drivers over 25 should see our new driver insurance page instead — insurers price first-licence holders on licence history, not age.

Comparing young driver insurance quotes

What do I need to compare young driver insurance policies

When comparing insurance for young drivers you’ll need a few key details, most of which you’ll already know or can easily access.  

  • Your personal details like your name, address, and date of birth
  • Your driving history, including any claims or convictions
  • Your car’s registration number
  • Details about the type of cover and optional extras you want

Why use an insurance comparison site?

Each insurer prices its policies slightly differently. So when you compare a wide range of young driver insurance policies, you are less likely to miss out on potentially cheaper deals.

Comparing young driver insurance at Quotezone

At Quotezone, we work with a wide range of trusted UK insurers who can provide competitive quotes tailored to young drivers. Just enter a few details once, and we do the hard work of matching you to policies so you can compare coverage and costs side by side. 

Why is young driver insurance so expensive in the UK?

A quarter of young UK drivers are considering giving up driving because of rising costs (Quotezone, July 2023). Motor insurance costs were up 12% on the same quarter a year earlier (ABI, Q4 2023). When insurers set high premiums, they are usually offsetting the risk involved with insuring a particular person or vehicle. In the case of young drivers, they face more expensive insurance premiums because of:

A lack of driving experience

This not only means a higher likelihood of making misjudgements on the road, but it also means having no no-claims bonus. A no-claims bonus acts as proof for insurers that you are a lower risk to insure. This is why long no-claims records can come with lower insurance costs.

High accident rates

A fifth of all road accidents that cause death or serious injury in the UK involve a young driver.* Insurers can’t ignore these statistics when setting insurance costs for young drivers and their vehicles.

Riskier driving

Young people are also more likely to exceed the speed limit, carry passengers, drive at night, and get distracted by their phones. These all contribute to the risk of an accident and will be factored into insurance premiums.

 Is car insurance more expensive for young male drivers?

Insurers can not set higher or lower insurance premiums based on gender or sex alone. However, they can use indicators of a person’s risk. And the data is very clear on young male drivers. 

In a study on UK road collisions that involved young drivers, 65% of these drivers were males, whereas only 35% were female.* This is a pattern that repeats across all age brackets but is particularly unbalanced for young drivers, for example, insurance for 18 year olds.

This is why young male drivers might face higher premiums on average. However, this is just one of many risk indicators that insurers will use when setting the cost of young driver insurance in the UK. So it’s possible it could be countered by another factor that works in your favour.

What type of insurance do young drivers need?

Depending on what stage you are at in your driving journey you will have a few different insurance options. Learner or provisional drivers will need their own insurance if not covered by their instructor’s insuranceIf you have passed your test you will have the following options:

Third party only insurance (TPO)

TPO insurance offers the lowest level of insurance coverage you will need to legally drive on UK roads. This might suggest it is also the cheapest, but this isn’t always the case. Our research showed that younger drivers under the age of 21 could save an average of 11% by opting for fully comprehensive insurance rather than third party policies.

Third party, fire and theft insurance (TPFT)

TPFT insurance options provide financial support when you have accidentally caused damage or harm to another person, their car, or their property. Unlike third party cover, which offers no protection for your own car, this covers your car if it is damaged or completely lost due to fire or theft, allowing you to make repairs or replace the vehicle.

Comprehensive car insurance

Comprehensive coverage options offer the most protection. These cover everything included in the previous two, but will also protect your car if it is damaged in an accident on the road, even if you were the one who caused it. Some of these policies can also come with extras like windscreen cover or breakdown protection as standard.

Policy add-ons

These are optional extras that can be added to any of the three previous policy options to personalise and enhance your protection. Add-ons like courtesy car cover can be useful if you rely heavily on your car. Other options like no claims bonus protection could help you with future insurance costs.

How much is young driver’s insurance in the UK?

At Quotezone, we’ve done the research to give you the latest average car insurance costs across all age groups in the UK. Our latest data puts the average annual cost of young drivers’ insurance aged 17-24 at £1,098 in 2025. Young driver car insurance premiums are typically highest in the first policy year — which is why first car insurance often costs more than many expect.

This is the lowest average premium for young drivers in the past 10 years. And trends seem set to continue going into 2026.

Although this has dropped from a high of £3,056 in February 2024, it is still 66% higher than the average cost of insurance for drivers over 65.

How to find cheap young driver insurance

With such high insurance costs, finding a cheaper young driver policy could be the difference between driving or not driving. That’s why it is essential to take steps that could help you find cheaper premiums where possible. These can include:

Choosing a car in a low insurance group

Each car is assigned an insurance group in the UK. These range between 1 and 50, with lower groups generally costing less to insure. If you are buying your first car, it would be a good idea to research cars in lower insurance groups before you commit.

Consider choosing a higher voluntary excess

Voluntary excess is the amount you commit to covering in the case of making a claim. Options can range from £50 – £1,000 depending on the insurer. By choosing a higher excess, you take some of the risk off the insurer, and this could be rewarded with savings on your premium.

Take a pass plus or additional driving course

Having additional driving qualifications can demonstrate to insurers that you have advanced driving skills. This could remove some of the key concerns insurers have with young drivers’ abilities on the road, resulting in lower premiums for some insurers.

Pay premiums annually

Paying your insurance monthly may be tempting, however, it will come with additional costs. Some insurers might not offer this at all if you have a bad credit history. So although paying annually might seem like a lot at once, it is often cheaper overall.

Avoid car modifications

Specialist cars like classic or high-performance cars and those with modifications could all increase your insurance costs. This is because they will likely have a higher market value overall, and their parts can be more expensive or difficult to source.

Be mindful of your job title

Car insurers will ask you about your occupation. Whether you have a job, are unemployed, or are a student, be aware that your job can affect the cost of your insurance. In some cases, there could be more than one title that accurately describes your occupation. You can compare these, but never give false or misleading information to an insurer.

Compare young drivers’ insurance

There is a reason that insurance comparison websites are such a key part of buying insurance. We allow you to compare policies and prices from over 130 UK car insurers at once, so you don’t miss out on finding a better deal.

Tips to help reduce your young driver insurance costs

Three penalty points can add around 5% to a young driver’s premium, while six points can add up to 25% (Quotezone analysis, January 2026). The same analysis found 17-24 year olds pay an average of £631 more per year than drivers aged 45-64.

The impact of adding a named driver to your policy

Adding an experienced or low-risk driver to your young driver policy could help bring costs down. Good options would be a driver with a long no-claims history and no convictions. Just be sure you are the main driver of the car to avoid “fronting”.

How telematics and black box insurance can help save money

Telematics, or black box insurance policies are especially useful for young drivers. They will monitor your speed, braking, and mileage through an app or device. And if you demonstrate safe driving habits, this can be rewarded with lower premiums.

Can young drivers take out a short-term insurance policy?

If you only need insurance for a short period, temporary car insurance for young drivers could be a cost-effective solution. Different insurers can offer coverage for as little as a few hours or up to several months. However, be aware that you miss out on building your all-important no-claims discount when you insure with temporary policies.

When does young driver insurance go down?

Generally speaking, insurance costs tend to get lower once you reach the age of 25. For example, in Q3 of 2025, 25-34-year-olds paid £246 less on average than 17-24-year-olds.

This could be attributed to simply ageing out of an age group that has shown itself to be high risk on the roads. However, an increase in experience and individuals building up no-claims bonuses also help keep costs low.

On the other hand, if you have displayed reckless driving, received driving convictions, or have recently made claims on your insurance, your premiums are unlikely to align with your age group’s averages.

Car insurance for 17, 18 and 21 year olds

Young driver car insurance premiums vary sharply by exact age. Here is roughly what 17, 18 and 21 year olds can expect when comparing quotes.

17 year old car insurance

17 year old car insurance is typically the most expensive age bracket for car insurance because these drivers have zero driving history. A provisional-licence 17 year old comparing insurance quotes should expect premiums notably above the UK average (ABI Motor Insurance Premium Tracker). Black box policies and choosing a group 1-5 vehicle are the two biggest levers at 17.

18 year old car insurance

18 year old car insurance premiums usually drop a little on the 17 year old rate, especially if the driver has held a full licence for 6+ months with no claims. Most 18 year olds will still benefit heavily from telematics or Pass Plus. Comparing car insurance for 18 year olds across a wide panel of insurers remains the fastest way to find a competitive price.

21 year old car insurance

21 year old car insurance is meaningfully cheaper than for 17 or 18 year olds, mostly because the driver has normally built a first year of no-claims history. Premiums typically continue to fall each year until around age 25, consistent with Quotezone’s average premium data across age groups. Compare car insurance for 21 year olds from both specialist young-driver insurers and mainstream providers.

Young driver car insurance FAQs

How much is car insurance for a 17 year old?

A 17 year old is typically in the most expensive age bracket for car insurance because of zero driving history. Exact costs depend on postcode, vehicle, engine size and cover level – comparing quotes from a wide panel is the only way to see what an individual 17 year old will actually pay. Black box telematics policies often come out cheapest for this age group (source: ABI Motor Insurance Premium Tracker).

How much is car insurance for an 18 year old?

18 year old car insurance is generally a little cheaper than 17 year old cover, particularly for those who have held a full licence for 6 months or more with no claims. Choosing a car in insurance group 1-5 and completing Pass Plus are two of the most effective ways for an 18 year old to reduce premiums.

How much is car insurance for a 21 year old?

Car insurance for a 21 year old is usually meaningfully cheaper than at 17 or 18, because most drivers have built up at least one year of no-claims discount by that age. Premiums typically continue to fall until around age 25.

What is young driver car insurance?

Young driver car insurance is specialist cover designed for drivers under 25. It accounts for limited driving experience and the higher accident risk statistically seen in this age group. Many young driver car insurance policies use telematics (black box) to price premiums based on actual driving behaviour rather than age alone.

Do I need first-time driver insurance when I pass my test?

A first-time driver needs full car insurance before driving on UK roads – a provisional policy alone is not enough once you pass your test. First-time driver insurance is just standard car insurance from an insurer that accepts applicants with no licence history. Compare quotes from a wide panel to find the best rate for a first-time driver.

Is black box insurance cheaper for young drivers?

Black box insurance (also called telematics) is often cheaper for young drivers because premiums are based on measurable driving behaviour rather than age averages. A safe young driver with a black box can see significant renewal discounts in some policies compared to standard pricing. The device tracks speed, braking, cornering and time of day – reward drivers pay less over time.

What is the cheapest car insurance for young drivers?

There is no single cheapest car insurance for young drivers – the best price depends on age, postcode, vehicle, mileage and claims history. The most effective steps are: pick a low-group car, compare quotes from a wide panel, consider black box telematics, add an experienced named driver if genuine, and protect your no-claims bonus once you have built one.

Greg Wilson

Reviewed by: Greg Wilson
Founder & Insurance Expert

Written by: Katie Gawley
Insurance Content Writer

Fact-checked by: Quotezone Editorial Team

This content follows our Editorial Guidelines

Last Updated: 21 April 2026

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*51% of consumers could save £518.14 on their Car Insurance. The saving was calculated by comparing the cheapest price found with the average of the next four cheapest prices quoted by insurance providers on Seopa Ltd’s insurance comparison website. This is based on representative cost savings from June 2025 data. The savings you could achieve are dependent on your individual circumstances and how you selected your current insurance supplier.