Young drivers warned of the most expensive regions for car insurance

New data has revealed the UK regions with the highest car insurance premiums for young drivers.

London, West Midlands and Yorkshire are among the worst places for young drivers to insure their cars, with average premiums reaching over two thousand pounds.

Price comparison experts at Quotezone.co.uk analysed insurance premiums for 18 to 24-year-old drivers in different regions across the country, ranking them from most to least expensive.

Young motorists have been hit the hardest by soaring insurance prices, as the cost-of-living crisis spiked the premiums by more than 25%* year on year, according to the ABI – who look at actual prices paid for policies rather than estimated quote values.

With the added costs of learning to drive and buying their first car, many drivers can’t afford to get on the road after passing their test and of those who are driving, 25% are considering quitting due to rising costs.**

The research conducted by Quotezone.co.uk revealed there are significant differences in insurance costs depending on where you live, with young Londoners paying nearly £1500 more for cover compared to young drivers in Northern Ireland.

The insurance premiums for 18 to 24-year-olds in London have reached an eye-watering high, with young drivers paying £2,811 on average to insure their vehicles.

Closely followed by average premiums of £2,392 in West Midlands and £2,327 in Yorkshire.

Also included in the top five most expensive regions are North West and South East England where young drivers are paying more than £2,105 for cover.

Young drivers in North East England, East Midlands and Scotland are paying just under £2000 on average with Wales and South West England offering slightly better value with £1,835 and £1,714 respectively.

Young drivers in Northern Ireland are spending the least on car insurance, although drivers there have seen similar price hikes, they are still enjoying relatively cheap insurance premiums compared to other regions in the UK, totalling £1,359 on average.

To keep the insurance costs down, drivers are encouraged to compare quotes from different providers, pay annually if possible, improve vehicle security and add an experienced driver to the policy.

Quotezone.co.uk CEO and car insurance expert Greg Wilson said: “Young drivers normally have to pay more for their premiums as they’ve less experience – something insurance providers use to base their risk analysis on and determine costs.  However, in recent years insurance costs have soared, leaving drivers considering if they can afford to drive at all.

“With cover for under 25-year-olds now approaching or exceeding £2,000 annually across the majority of UK regions, many young people are struggling to get behind the wheel, having to rely on strike prone public transport, after investing over £3000 on learning to drive and passing their tests.

“Hopefully our tips will help young drivers really start to look at their insurance policies and explore where they can find savings.  Simple tweaks such as job title, the time you purchase and how you pay can all help cut costs.  Insurance premiums may look to stabilise this year, but they are unlikely to come down, drivers must hunt for better deals.”

Savings experts at Quotezone have created a full car insurance index of average premium prices across all age ranges throughout the UK regions, to help drivers review and find savings.

Here are Quotezone.co.uk’s top tips to help young drivers cut insurance costs:

1.Check your vehicle use

Premium prices can vary depending on your use of the vehicle, it may work out cheaper if a driver is using it for ‘social only’ purposes rather than for ‘social and commuting’ so check how the options affect the price and consider if you can make any changes – just be careful all changes are accurate and reflect how you actually use the vehicle.

2.Check your job title

Job titles often affect the overall premium price, a tweak to your title could help you reduce your premium so try quoting with variations – just make sure the title is still accurate and describes the job you do, incorrect information could invalidate your insurance.

3.Review prices three weeks before renewal

Normally three weeks before your policy is due for renewal is when the prices are most competitive so be sure to keep an eye on your due date.

4.Opt for a smaller engine

Be sure to check your vehicle’s engine size and horsepower, both can impact the cost of your premium. Also, some small engines are turbocharged and that can give them more power than might be expected, which will likely cause the premium to increase.

5.Park in a safe place

If possible, drivers should make use of their garages, driveways or carports for overnight parking. This can keep premium costs down because the safer you can keep your car, the cheaper it is to insure, likely a reduction of at least £140 if you can move your car from the roadside to a private driveway overnight.

6.Opt for telematics or a black box

A telematics policy, or black box insurance starts collecting driving data immediately which can help the insurer with their risk analysis. This way young drivers can demonstrate their safe driving and increase their chances of getting a competitive premium price.

7.Pay annually

If you can, it’s best to pay the annual premium all in one go to knock cash off your policy. Paying annually is normally cheaper because there is no interest to pay.

8.Add another driver

Adding a low-risk driver to your policy could bring down the premium costs especially if the other driver is experienced and has a clean record – just make sure the main driver is actually the one who drives the car the most or you could be charged with insurance fraud.

9.Improve vehicle security

Improving the vehicle’s security by fitting anti-theft devices or dash cams could help drivers get cheaper premiums. It’s worth getting the policy quotes first to consider whether the savings justify the extra cost of the devices.

10.Shop around

Never let a policy auto-renew, even if your provider was the cheapest option for you last year it doesn’t mean they will be the cheapest this year, always shop around and compare products and don’t be afraid to switch providers, it’s an easy process which could lead to substantial savings.  Comparison sites are ideal ways to find better quality products and more competitive prices. 

References:

Full car insurance index of average premium prices across all age ranges throughout the UK regions.

	Young Drivers Index Ages 18-24 (Jan 2024)
	REGION	Ave. Premium
1	LONDON	£2,811.38
2	WEST MIDLANDS	£2,392.30
3	YORKSHIRE	£2,327.01
4	NORTH WEST ENGLAND	£2,297.97
5	SOUTH EAST ENGLAND	£2,105.06
6	EAST OF ENGLAND	£2,030.26
7	NORTH EAST ENGLAND	£1,966.55
8	EAST MIDLANDS	£1,964.62
9	SCOTLAND	£1,907.56
10	WALES	£1,835.09
11	SOUTH WEST ENGLAND	£1,714.21
12	NORTHERN IRELAND	£1,359.12

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Data tables – The data uses a random sample of over 100,000 UK car insurance policies from January 2023 – January 2024.

*https://www.abi.org.uk/news/news-articles/2024/1/motor-insurance-premiums-continue-to-rise-as-insurers-battle-costs/#:~:text=Costs%20are%20up%2012%25%20on,the%20fourth%20quarter%20of%202023.

**Quotezone.co.uk’s findings are based on a randomised survey of 700 respondents from the UK in July 2023, which represents a margin of error of approximately 5% at a 95% confidence level.