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Learner Drivers' Car Insurance

Car insurance advice for learner drivers

If you're a learner driver insuring a car is likely to be expensive. Statistically, inexperienced drivers are a greater risk for insurers than drivers who have been driving for a few years, because claims made by young drivers tend to cost a lot more than those made by older drivers.* Here we look at the cover that's available and offer some tips which could help reduce the cost of your car insurance.

Insuring your own car

If you can afford to buy a car of your own straight away this is the most practical way forward. As soon as you have a car insurance policy in your own name you can start to earn your no-claim discount. This is important because it could save you a considerable amount of money in the years ahead.

Additional driver cover

You may occasionally wish to practise driving with a relative or a friend in their car; if you do, you must make sure that you are insured to drive the vehicle before you take to the road. To get yourself covered, ask the person whose car you'll be driving to insure you as an additional driver of their car.

Levels of car insurance cover

Third Party Only provides basic cover. It covers you for claims made by other people against you following an accident. It covers your liability to others for death, bodily injury, or damage to property.

Third Party Fire and Theft provides the same level of cover as Third Party Only, but also protects your vehicle against damage by fire, or theft.

If you're a learner driver, Third Party Fire and Theft is worth considering. Generally it's not that much more expensive than Third Party Only, but provides important cover against fire and theft.

Comprehensive is the highest level of cover available. It provides all of the above and also includes accidental damage cover for your own car, plus other benefits such as cover for personal possessions and medical expenses.

When you're shopping around for car insurance make sure you look at the excesses that apply to each policy. If you get a quote for a policy with a low premium but high compulsory excesses ask yourself whether you could afford to pay the excess if you needed to make a claim. On the other hand, if you can afford to, it may be worth thinking about paying a higher voluntary excess to bring down the cost of your insurance premium.

Think about the car you drive

If you're planning to buy a car while you're a learner driver, the age, model and engine size will all have a bearing on the cost of your insurance. Generally, the smaller and less powerful the car, the cheaper the policy is likely to be. If you want to pay a lower premium for your cover look for a car that's in a low car insurance group.

Spreading the cost of your car insurance

If you're over 18 and in full-time work, many insurers and brokers, including the AA, allow you to pay for your premium in monthly instalments. This could be useful if you want to spread the cost of your car insurance cover.

Pass Plus

While you're learning to drive it's worth thinking about what you can to do to become a safe driver. Insurance companies love safe drivers and some actively encourage safer driving by offering discounts to newly qualified drivers who've taken the Driving Standards Agency's (DSA) Pass Plus course.

AA driving school

While plenty of driving practice with relatives or friends may help you to pass your test more quickly this is best used to reinforce what you've learned with your approved driving instructor.

If you learn to drive with AA driving school you will learn with a fully qualified driving instructor. Visit AA driving school for information for learner drivers or to book driving lessons online.

If you're looking for motor insurance you could find the cover you need with AA Car Insurance.