Compare cheap car insurance quotes with MoneySuperMarket
Passing your driving test is a big occasion, and the excitement of getting your first car is like nothing else – so to get all set for the road, make sure you find the best deal possible for your car insurance policy.
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Car insurance is more expensive for younger drivers, and people in the 17-to-19 age group almost always pay more than any other for cover – with an average cost of £752 a year so far in 2020.1
However as you get older, your premiums should go down – the average annual car insurance premiums for:
Younger drivers - and teenagers in particular - pay more for car insurance simply because they’re statistically more likely to be involved in a road accident. Less experience on the road means you’re a higher-risk driver – so you’ll be more expensive for insurers to cover.
1Based on fully comprehensive policies with one driver holding a full UK driving licence. Data collected between January and December 2020, accurate as of January 2021
As a 17 year old your options for car insurance will be very much the same as any other age group, so you’ll have your choice between:
A fully comprehensive policy offers all of the above, as well as further cover for things like repairs and medical expenses. It’s also usually the cheapest of the three options
£2,090 /year on average2
Third-party, fire and theft is the next level up, and adds cover for your car if it’s stolen or damaged by fire
£2,345 /year on average2
Third-party car insurance covers you against the cost of damage you cause to another person, their car or their property - but offers no financial protection for your own vehicle
£4,157 /year on average2
When you’re looking for your first car, keep in mind the make and model will have a bearing on your car insurance premiums. If you’re lucky enough to have a wide choice of cars available to you, the cheapest ones to insure will likely be the smaller, less powerful models – those in lower insurance groups.
These are less likely to be involved in a road accident than fast sports cars or towering 4x4s, and they’ll usually be cheaper to maintain, both of which are factors considered by insurers when deciding premiums. You can find out which insurance group your car is in with our car insurance group checker – all you need to do is enter your registration plate.
Make |
Model |
Median Cheapest Annual Price* |
|---|---|---|
VOLKSWAGEN |
UP! |
£1450.94 |
FORD |
KA | £1,457.49 |
CITROEN |
C1 | £1,457.73 |
FIAT |
500 | £1,460.78 |
KIA |
PICANTO | £1,536.45 |
*Based on fully comprehensive policies for one driver aged 17, holding a full UK drivers licence. Data collected between May and October 2020, accurate as of November 2020
Aside from the car itself and your insurance premiums, owning a vehicle also involves other costs you will need to consider:
While you might be facing the highest premiums relative to other age groups, there are still ways to cut the costs down:
Adding a more experienced driver to your policy tells insurers that responsibility for the vehicle isn’t solely yours, so they’ll see it as a reduced risk
Insurers categorise cars into insurance groups based on factors like size, performance, safety and availability of parts – those in higher groups are more expensive to insure
Telematics cover is when your insurer uses GPS software to monitor your driving, and it’s a way for responsible young motorists to earn cheaper car insurance premiums by demonstrating good driving habits
Modifying your car will increase its repair costs, especially if the parts are expensive or hard to find. Some modifications also make your car more powerful, and therefore more at risk of an accident
Security measures like factory-fitted immobilisers and alarms, and keeping your car stored off the road in the night, can both contribute to lower premiums as the risk of your car being stolen or vandalised is reduced
Your excess payment is how much you’ll initially contribute to the cost of your claim before the insurance provider pays the rest, and volunteering a higher excess tells insurers you won’t bother with small or frivolous claims
We compare dozens of the biggest insurance providers in the country, including:
"Young drivers have traditionally paid more for car insurance, but there are things you can do to get lower premiums. For example, telematics insurance offers the opportunity for young drivers to earn lower premiums through safe driving. Paying annually and choosing fully comprehensive cover can also help – but shopping around and comparing quotes is a quick and easy way to find a good deal."
- Andy G Teasdale, product manager of car insurance
One of the easiest ways to get cheap car insurance for a 17 year old driver is to compare prices with MoneySuperMarket. Our online service is free, independent and compares car insurance quotes available through the country’s leading insurers in a matter of seconds.
You’ll be able to sort through a list of deals tailored to your needs, comparing quotes by the overall annual and monthly cost, the coverage you’ll get, and the excess you’ll need to pay to claim. Once you’ve found the right deal, just click through to the provider to finalise your purchase.
Many experts recommend that teenage drivers improve their road skills with an advanced driving course. Your insurer may offer a discount if you have completed a recognised driving course – though this isn’t always the case – while it also increases your road safety knowledge.
The Driving Standards Agency’s Pass Plus scheme is perhaps the best known of these and is specifically aimed at new drivers. But organisations such as ROPSA, the Institute of Advanced Motorists and the RAC also offer driving training.
If you don’t claim on your car insurance during the policy year, you can usually earn a discount on your premium, known as a no-claims discount. This adds up with each claim-free year, so you could knock 70% or more off your motor insurance premium if you don’t claim for five consecutive years.
You can also pay a little bit extra to protect your no-claims bonus, which normally lets you make a limited number of claims without losing the discount.
Many teenage drivers cannot afford their own car, so they drive their parents’ car and piggyback on their car insurance. But if you are lucky enough to have your own wheels, it might be a good idea to add your mum or dad to your policy as an additional named driver. Insurers are reassured by the presence on the policy of an older, more experienced motorist and it will probably result in cheaper car insurance for a 17 year old driver.
Technology can come to the rescue of 17 year old drivers in the form of black-box insurance. With this kind of policy, a tracking device is fitted to your car and records when, where and how you drive – and it can have a big impact on the cost of car insurance for 17 year olds.
A number of insurers now offer so-called telematics policies and it’s a good idea to compare prices as you may be able to save money.
If you cannot afford to pay your insurance premium in one lump sum, most insurers will let you spread the payment over monthly instalments. However, you usually have to put down a deposit and there might be an admin charge for the convenience. You might also want to consider short term or temporary car insurance for 17-year olds. But beware continuous insurance enforcement, which basically means that you must insure your car even if it is off the road, unless you have a statutory off road notice from the DVLA.
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