Where young drivers pay the most and least for car insurance

Updated: 02 Dec 2025

In this guide / article

Understanding where young drivers face the highest and lowest car insurance costs can reveal a lot about regional risk, demand, and driving conditions across the UK. Insurers consider everything from local accident rates to crime statistics when calculating premiums. Areas with higher levels of vehicle theft, traffic density, or claims history typically see more expensive policies, while quieter regions with fewer incidents tend to offer cheaper cover. For young drivers who already face higher premiums due to limited experience, these regional differences can make a noticeable impact.

To understand the impact of location on car insurance premiums for young drivers, we’ve analysed prices for drivers aged 17–24 to identify the most and least expensive areas to insure a car.

Most expensive locations to insure a car for young drivers

Top 10 most expensive locations	Average price
East London^{^}	£2004.81^{^}
Southall and Uxbridge^{^}	£1922.59^{^}
Oldham^{^}	£1842.15^{^}
City of London^{^}	£1776.08^{^}
North West London^{^}	£1774.25^{^}
Bradford^{^}	£1752.91^{^}
South East London^{^}	£1752.86^{^}
West End^{^}	£1739.02^{^}
Harrow^{^}	£1733.50^{^}
North London^{^}	£1719.63^{^}

Least expensive locations to insure a car for young drivers

Top 10 least expensive locations	Average price
West Central London^{^}	£666.77^{^}
Shetland Islands^{^}	£682.84^{^}
Truro^{^}	£858.40^{^}
Exeter^{^}	£905.86^{^}
Kirkwall^{^}	£932.92^{^}
Dundee^{^}	£939.30^{^}
Dorchester^{^}	£952.61^{^}
Shrewsbury^{^}	£959.87^{^}
Salisbury^{^}	£969.13^{^}
Worcester^{^}	£979.93^{^}

How Young Drivers Can Lower Their Premiums

While location plays a key role, young drivers still have plenty of ways to cut the cost of car insurance:

Choose a car in a lower insurance group: Models with smaller engines and strong safety ratings attract cheaper premiums.
Black box (telematics) policies: These track your driving behaviour and can reward safe habits with lower costs.
Add an experienced named driver: A parent or guardian with a clean record can sometimes reduce the risk profile.
Increase your voluntary excess: As long as it’s affordable, this can bring premiums down.
Build your no-claims discount: Even one claim-free year helps reduce costs over time.

Why Young Drivers Pay More in General

Young drivers face higher premiums because insurers associate limited driving history with greater risk. Statistics show that drivers aged 17–24 are more likely to be involved in accidents, particularly at night or on unfamiliar roads. Insurers set their prices based on this data, which is why premiums typically fall as drivers gain more experience and accumulate no-claims bonuses. To make sure you're on the best policy, compare insurance for young drivers and choose from a range of insurers across the UK.

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Based on the median annual price of policies sold through MoneySuperMarket between November 2025 and January 2026 where the policyholder was 17-25 with a Full UK Licence and where the policy was fully comprehensive.