Annual cover
Annual cover lasts a whole year. You can update your policy once you've finished learning to drive, or cancel it – but cancellation might come with extra fees
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We work with the most trusted UK car insurance providers so you can compare cover and find the policy that's best for you. Save up to £511[2]51% of consumers could save up to £511.08 Consumer Intelligence , December 2024 Exc NI, CI, IOM on your car insurance *
1 Accurate as of March 2024.
*51% of consumers could save up to £550 on car insurance. Consumer Intelligence, March 2024. UK only.
Provisional licence insurance, also commonly known as learner driver insurance, provides coverage while you are practising to pass your driving test. Everyone driving on UK roads must be insured and that includes learner drivers.
Most driving schools will cover you with their own insurance policy, but if you’re taking private lessons in your car, or using a friend's or family member's car while supervised, getting provisional licence insurance is a must.
Learner driver insurance works in a similar way to standard car insurance policies – it provides financial protection should you be involved in an accident prior to you passing your driving test.
But learner driver insurance is specifically designed for provisional licence holders and is separate to standard car insurance policies, so it protects the vehicle owner’s no claims bonus.
There are three main types of car insurance a learner driver and new drivers can choose from:
Covers damage to your own or other people's vehicle, medical expenses, fire damage, and theft of your vehicle
Covers property damage and injury to third-parties, fire damage to your vehicle, and theft of your vehicle
The minimum level of cover legally required, it only covers third-party property damage and injury
Compare quotes from 176[3]Accurate as of 10 February 2025. trusted insurers in minutes
If you're learning to drive, you should consider getting provisional licence car insurance, especially if you're learning in a vehicle you own.
Even if you're practising in a family member or friend's car, it's a good idea to cover yourself before driving. At the very least, make sure their insurance covers learner drivers.
Driving schools and professional instructors should be covered but it's worth asking before you start your lessons to give yourself time to take out learner insurance if you need to.
Based on a fully comprehensive policy, here is what is and isn't covered with learner drivers insurance:
Damage to your vehicle
Third-party damage caused by your vehicle
Motor legal protection
Serious or fatal injuries
Vehicles and drivers not named on your policy
Standard wear and tear
Accidents if you're under the influence
Invalid driving licence
Add-ons will cover you for scenarios and costs that are not typically included in car insurance policies. While add-ons like breakdown cover can provide extra peace of mind, they do come with an extra cost that will be added to your policy.
Breakdown cover pays for the cost of calling out a mechanic if your car breaks down and you need roadside assistance.
If your car is in for repair, courtesy car cover will help you get a replacement vehicle for while you need it.
Personal accident cover pays out a lump sum if you’re injured or killed in a road accident.
Motor legal protection will covers any legal fees you might face in relation to a road accident.
Windscreen cover will pay for the cost of repairing or replacing a cracked windscreen.
If you lose your car keys or if they're stolen, car key cover will cover the cost to replace them.
Also know as misfuelling cover, wrong fuel cover pays for the necessary repairs you'd need if you accidentally top your car up with the wrong type of fuel.
Personal belongings offers protection for your belongings in the event your car is stolen, which can be handy if you tend to leave them in your car.
Protects your no-claims discount by letting you make a certain number of claims within a year before it affects your premiums. Building a no-claims discount will reduce your premiums over time.
The cost of learning to drive can be an expensive endeavour, especially when you factor in the cost of insurance. According to our recent data, the average price of a car insurance policy bought through MoneySuperMarket was £1,699.96* in 2023 from 17-20 year olds.
However, factors such as annual mileage will play a part too, as your insurance may be slightly cheaper if you aren't planning on driving as many miles as a learner.
Plus, personal circumstances like where you live, being a named driver on someone else's policy, or the car make and model you own will all factor into your policy quote.
*Based on data collected between January - March 2024.
You can almost always get a better deal by shopping around. MoneySuperMarket does the work for you: comparing quotes with us can save you up to 49.29%[4]51% of consumers could save up to 49.29% Consumer Intelligence , December 2024 Exc NI, CI, IOM on your car insurance.
If you can afford to, it is worth paying for your car insurance in one go. Annual payments are up to 31%[5]Based on MoneySuperMarket quoted policies for annual car insurance, between August 7th 2024 and November 5th 2024 lower than the total cost of monthly instalments, saving you up to £267[5]Based on MoneySuperMarket quoted policies for annual car insurance, between August 7th 2024 and November 5th 2024
Insurers can monitor your driving habits with telematics hardware, so sensible drivers can sometimes earn lower insurance premiums.
One of the simplest ways to reduce your insurance cost is to increase your voluntary excess. Be careful not to increase your excess so much that you can't afford it'
Smaller, less powerful cars are usually cheaper, safer to drive, and less attractive to thieves and vandals.
Parking your car in a locked garage keeps it safe from criminals, making it less likely you’ll need to claim for theft or vandalism.
Adding an experienced driver to your policy tells insurers it won’t be just you driving, so they’ll reduce the price. However, you must be honest about the main driver of the vehicle.
As car insurers generally view advanced drivers as being less likely to have accidents, passing an advanced driving course can sometimes help cut car insurance costs.
Cutting down on how much you drive can slightly reduce your insurance costs. Someone who drives 10,000 miles a year pays on average 3%[5]Based on MoneySuperMarket quoted policies for annual car insurance, between August 7th 2024 and November 5th 2024 more than someone who drives 2,000 miles.
The logic for insurers is that if you’re not on the road as much, you’re less likely to have an accident.
Learner driver insurance can last short term or long term, anywhere from a few hours to a whole year. If you plan to keep using the same car once you’ve got your licence, annual cover might be best. If you’re using a car solely for lessons, consider short-term cover – just make sure it’ll keep you covered until you pass your test.
Annual cover lasts a whole year. You can update your policy once you've finished learning to drive, or cancel it – but cancellation might come with extra fees
Short-term cover usually costs more per day than annual cover. It insures you on any car, as long as the licence holder is with you when you're driving.
According to our latest survey, 95% of people underestimate the cost of learning to drive. The MoneySuperMarket Household Money Index has recently revealed that the average 17-20 year-old pays £7,609 to get on the road. The three biggest costs contributing to that figure are buying a car (£2,987.45), paying for driving lessons (£1,690.59), and the cost of insuring a car if you’re 17-20 years-old (£1,699.69). If you have children who are approaching 17, knowing the breakdown of the £7,609 total average cost means you can prepare and discuss early on how much you might be able to help.
Sara Newell Car & Van Insurance Expert
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Your car registration number and driving licence number
Any no-claims bonus you’ve accrued
When you bought the car and any modifications made
Your expected annual mileage
Whether you’ll use the car for social, commuting, or business purposes
Note: you can still get a quote if you don't know the registration yet
As well as standard comprehensive policies, we can help you find specialised types of policy for specific circumstances, including multi-car insurance and short-term cover:
Standard car insurance won't cover business use, so you need a special policy for work vehicles
This lets you take out temporary car insurance from anywhere between a day and a few months
This car insurance type gives you the option of adding more than one car to your policy
Get the chance to bring your costs down by installing a black box, which monitors your driving habits.
If you’re learning in your own car, learner driver insurance provides cover while you’re practising to pass your test
Some providers offer tailored car insurance for drivers over 50, so it’s worth comparing the whole market
All drivers, including newly qualified drivers, are required to have car insurance when driving on the road
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Every insurer has different criteria, but you’re likely to be offered learner driver insurance if you meet all the following:
- You have a valid provisional licence
- You’re a UK resident aged between 17 and 35
- You don’t have any previous driving offences or convictions
- The car you’re driving is registered and has an MOT
- The car isn’t worth more than a certain amount – but this varies between providers
If you’re driving with a provisional licence, there are some things you’re not allowed to do.
- You can’t legally drive unless you’re supervised by another driver aged 21 or older who’s had their licence for at least three years.
- You mustn’t drive on the motorway unless you’re with a certified driving instructor and the car has dual controls
- You need ‘L’ plates on the car whenever you’re behind the wheel – or ‘D’ plates is Wales
Usually, your supervisor can be anyone – a friend, a family member, or a private teacher. They just need to be over the age of 21 with at least three years’ driving experience. However, some insurers might have extra criteria, so make sure you check the small print before you buy
Once you’re a fully licensed driver, your learner driver insurance policy is no longer valid. You’ll need to update your policy or get a new one, don't worry, there are ways to make your policy cheaper. Remember, it’s illegal to drive without valid insurance – even if you’re just driving back from your test.
Fronting is an illegal practice in which a less experienced motorist is added as a secondary driver on a car’s insurance policy, when they’re actually the main driver. Fronting is always against the law, and if you’re caught you could end up in court – better to be honest with your insurer about who’ll be doing most of the driving.
This varies across insurers, but it's likely you will have to have the policy registered under your own name as a learner driver in order to start building a no-claims bonus.
You can add a learner driver to your existing car insurance policy, but it may be better for learner drivers to take their own cover out so they can start building a no-claims bonus,
It’s a legal requirement for everyone driving on UK roads to have car insurance. You will need provisional licence car insurance if you are:
Practising driving separately from your lessons in a family or friends car,
Driving without an instructor
Planning to take your driving test in your own car
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