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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1 Accurate as of March 2024.
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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
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.
Add-ons like breakdown cover cost extra to add to your policy. Consider cutting out optional extras that may be cheaper elsewhere.
Telematics policies, or black box car insurance, give inexperienced drivers a chance to earn lower premiums by showing that they have sensible driving habits.
Paying an annual lump sum for your car insurance may seem like a big outlay, but it typically costs less overall because you pay interest on monthly payments.
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 if you need to make an insurance claim.
Don't be caught out by letting your motor insurance auto-renew at the end of your policy. Prices typically rise every year. Try comparing quotes 20-30 days before your contract ends to stand the best chance of finding a cheaper deal elsewhere.
Insurers will always look at your claims history. You'll naturally build a no-claims bonus for every year you're not involved in an accident and don't make an insurance claim. However, if you can avoid making claims for smaller things by paying for the repairs or replacements yourself, you can continue to build your no-claims discount.
You can reduce the cost of motor insurance by parking your vehicle off the road when you're not using it. The best place to keep it overnight to reduce your insurance cost would be in a locked garage.
Modifying your car can often mean more expensive repair costs, so you’ll likely pay more to cover these.
If you're a relatively new driver, try adding an experienced named driver to your policy as it may bring down your insurance costs. By having an experienced driver also driving the car, insurers may view you as less likely to take risks.
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.
Keep up to date and find out all you need to know with our latest guides.
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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
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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