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LEARNER DRIVER INSURANCE

Provisional License Car Insurance

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Compare car insurance for learner drivers from 163 providers1

We do the hard work for you, comparing deals from the biggest providers in the UK so you can get the right cover.

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1Accurate as of July 2023.

What is provisional licence insurance?

You can insure your car if you hold a provisional licence, as it will keep you covered while you are practicing before you pass your test. Even before passing your test, everyone on the road needs to be insured - even for driving lessons.

Most driving schools will cover you with their own policy, but if you’re taking private lessons in your car, or using a friend's or relative's car, getting provisional licence insurance is a must.

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Do learner drivers need car insurance?

Yes. Everyone driving on the road needs car insurance – it’s a legal requirement, even if you’re a learner driver on a provisional licence. It depends on how you're planning on how you plan on learning how to drive, you may need to take out provisional car insurance yourself.

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    If you're getting lessons with an instructor, you should already be covered

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    If you're getting private lessons in your own car, you'll need to buy insurance

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    If you're using your parents' car, they can add you to their policy - or you can get your own

Why compare car insurance quotes with MoneySuperMarket?

Our mission is to make finding cheap car insurance easier – and when you take out cover with MoneySuperMarket you can benefit from:

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    Everyone deserves to save money, we compare quotes from various providers to get you the best price for you

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    Our live chat tool is there so our experts can guide you through the car insurance questions, offering tailored support during business hours to help you get the right policy for the right price

*51% of consumers could save up to £451.09. Consumer Intelligence, May 2023. UK Only.

What level of cover do I need as a learner driver?

There are three levels of learner driver car insurance to choose from, and each offers you a different amount of protection:

  • Third-party

    This covers you if there's an accident and you hurt another person or damage their property. It won’t cover you for damage to your own car. 

  • Decline optional extras

    This gives you third-party cover, plus you'll be insured if your car is stolen or damaged by fire. 

  • Type of policy

    This gives you all the previous benefits, but also offers extra protection for you and your car. 



How long do I need provisional licence insurance?

Learner driver insurance can last 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

    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 or temporary cover

    Short-term cover insures you on any car, as long as the licence holder is with you when you're driving. However, it usually costs more per day than annual cover

How much does learner driver car insurance cost?

The cost of learner insurance will vary. Car insurance premiums for learner drivers will depend on a few different factors. In general, you’ll find that younger drivers pay more for cover due to their inexperience on the road – and you might expect the same to be true for learner drivers.

However, when you’re learning to drive you’ll always be accompanied by a fully qualified driver with a few years of experience – and insurers take this into account. Additionally, most provisional licence holders will either be insured on another driver’s car or, if they own their own car, will have another experienced driver on their policy.

As a result, the average premiums for learner drivers tend to be reasonably affordable – however, you can expect this to jump up significantly once you hold a full licence and you’re insuring your own car.

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What do you need to get a quote?

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    Details of the car

    The car’s registration number if you know it. If not, the make and model is fine. We’ll also need the car’s age and any modifications you’ve made

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    Pay annually

    Social, commuting or business, and how many miles you’ll do in a year. You’ll also need to say where you’ll keep the car at night for security

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    Your details and your licence

    Including your job, age and your address - the same for any additional drivers you may have. We'll also need to know what type of licence you have, how long you've had it, your claims and driving history

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    No-claims discount (NCD) history

    Details of your no-claims discount will help lower the prices you get. Use our no-claims discount tool to find out how many years’ no-claims discount your insurer will honour

What extra cover might I need if I’m learning to drive?

Car insurance often comes with optional extras, but think about which ones you really need if you're learning to drive as they’ll likely increase the cost of cover. Some useful extras include: 

  • Legal cover

    If someone takes you to court over an insurance claim, legal cover can cover your legal fees – and even help with any settlements you have to pay

  • Breakdown cover

    If the car you're driving breaks down, breakdown cover insures you for the cost of roadside repairs. This is useful if you haven't signed up for a repairs service

  • Courtesy car

    If there's a breakdown and it looks like repairs might take a while, this will make sure there's a replacement car you can drive until your usual car is fixed

  • Personal accident over

    If you're injured or killed in an incident on the road, personal accident cover keeps you and your loved ones protected from any extra costs

Sarah Tooze

Our expert says

"

Learner driver insurance could be a great way to start to build up your no-claims discount but you’ll need to update it or take out a brand new policy once you pass your test. Alternatively, you might be better off only being a named driver on your parent's car insurance, or if you’re only taking lessons with a qualified driving instructor, relying on their insurance to cover you to drive their vehicle

"
- Sarah Tooze, Car & Van Insurance Expert

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What does learner driver insurance typically cover?

A learner driver insurance policy will cover your practice lessons if you are accompanied by a qualified supervisor. This can be anyone who is at least 21 years old and has held a full UK driving licence for a minimum of 3 years. However, some insurance policies will specify that your supervisor in the car has to be of a certain age (usually 25) so be sure to check the cover requirements of your policy. Your cover may also include time limits when you are permitted to drive.

A learner driver policy is separate from your supervisor's insurance. This means that the car owner's no-claims bonus will not be affected if you get into an accident while driving their car.

It is important to note that a learner driver policy will only cover you if you are a learner. Once you pass your driver's test, you will no longer be insured to drive the car home from your test or thereafter until you have a new insurance policy in place.

Will passing my driving test affect my insurance? 

The price of your premiums as a learner driver and as a newly qualified driver can be significantly different. This is because when you are a learner driver, you are always driving under supervision and therefore present a much lower risk to insurance providers than newly qualified drivers.

As soon as you pass your test, insurers see you as more of a risk as you'll be driving on your own. You must tell your insurance provider that you’ve passed your test, otherwise, your insurance will be invalid.

If you are using your own car for your driving test, you need to make your provider aware so you will be covered on your drive home after you pass your test.

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How can I get cheaper car insurance as a learner driver?

Car insurance can be a little pricier for learners – but there are still ways you can keep your premiums down: 

  • Pick the right car

    Cheaper cars are usually cheaper to insure learner drivers on – and better to learn with too

  • Add a named driver

    Adding yourself to someone else's existing policy could save you money

  • Get a black box

    Let insurers know you're a safe learner driver with telematics insurance

  • Compare prices

    The best way to save money is to shop around – try our comparison tool 

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.

Adding a named driver lets insurers know that someone more experienced will also be driving the car. This should lower the cost of your premiums, but it’s important that the named driver does actually drive the car – if they don’t, your insurance could be invalidated.

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.

If you’re a fully qualified driver and you add a learner driver (such as your child) to your policy, your premiums are likely to go up. But the increase will actually be smaller than if you’d added a newly qualified driver, since insurers assume that learners won’t be using the car as much – lowering the risk of an accident.

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,

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