Multi-car policy
This car insurance allows you to insure another car under the same policy so it’s an option if you live with your parents.
You’ll benefit from a discount but if you’re considered a high risk driver it could push up the premium
What is car insurance for students?
Car insurance for students provides financial protection in case of an accident, theft, or other damage to the vehicle.
There’s no standalone car insurance product for students but you’ll need at least third party only cover to legally drive in the UK.
🚩 Insurers tend to view students as higher risk so you’ll usually face high premiums but there are ways to make car insurance more affordable.
Do students need a standard car insurance policy?
You may not need to take out a standard 12-month car insurance policy if you’re a student. If you’re away at university and leave your car at home you could save money by:
Having pay-as-you-go insurance
Taking out a temporary policy
Being added to your parents’ car insurance as a named driver
What types of car insurance policies can I get?
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Telematics
Black box insurance uses a device to monitor your driving habits.
If you have low-risk driving behaviours your insurer will offer you lower premiums when you renew.
Some providers offer an upfront discount
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Pay As You Go (PAYG)
Pay As You Go (PAYG) insurance is a flexible coverage model where customers pay only for the protection they need, based on actual usage rather than fixed premiums.
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Learner driver insurance
If you’re learning in your own car or using a friend's or family member's car, learner driver insurance provides cover while you’re practising to pass your test, as long as you’re supervised
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Temporary car insurance
This lets you take out temporary car insurance from anywhere between an hour to 90 days.
If you only drive during the university holidays it could work out cheaper than an annual insurance policy
What level of cover do I need if I'm a student?
Students will have the same types of car insurance to choose from as everyone else:
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Third-party
Third-party insurance only pays out for damage done to someone else or their car or property – it doesn’t cover you or your car
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Third-party, fire and theft
Third-party, fire and theft policies add cover for your own car if it’s stolen, or damaged by fire or an explosion
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Fully comprehensive
Fully comprehensive cover offers everything included above, but also adds a range of other cover options for you and your vehicle
What's covered by a car insurance policy?
What is and is not covered will depend on your policy and the type of cover you choose. The following are based on a comprehensive policy and are instances of what usually are included and excluded from policies:
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What's covered
Damage to your car: From an accident, fire, vandalism or a natural disaster such as storm damage
Theft of your car: you'll get a replacement vehicle if yours is stolen
Third-party damage caused by your vehicle: You’ll be covered for damage you cause to a third party, their vehicle or their property
Personal injury: Offers compensation if you’re seriously or fatally injured in a road accident
Windscreens: You’ll often be able to claim for a windscreen repair or replacement if you get a windscreen chip or a cracked windscreen
Third-party medical expenses: If you cause an accident, the cost of medical treatment for each person injured in the other vehicle
Legal expenses: Pays out for legal costs related to a claim
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What's not covered
Wear and tear: Normal wear and tear on your car that's expected over time, such as brake pads and tyres needing to be replaced
Invalid driving licence: If you or another named driver is driving without a valid licence (e.g. if it's out of date), you won't be covered
Driving under the influence: Anything that occurs while you are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be covered
Additional drivers: If a person is not a named driver on your policy, it is unlikely that they will be covered
What add-ons can I get with my car insurance?
You can usually add the following onto your insurance policy, for an extra cost:
Breakdown cover
If your car breaks down, breakdown cover provides assistance at the roadside to get your vehicle moving again. This may be particularly useful if you have an older vehicle which is more likely to suffer mechanical problems than a new one. You can sometimes get cheaper breakdown cover by combining it with your car insurance.
Courtesy car cover
Provides a replacement vehicle while yours is being repaired. This is ideal if you rely on your car daily for commuting.
Courtesy car cover is often included for free in comprehensive car insurance policies.
Personal accident cover
Personal accident cover pays out a lump sum if you’re injured or killed in a road accident. It offers peace of mind, particularly if you have loved ones who depend on you financially. Most comprehensive car insurance policies will include personal accident cover.
Motor legal protection
Motor legal protection will cover any legal fees you might face in relation to a road accident. As legal fees can mount up, it can give you peace of mind to have these covered. Motor legal protection is often included in comprehensive car insurance policies.
Windscreen cover
Windscreen cover will pay for the cost of repairing or replacing a chipped, cracked or smashed windscreen. If you have a newer car you may have safety technology which requires recalibration when your windscreen is replaced and this could be costly without insurance.
If you have comprehensive insurance windscreen cover is likely to be covered but check your policy documents to be sure.
Car keys cover
Covers the cost of replacing lost, damaged or stolen keys. If your car has keyless entry it will be more expensive to replace your key fob than if you have a standard car key so this might be a worthwhile add-on to your insurance. Some comprehensive policies may include cover for car keys.
Wrong fuel cover
Covers the cost of draining and cleaning the fuel tank if you accidentally put the wrong fuel type in your car (known as misfuelling). Wrong fuel cover isn’t usually included with insurance policies - even comprehensive insurance.
Check whether your car has a special fuel cap system which prevents misfuelling to decide whether it’s worth adding wrong fuel cover to your insurance.
Personal belongings cover
Personal belongings cover 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. Some comprehensive car insurance policies may include this or it may be covered under your home insurance.
No-claims discount cover
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 and if you’ve had no claims for several years you might want to protect it. But you’ll need to pay extra to do so.
How much does car insurance cost for students?
Students are likely to pay more than most for car insurance as most who list ‘student’ as their main occupation are under the age of 25.
People in this age group are seen as high risk by insurance providers due to their relative lack of experience on the road – as such they normally face higher premiums. However, it also comes down to:
Your location: Some areas in the UK are more prone to theft, vandalism or traffic accidents, so these locations will likely see higher premiums
Your driving history: If you have been driving for a while your history of claims and convictions will also be a factor
Your car: Insurers sort car makes and models into different insurance groups based on factors like performance and ease of repairs, and cars in lower
Occupation | Average annual premiums |
|---|---|
Student - Living At Home | £1331.05^ |
Student - Living Away | £1235.19^ |
Student Nurse - Living At Home | £1274.74^ |
Student Nurse - Living Away | £771.23^ |
Student Teacher - Living At Home | £945.31^ |
Student Teacher - Living Away | £1140.36^ |
£954.88^ |
How can students get cheaper car insurance?
While students may face higher premiums than most, there are ways you can look to lower the cost of cover and save some money:
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Telematics insurance
Telematics insurance, sometimes known as black box cover, is when insurers use GPS technology to monitor your driving, rewarding good habits with future discounts
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Pay-as-you-go insurance
Pay-as-you-go car insurance charges a flat rate for when your car is parked, then only charges beyond that for the miles you drive – helping you save if you aren’t a frequent driver
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Driving fewer miles
The more miles you drive the more likely you are to have a road accident – so limiting your time on the road can help keep costs down, especially with pay per mile insurance
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Named driver insurance
Adding a parent or guardian as a named driver, so long as they have more experience than you, can help bring down costs – but make sure you’re honest about who’s doing most of the driving
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Choosing a car from a low insurance group
Insurers sort cars into insurance groups based on factors like their performance and ease of repairs – cars in lower groups are generally cheaper to insure
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Avoiding small claims
If you can go for over a year without making any claims – by staying safe on the road and if possible, paying for small things yourself – you can start to build up a no claims discount on future premiums
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Keeping your car safe
If you keep your car on campus this may affect the cost of your insurance – the best place to park a car if you can is in a locked garage
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Increase your voluntary excess
A voluntary excess is an amount of money that you agree to put towards the cost of claims. By agreeing to a higher excess, you can reduce the cost of your policy, although your car insurance pay-outs will be reduced
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Pay annually
Paying your car insurance yearly might mean spending a big chunk of money up front, but the total cost usually works out cheaper than spreading it over 12 months as you won’t pay interest
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Compare providers
Getting quotes from multiple insurers could save you money because different providers may assess student risk differently.
What do I need to get a quote?
To get a car insurance quote with a learner licence, you’ll need to provide:
Your name, current address and date of birth
Your car registration number (you can still get a quote even if you don't know the registration yet)
Your driving licence number
When you bought the car or expect to purchase it
Your expected annual mileage
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Why should I compare car insurance quotes with MoneySuperMarket?
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Our expert says…
The costs of insuring, fuelling, taxing and servicing a car can eat a big chunk out of a student budget. If you’re not planning on driving while at university, you may be better off taking out temporary insurance for a few days when you do need to drive, for example when transporting your stuff at the start of term, or sharing the driving on a trip during the holidays.
Sara Newell Motor & Home Insurance Expert
What tips can help first-time university drivers?
There are ways to minimise the risk of having to make a claim on your insurance, such as:
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Driving safely
Drive at a safe speed as speeding increases the chances of an accident and the severity of an accident. You should also keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front and make sure you have good visibility when overtaking.
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Improving your skills
An advanced driving course could make you a better, safer and more confident driver. These courses go beyond the basics of standard driving lessons by teaching you how to handle specific and challenging driving conditions.
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Increasing your car’s security
Fitting a Thatcham-approved alarm could help prevent your car from being stolen. If you have a keyless entry car it’s a good idea to keep it in a signal-blocking pouch to help prevent a technique thieves use known as a ‘relay attack’.
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Do I need to insure my car even if I don’t use it?
No, if you don’t use your car at all, and you’d rather not worry about having to insure it, you can declare it off-road with a Statutory Off Road Notice.
It’s worth considering that if you do declare your car off-road, you’ll stop accruing your no-claims discount. For this reason, you might prefer to take out temporary cover or reduce the expected mileage you give to your insurer, so you can keep building your no-claims bonus.
How does telematics work?
Telematics insurance, also known as black box insurance, is when your insurer uses GPS software or hardware to monitor your driving habits. This can be done with a black box, which is fitted under your dashboard, or with a plug-in device that goes into the cigarette lighter, or a mobile app using your phone’s location data.
Insurers use this to analyse things like your driving speed, braking and handling of corners – and they often put all of this information into a ‘driving score’ which you’ll be able to see yourself.
The better you drive the more likely you are to get cheaper premiums next time you compare quotes.
Should I pay monthly or annually?
It’s usually a rule of thumb that your car insurance costs will be lower if you pay the full amount in an annual lump sum, rather than spreading the cost over 12 months. But it’s always good to compare quotes to make sure you know what’s on offer.
What is fronting?
Fronting is an illegal practice where you lie about who the main driver of a policy is to get cheaper premiums. For example, if you are a student and you take out a car insurance policy on your own car, you’d expect to pay high premiums so by adding a more experienced parent or guardian as a named driver you could bring the cost down.
However, if you’re doing the bulk of the driving that would make you the ‘main’ driver. This is lying, and illegal, and could lead to punishment in court.
Do I need car insurance if I’m learning to drive?
Yes, even if you’re a learner driver with a provisional licence, you’ll need at least third-party insurance to drive on UK roads. If you’re taking private lessons it’s likely you’ll have to take your own cover out, but driving schools often provide their own insurance.
Do students get a discount on car insurance?
Insurers don’t usually offer special discounts for car insurance if you’re a student, and as youngsters generally face higher than average premiums, this makes it even more important to take steps to get cheaper cover.
What should I put as my address when studying away from home?
If you’re living away from home while you study, you should use the address at which you keep your car for the most time. So if you spend more of the year at university than you do living at your home address, you should put your university’s address as yours.
Can I get cheaper car insurance as a student?
Unfortunately, students face some of the highest premiums as the majority of students are also young drivers with little experience. However, you can still save money on your premium by getting quotes from different insurance providers.
How does my car's make and model affects my insurance?
Your car's make and model significantly influence your car insurance premium. This is primarily due to factors like:
Insurance group: Each car is assigned an insurance group, ranging from 1 to 50. This group reflects the car's perceived risk, including factors like theft rates, repair costs, and safety features. A lower group typically means lower insurance premiums.
Vehicle value: More expensive cars generally cost more to insure, as the potential cost of repairs or replacement is higher.
Performance: High-performance cars often attract higher premiums due to their increased risk of accidents.
Security features: Cars with advanced security features, such as alarms and immobilisers, may qualify for lower premiums.
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Is car insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?
Yes, you can earn SuperSaveClub rewards when you buy car insurance through MoneySuperMarket.
This includes:
Up to £15, which you can withdraw as a pre-paid Mastercard or a gift card for brands like Sainsbury's and Amazon.co.uk
Free Days Out pass (worth £180), which gives free entry to a range of UK attractions
Cashback of up to 10% when you spend at brands including eBay, Just Eat and Argos
To earn SuperSaveClub rewards on purchases you must:
Sign up to SuperSaveClub (it's free)
Be signed in to your account when you make the purchase
More information can be found on our SuperSaveClub homepage.
Is car insurance eligible for Price Promise?
Yes, car insurance is included in our Super Save Price Promise.
If you buy through us then find the same deal for less we will:
refund the difference
give you a gift card worth up to £20
Terms and conditions apply. More information can be found on our Price Promise page.
Reviewed on 9 Dec 2025 by
SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details.
Based on the average annual price of comprehensive policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
Based on the average annual price of comprehensive policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
Based on the average annual price of comprehensive policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
Based on the average annual price of comprehensive policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
Based on the average annual price of comprehensive policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
Based on the average annual price of comprehensive policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
Based on the average annual price of comprehensive policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
51% of consumers could save up to £514.27 Consumer Intelligence , Oct 2025 Exc NI, CI, IOM
T&Cs apply to SuperSaveClub and Price Promise.
SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details.
YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
Accurate as of 09 December 2025.