Car Insurance For Teens
Compare Car Insurance For Teens
You could save up to £535* on your car insurance in minutes.
Partnered with Quotezone
We’re partnered with Quotezone. As an Introducer Appointed Representative of Seopa Ltd (FCA FRN: 313860), we receive a commission if you purchase insurance products via SimplyQuote.co.uk.
We do not provide advice or make recommendations. Your choice of provider is entirely your own.
Compare insurance quotes from leading teenage driver insurers including:
What Is Car Insurance For Teens?
Car insurance for teens is motor cover designed for drivers aged 17 to 19, whether they hold a provisional licence or have recently passed their test.
Premiums are higher for teenagers because they have the least driving experience of any age group. Insurers use claims data across all young drivers to price that risk, not guesswork.
Every driver on UK roads must have at least third-party cover by law. For teens, the main decision is whether to take out your own policy or be added as a named driver on a parent’s policy.
Your own policy builds a no-claims bonus from day one, while being added to a parent’s policy is usually cheaper upfront. Both options give you legal cover to drive.
How To Compare Car Insurance Quotes As A Teen
Comparing car insurance quotes at SimplyQuote.co.uk takes minutes. You’ll see prices from 130+ UK insurers, including specialist young driver cover.
Enter your details
Fill in your age, address, licence type, and when you passed your test. If you’re still on a provisional licence, state that clearly.
Compare your quotes
Review results side by side. Premiums for teen drivers vary hugely between insurers, so the gap between the cheapest and most expensive can be several hundred pounds.
Check policy details
Look beyond the headline price. Check the excess, whether telematics monitoring is required, and any restrictions on driving hours or passengers.
Buy online
Once you’ve found the right policy, buy directly through SimplyQuote. Cover can start the same day.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Get Car Insurance?
You can get car insurance from age 17 in the UK, which is the earliest you can hold a provisional driving licence for a car.
Provisional licence holders
At 17 with a provisional licence, you can insure a car in your own name. You must always drive with a qualified supervising driver aged 21 or over with at least three years of full licence experience.
Some disabled drivers can apply for a provisional licence at 16, and most insurers that cover teens will usually accept 16-year-old provisional holders as well.
If you only need cover for a short period, such as practising before your test, temporary car insurance lets you buy cover from one day to a few weeks without committing to a full annual policy.
Full licence holders
Once you pass your test, you can drive independently and start building a no-claims bonus. Most teens pass at 17 or 18, and premiums begin to drop with each claim-free year.
Why Is Car Insurance So Expensive For Teenagers?
Teenagers are the highest-risk age group on UK roads. Government road casualty data shows that drivers aged 17 to 19 are involved in more collisions per mile than any other age group.
No claims history
A brand-new driver has zero track record for insurers to assess. Without proof of safe driving, you pay the highest base rate. This is the single biggest factor in teen premiums. Even one claim-free year can cut the cost by 20% to 30% at your first renewal.
Higher claim costs
Accidents involving young drivers tend to be more severe, leading to larger payouts. The ABI reports that rising repair and injury costs push premiums higher for the groups most likely to claim.
Car and location
Your car’s insurance group and where you live both affect the price. A teen in a city centre with on-street parking can pay double what a rural driver with a driveway would pay.
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost For A Teenager?
The cost varies depending on your situation. The average cost of car insurance across all ages is far lower than what teenagers pay, so it helps to understand what drives the difference.
| Scenario | Best Option | Typical Annual Cost |
| Learning to drive (17, provisional) | Named driver on parents’ policy | £800–£1,500 added |
| Just passed (17–18, own car) | Own policy with telematics | £1,300–£2,800 |
| Borrowing parents’ car occasionally | Named driver on their policy | £500–£1,200 added |
| University student (18–19) | Own policy with term-time address | £1,200–£2,500 |
How prices change over time
Premiums drop each year you drive without a claim. Most teens see a noticeable reduction between year one and year two, with each subsequent year bringing further savings as the no-claims bonus builds.
What affects the price most
Your car choice has the biggest impact. Staying in insurance groups 1 to 5 can save hundreds compared to a car in group 15 or above.
Postcode, annual mileage, and whether you park off-street also make a measurable difference. Teens who drive under 5,000 miles a year and park on a driveway pay less.
*51% of consumers could save £535.17 on their Car Insurance. The saving was calculated by comparing the cheapest price found with the average of the next four cheapest prices quoted by insurance providers on Seopa Ltd’s insurance comparison website. This is based on representative cost savings from May 2026 data. The savings you could achieve are dependent on your individual circumstances and how you selected your current insurance supplier.
What Cover Levels Are Available For Teen Drivers?
Teen drivers get the same three cover levels as any other driver, but the cost gap between them is often narrower than you’d expect.
Third party only
Third party only is the legal minimum. It covers damage you cause to other people and their property but nothing for your own car.
Third party, fire and theft
Third party, fire and theft adds protection if your car is stolen or damaged by fire. It still won’t pay for your own accident damage.
Fully comprehensive
Fully comprehensive covers everything above plus damage to your own car, even if the accident is your fault. For teen drivers, comprehensive often costs less than TPO because it attracts a lower-risk pool of drivers.
How Can Teenagers Reduce Their Car Insurance Cost?
Teen premiums are high, but practical choices can cut the cost by hundreds of pounds a year.
Choose a low-group car
Cars in insurance groups 1 to 5 are cheapest to insure. Our first car insurance page has more advice on picking a car that keeps premiums low.
Fit a black box
A black box policy tracks your driving and rewards safe behaviour with lower renewal premiums. Consistently good scores can reduce the price by 10% to 25%.
Add an experienced named driver
Adding a parent or guardian as a named driver can lower the risk profile. Make sure you are listed as the main driver if you use the car most, otherwise it counts as fronting.
Fronting is insurance fraud and can void your policy, leaving you personally liable for any damage. Insurers routinely investigate claims and check driving patterns.
Pay annually
Paying annually avoids interest charges on monthly instalments, which typically run at 20% to 30% APR. On a high teen premium, that saving adds up quickly.
Increase your voluntary excess
A higher voluntary excess reduces the premium. Just make sure you can afford the total excess, including both voluntary and compulsory amounts, if you need to claim.
Build your no-claims bonus
Every claim-free year earns a discount. After one year, you could see your premium drop by 20% to 30% at renewal. Once you reach four or five years of no-claims, ask about protecting it. A protected no-claims bonus means one claim won’t wipe out years of savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can take out a policy in your own name as soon as you hold a provisional or full UK driving licence. Premiums will be higher than for older drivers, but comparing quotes helps find the best price.
Often yes, especially while you’re still learning. The downside is you won’t build your own no-claims bonus, which is the fastest way to reduce future premiums.
Fronting is listing a parent as the main driver when you use the car most. It’s classed as insurance fraud and can void your policy, lead to prosecution, and make future cover harder to find.
No, you can insure a car on a provisional licence from age 17. You must drive with a qualified supervising driver until you pass your test.
It can be, because comprehensive attracts lower-risk drivers and insurers sometimes price it below third party only. Always compare all three levels to check.
Most 18-year-olds pay between £1,300 and £2,800 per year. Our car insurance for 18-year-olds page breaks down the costs by insurance group and car type.
For most teens, yes. A telematics policy monitors your driving and can reduce your renewal by 10% to 25% if you drive safely and avoid late-night trips.
Yes, if you’re heading to university. Student car insurance providers may offer lower mileage or term-time-only options that reduce the cost.
Small-engined cars in insurance groups 1 to 5, such as the Fiat Panda, VW Up, or Kia Picanto. The insurance group is one of the biggest factors in your premium.
Yes, temporary car insurance lets you buy cover from one day to a few weeks. This is useful for practising in a family car before your test.
Car Insurance Guides
