First Car Insurance
First Car Insurance Quotes
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What Is First Car Insurance?
First car insurance is a standard motor policy designed for drivers who are insuring a vehicle in their own name for the first time.
It works exactly like any other car insurance policy, but new drivers typically pay higher premiums because they have no claims history and limited experience on the road.
You do not need a specialist product. If you are a young driver who has just passed your test, any motor insurer can cover you, and comparing quotes is the fastest way to find a competitive price.
How To Compare First Car Insurance Quotes
Comparing quotes takes a few minutes and can save you hundreds of pounds on your first policy.
Gather Your Details
You need your full driving licence number, the car's registration, your address, and an estimate of your annual mileage. If you haven't bought a car yet, use the registration of one you're considering.
Enter Your Information and Choose Your Cover Level
Fill in the short form with your personal details, driving history, and vehicle information. Select whether you want third-party, third-party fire and theft, or comprehensive cover.
Compare Your Results Side by Side
Look beyond the headline price. Check the excess, the cover limits, and whether breakdown assistance or courtesy car cover is included or costs extra.
Buy Your Policy
Once you have chosen a policy, buy it online and save your certificate of insurance. You must have cover in place before you drive the car away.
What Does First Car Insurance Cover?
The cover you get depends on the policy level you choose, but every motor insurance policy in the UK must meet a legal minimum.
Third-Party Liability
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, every driver must have at least third-party cover. This pays for injuries to other people and damage to their property if you cause an accident.
It does not cover damage to your own vehicle. If your car is written off in an at-fault accident, you would need to replace it yourself.
Fire and Theft Protection
A third-party, fire and theft policy adds cover if your car is stolen or damaged by fire. This is worth considering if your vehicle has any value, since theft is a real risk for cars parked on the street overnight.
Comprehensive Cover
A fully comprehensive policy covers damage to your own car as well, regardless of who was at fault. It also typically includes windscreen cover, personal accident cover, and a courtesy car while yours is being repaired.
Comprehensive cover is often cheaper than third-party only for first-time drivers, because insurers associate TPO policies with higher-risk drivers. Always compare all three levels to see which is cheapest for your profile.
What Levels Of Cover Can You Get?
There are three standard levels, and the right one depends on your car's value and how much risk you want to carry yourself.
| Cover Level | What It Includes | Best For |
| Third-party only (TPO) | Injury and property damage to other people. Nothing for your own car. | Very low-value cars you could afford to replace out of pocket. |
| Third-party, fire and theft | Everything in TPO plus theft and fire damage to your car. | Mid-value cars where you want theft protection without full cover. |
| Comprehensive | Everything in the level below plus accidental damage to your own car, windscreen cover, and often a courtesy car. | Most first-time drivers, especially those with a car worth £3,000 or more. |
Get quotes for all three levels. Comprehensive is frequently the cheapest option for new drivers because of how insurers price risk.
Compare First Car Insurance
You could save up to £535.17* on your car insurance in minutes
What Is Not Covered By First Car Insurance?
Standard motor policies exclude certain situations regardless of your cover level.
Driving Without a Valid Licence
If you are still a learner driver on a provisional licence, you can only drive with a qualified supervising driver in the passenger seat. Driving alone on a provisional invalidates your cover.
Undeclared Use
A social-only policy does not cover commuting or business trips. If you drive to a fixed workplace every day on a social-only policy and have an accident, your insurer can refuse the claim.
Check whether you need social and commuting cover or business use before you buy. Changing it later usually costs extra.
Uninsured Modifications
Aftermarket alloys, exhaust upgrades, engine remaps, and body kits must be declared. If your car has been modified and you did not tell your insurer, they can void your policy.
Wear and Tear
Motor insurance covers sudden and unexpected damage, not gradual deterioration. Mechanical breakdowns, worn brake pads, bald tyres, and rust damage are all maintenance issues that fall outside your policy.
Personal Belongings Left in the Car
Most standard policies do not cover laptops, phones, or other personal items stolen from your vehicle. Some comprehensive policies include limited personal belongings cover, but the limits are usually low and you may need to claim on your home contents insurance instead.
How Much Does First Car Insurance Cost?
First car insurance costs more than the national average because new drivers have no no-claims bonus and limited experience.
The table below shows typical annual premiums by age group.
| Age Group | Average Annual Premium (Comprehensive) | vs UK Average |
| 17–18 | £1,700–£2,100 | 3–4× the average |
| 19–20 | £1,600–£2,100 | 3–4× the average |
| 21–25 | £800–£1,500 | 1.5–2.5× the average |
| 26–30 | £500–£700 | Close to the UK average |
| UK average (all ages) | £560 | ABI Motor Insurance Premium Tracker, early 2026 |
Premiums vary widely depending on how your car insurance is calculated. Your age, postcode, car insurance group, annual mileage, and driving record all play a role.
For a detailed breakdown of what new drivers pay, see our guide to young driver insurance costs.
*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 Affects The Cost Of First Car Insurance?
Several factors determine your premium, and understanding them helps you make choices that keep costs down.
Your Age and Experience
Drivers aged 17–19 pay the most because statistics show they are involved in more accidents per mile driven than any other age group. Each year of experience reduces the risk profile.
The Car You Drive
Every car in the UK is assigned an insurance group from 1 (cheapest) to 50 (most expensive). Groups 1–10 are the best choices for first-time drivers because they have smaller engines, lower repair costs, and better safety ratings.
Popular first cars in low insurance groups include the Volkswagen Polo, Vauxhall Corsa, Ford Fiesta, and Toyota Yaris.
Where You Live
Urban postcodes with higher traffic density and theft rates attract higher premiums than rural areas. If you live in central London, your premium could be £400–£600 more than a rural postcode with the same car and driver profile.
Annual Mileage
Lower mileage means less time on the road and fewer opportunities for accidents. If you only drive 5,000 miles a year instead of 10,000, your premium could drop by 10–15%.
Where You Park Overnight
A car parked on a driveway or in a locked garage is cheaper to insure than one left on the street. If you have off-street parking, make sure you declare it.
Your Job Title
Insurers use your occupation as a risk indicator. How you describe your job can affect the premium, so use the most accurate title available in the dropdown.
Students and those listing jobs with high mileage or late-night driving tend to pay more than office-based workers.
How To Save Money On First Car Insurance
New drivers pay the highest premiums, but there are practical steps you can take to bring the cost down from day one.
Fit a Black Box
A black box policy tracks your driving behaviour and rewards safe habits with lower premiums. First-time drivers who fit a telematics device typically save 10–25% compared with a standard policy.
Add an Experienced Named Driver
Adding a parent or other experienced motorist as a named driver can reduce your premium by 5–10%. The main driver must still be the person who drives the car most often.
Do not list someone else as the main driver when you are the primary user. This is called fronting, and it is insurance fraud that can result in a voided policy and a criminal record.
Increase Your Voluntary Excess
Raising your voluntary excess from £100 to £300 shows your insurer you are less likely to claim for minor damage. Only set it at a level you could genuinely afford to pay.
Choose a Car in a Low Insurance Group
Swapping from a group 15 car to a group 5 car can cut your premium by 20–30%. Check the insurance group before you buy, not after.
Pay Your Premium Annually
Monthly instalments are a credit agreement and typically add around 8–11% to the total cost. Paying annually avoids that interest charge entirely.
Take an Advanced Driving Course
Pass Plus and similar post-test courses teach motorway driving, night driving, and hazard awareness. Some insurers offer a discount of 5–10% for completing one, though it is worth checking before you pay the course fee.
Build Your No-Claims Bonus Early
You earn one year of no-claims bonus for every claim-free year. After five years, the discount can reach up to 65%, which makes a dramatic difference on a first-time driver premium.
Compare First Car Insurance
You could save up to £535.17* on your car insurance in minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you must have a valid insurance policy in place before you drive the car on a public road. If collecting from a dealer, arrange cover for the collection date.
Not usually. Comprehensive cover is often cheaper for first-time drivers because insurers price TPO policies higher to account for the riskier driver profile they attract.
In most cases, no, because your no-claims bonus only accumulates when you are the main policyholder. Being a named driver on someone else’s policy does not build your own discount.
Fronting is when someone lists an experienced driver as the main policyholder to get a lower premium, even though the new driver uses the car most. It is insurance fraud and can result in a voided policy, a criminal record, and refused claims.
Yes, but insurers use the data to assess driving behaviour, not to monitor your movements. The box records speed, braking patterns, cornering, time of day, and mileage.
Groups 1 to 10 are the most affordable to insure. Cars in these groups have smaller engines, lower top speeds, and cheaper parts, all of which reduce the insurer's risk.
Only if their car is specifically listed on your policy. Driving other cars (DOC) cover is rarely included on first-time driver policies and is never automatic.
A 17-year-old typically pays £1,700 to £2,100 per year for comprehensive cover. The exact price depends on the car, postcode, and whether a telematics device is fitted.
Some insurers offer a small discount for Pass Plus or similar advanced driving courses, but the saving varies. It is worth asking your insurer whether they recognise the course before enrolling.
Yes, the car’s registered keeper and the insurance policyholder do not have to be the same person. This is common when parents buy a car for a new driver.
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