Young Drivers Insurance
Compare Young Driver Insurance Quotes
You could save up to £518* on your car insurance in minutes.
Compare insurance quotes from leading young driver insurers including:
What Is Young Driver Insurance?
Young driver insurance is a car insurance policy for drivers aged 17 to 24, covering you against accidents, theft and third-party claims while you build up driving experience.
It works the same way as standard car insurance but includes options designed specifically for younger or newer drivers. Black box policies, named driver setups, and temporary cover all give you routes to cheaper premiums while you build up your no-claims discount.
Prices vary widely between insurers, so comparing quotes is the single most effective way to cut the cost. The sections below cover every policy type, what affects your premium, and how to bring it down.
How To Compare Young Driver Insurance Quotes
You can compare quotes from 130+ UK insurers in minutes using the online comparison tool.
Enter your details
Fill in one form with your car registration, driving licence number, annual mileage, and where the car is kept overnight. If you’re a named driver, have the main driver’s details too.
Compare your quotes
The tool returns prices from multiple insurers side by side. Sort by price or cover level to find policies suited to younger drivers.
Check policy details
Don’t just pick the cheapest quote. Check the excess, confirm the cover level meets your needs, and look for mileage caps or curfew clauses that could catch you out.
Buy online
Once you’ve chosen a policy, buy directly through the provider. All quotes come from FCA-regulated insurers, and cover can start the same day.
What Types of Young Driver Insurance Are There?
Several specialist policy types exist for young and new drivers, each designed around how you drive and how often.
Black box (telematics) insurance
A black box insurance policy uses a small device or smartphone app to track how you drive. It monitors speed, braking, cornering and the times of day you drive.
Safe driving earns you lower premiums at renewal. If you’d rather not have a telematics device fitted, car insurance without a black box is still available, though it typically costs more for under-25s.
Named driver insurance
Being added as a named driver on a parent’s or partner’s policy can reduce costs. You get the same cover level as the main driver and can build up a no-claims history with some insurers.
Be aware that the main driver’s no-claims discount is affected if you have an at-fault claim. Deliberately listing a younger driver as a named driver when they’re the main user (fronting) is fraud.
Temporary insurance
If you only need cover for a short period, temporary car insurance lets you buy a policy for as little as one day. It’s useful for borrowing a parent’s car over the holidays or driving home from university.
See temporary cover for young drivers for short-term options designed for under-25s.
Learner driver insurance
A separate learner driver insurance policy covers you while you’re learning to drive in someone else’s car. It keeps the car owner’s no-claims discount safe if you have an accident during a lesson.
Student insurance
Aimed at drivers aged 18 to 25 who are in full-time education, student car insurance often includes flexible mileage limits and term-time-only options for students who leave their car at home during holidays.
Pay-as-you-go insurance
Also called pay-per-mile, this type of telematics insurance charges you based on how far you drive. It suits young drivers who only use their car a few times a week or for short commutes
What Cover Levels Can You Get?
Young drivers can choose from the same three cover levels as any other motorist, but the right choice can make a big difference to your premium.
Third-party only (TPO)
The legal minimum. Third-party only pays for damage you cause to other people’s vehicles and property, but nothing for your own car.
Despite being the most basic level of cover, TPO is often more expensive for young drivers than comprehensive because insurers view TPO buyers as higher risk.
Third-party, fire and theft (TPFT)
A step up from TPO, third-party, fire and theft adds cover if your car is stolen or damaged by fire but still won’t pay for accident damage to your own vehicle.
Comprehensive
The most complete level of protection. Fully comprehensive insurance covers your car as well as third-party damage, even if the accident is your fault.
For young drivers, comprehensive is often the best value because the price difference over TPO is small and the cover is far better.
| Cover Level | Your Car Covered? | Third-Party Claims | Fire & Theft | Best For |
| Third-party only | No | Yes | No | Budget cover (but often costs more for under-25s) |
| Third-party, fire & theft | No | Yes | Yes | Mid-range if you park on the street |
| Comprehensive | Yes | Yes | Yes | Best value for most young drivers |
What Does Young Driver Insurance Exclude?
Knowing what your policy won’t pay for is just as important as knowing what it covers.
Driving under the influence
No policy covers you if you drive while over the legal alcohol or drug limit. Your claim will be refused and you’ll face criminal charges on top.
Uninsured drivers using your car
If you lend your car to someone who isn’t named on your policy, any damage they cause won’t be covered. Some comprehensive policies offer driving-other-cars cover for the main driver only, but this rarely extends to young drivers.
Wear and tear
Mechanical breakdown, tyre wear and routine servicing are maintenance costs, not insurance claims. If your clutch fails or your battery dies, that’s on you.
Fronting
If an insurer discovers a parent is listed as the main driver when the young person actually drives the car most, the entire policy can be voided. This is insurance fraud and can result in a criminal record.
What Add-Ons Can You Get?
Add-ons let you tailor your policy to your situation without paying for cover you don’t need.
Breakdown cover
Roadside assistance, recovery and relay if your car breaks down. Particularly worth having if you drive an older car in a lower insurance group.
Excess protection
Reimburses some or all of the excess you pay when making a claim. Useful if you’ve set a high voluntary excess to reduce your premium.
No-claims discount protection
Lets you make a claim without losing your no-claims discount. Building up a no-claims history is one of the fastest ways to reduce your premium year on year.
Legal expenses cover
Covers the cost of pursuing a claim against an at-fault driver. Limits are typically £50,000 to £100,000.
Key replacement cover
Pays for replacement keys if yours are lost, stolen or damaged. Modern car keys can cost £200 to £400 to replace.
Windscreen cover
Pays for windscreen repair or replacement without affecting your no-claims discount. Often included with comprehensive cover but available as an add-on for TPO and TPFT.
GAP insurance
Covers the gap between what your insurer pays out if your car is written off and what you still owe on finance. Worth considering if you bought your car on HP or PCP.
Courtesy car
A replacement vehicle while yours is being repaired, often included with comprehensive policies as standard.
How Much Does Young Driver Insurance Cost?
The average annual premium for a 17-year-old is around £1,700, around £1,500 for an 18-year-old, dropping to roughly £900 by age 20 and continuing to fall as you build up no-claims history.
Average cost by age
| Age | Average Annual Premium | Key Factor |
| 17 | £1,600 – £2,000 | No driving history at all |
| 18 | £1,400 – £1,800 | 1 year of experience helps slightly |
| 19 | £1,200 – £1,600 | Starting to build no-claims |
| 20-21 | £800 – £1,100 | 2-3 years’ experience, possible NCD |
| 22-24 | £600 – £900 | Approaching standard adult rates |
What affects your premium?
Your age is the biggest single factor. Department for Transport data shows drivers aged 17 to 19 are involved in 9% of serious collisions despite holding just 1.5% of licences, which is why insurers price younger drivers higher.
Parking on a driveway or in a garage instead of on the street can reduce your premium. So can keeping your annual mileage under 8,000 miles.
For a full breakdown by age and vehicle type, see how much does young driver insurance cost.
How To Save On Young Driver Insurance?
Young drivers can cut their premiums by 10% to 40% by choosing the right car, the right policy type and building up a clean driving record.
Choose a low insurance group car
Cars in insurance groups 1 to 10 are the cheapest to insure. Small-engine hatchbacks like the Fiat Panda, VW Up and Skoda Citigo are popular first cars because they’re cheap to buy and cheap to insure.
Fit a black box
Telematics policies reward safe driving with lower premiums at renewal. Some providers offer discounts of up to 20% in the first year alone if your driving data is good.
Build your no-claims discount
Every claim-free year earns you a bigger discount, and after five years your no-claims bonus can reduce your premium by up to 65%. Protecting it with an add-on keeps the discount even after a claim.
Increase your voluntary excess
Raising your voluntary excess from £100 to £250 or £500 reduces your premium. Make sure you can afford the total excess (compulsory plus voluntary) if you need to claim.
Pay annually
Monthly instalments add interest, typically 15% to 25% on top of the annual price. Paying in a single lump sum avoids those charges. If you can’t pay upfront, no deposit car insurance lets you spread the cost.
Add an experienced driver
Adding a parent or experienced driver to your policy as a named driver can lower the premium. This is different from multi-car insurance, where each driver has their own policy on the same account.
Avoid modifications
Aftermarket alloys, body kits or engine upgrades increase your premium because they raise the car’s value and theft risk. If your car is already modified, you’ll need modified car insurance to make sure the changes are covered.
Compare quotes yearly
Auto-renewal almost always costs more than switching. Comparing quotes from multiple insurers each year is the single easiest way to save. It’s also worth checking insurers not on comparison sites separately.
What Are the Cheapest Cars For Young Drivers To Insure?
Cars in insurance groups 1 to 5 are the cheapest for young drivers, with annual premiums often £200 to £400 lower than a car in group 15 to 20.
| Car | Insurance Group | Approx. Annual Premium (Age 18) |
| Fiat Panda 1.0 | 1-3 | £1,200 – £1,400 |
| Volkswagen Up 1.0 | 1-3 | £1,250 – £1,450 |
| Skoda Citigo 1.0 | 1-3 | £1,200 – £1,400 |
| Hyundai i10 1.0 | 2-4 | £1,250 – £1,500 |
| Toyota Aygo 1.0 | 2-4 | £1,250 – £1,500 |
| Citroen C1 1.0 | 2-3 | £1,200 – £1,450 |
Why insurance group matters
Insurance groups run from 1 (cheapest) to 50 (most expensive). They’re based on the car’s value, repair costs, performance, security features and crash safety ratings.
What else affects the cost?
The car’s age and mileage matter too. A five-year-old Fiat Panda with 40,000 miles is cheaper to insure than a brand-new one.
Parking on a driveway or in a garage rather than on the street can save another 5% to 10% on your premium.
What Happens If You Drive Without Insurance?
Driving without insurance is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988, carrying a fixed penalty of £300 and six points on your licence, or unlimited fines and disqualification if the case goes to court.
The police can also seize and destroy your vehicle. If you’re involved in an accident while uninsured, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) can pursue you for the full cost of any injuries or damage you cause.
If you’re caught driving without insurance and receive a conviction, your future premiums will rise sharply. An IN10 conviction (using a vehicle uninsured) stays on your licence for four years.
If your car has been seized, you may need impound insurance to recover it from the police compound.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, every driver on UK roads must have at least third-party insurance by law. Driving without it carries a £300 fine and six licence points.
Most insurers classify young drivers as aged 17 to 24. Premiums typically drop noticeably once you pass 25 and have a few years of no-claims history.
Often, yes. Insurers view comprehensive buyers as lower risk, so the premium can be the same or even cheaper than third-party only for under-25s.
It can. Telematics policies reward safe driving, and some providers offer discounts of up to 20% at renewal if your driving score is good.
Yes, being added as a named driver is a legitimate way to get insured. The key rule is that whoever drives the car most must be listed as the main driver.
Fronting is when a parent lists themselves as the main driver to get a cheaper quote, even though the young person drives the car most. It’s insurance fraud and can void the policy.
Drive claim-free for as many years as possible. Each year without a claim earns a bigger discount, and after five years you can save up to 65% on your premium.
Yes, your postcode is one of the top rating factors. Urban areas with higher crime and traffic density typically have higher premiums than rural locations.
Yes, but you’ll pay more. Aftermarket modifications increase the car’s value and theft risk, so you need to declare them and expect a higher premium.
Your premium will increase at renewal. Speeding points (SP30) typically add 5% to 15%, while more serious convictions like drink-driving (DR10) can double your premium or make cover difficult to find.
If you drive fewer than 5,000 miles a year, pay-per-mile insurance can be much cheaper than a standard annual policy. It’s ideal for students or city dwellers who only drive occasionally.
Car Insurance Guides
