10 easy ways young drivers in the UK can pay less for car insurance
Adding a parent to your policy, choosing a small car, or paying once a year can help reduce your insurance price.
Check Prices Early
Young drivers usually pay more for car insurance because they have a higher chance of accidents. People aged 17 to 24 pay around £828 on average. This is almost double what people aged 25 to 49 pay, which is about £476. This information comes from Go.Compare.
But if you compare prices from different companies, you can save a lot of money. Websites like MoneySuperMarket, Confused.com, Compare the Market, and Go.Compare let you check many insurance prices easily.
Experts say you should get quotes about 3 or 4 weeks before your insurance starts. This often helps you find cheaper deals.
Add an Experienced Driver
If you add a parent or another experienced driver to your policy, it can lower the cost. The experienced driver should use the car sometimes. This makes the risk lower for insurance companies.
Make sure the person you add has a clean driving record and many years without claims. But don’t lie about who drives the car most — that is illegal and called “fronting.”
Pick the Right Car
Smaller and less powerful cars are cheaper to insure. Cars are put into groups from 1 to 50 based on how expensive they are to insure. Choose a car in a low group, usually small engines and cheaper parts.
For young drivers, the cheapest cars are Volkswagen’s up! (£576 a year), Suzuki Alto (£597), and Fiat 500 (£604), according to Go.Compare.
Tom Banks from Go.Compare says, “Small cars with simple one-litre engines are the cheapest to insure for young drivers.”
Buy Used Cars to Save Money
Buying a secondhand car can cost less. Just check that the car is in good shape and has all its service records.
Don’t Change the Car Too Much
Avoid making big changes to the car, because this might make the insurance more expensive, says Andrew Lee from Marmalade, a company that helps young drivers.
Think About a Black Box
A black box, or telematics device, is a small gadget (or an app) that watches how you drive. If you drive safely—like staying within speed limits, not braking hard, and not driving late—you could pay less for insurance.
Banks says if you drive well all the time, your insurer might give you rewards like lower prices, cashback, or vouchers either during your current policy or when you renew.
For example, a 19-year-old driver with a black box pays about £864 a year, but without one it’s £1,096. By age 23, the difference is smaller.
If you don’t make claims, you get a no-claims discount, which can lower costs more.
But be careful—if you drive badly or break the rules, the black box can raise your insurance price.
Don’t Just Accept Renewal Prices
If you already have insurance, don’t just pay the renewal price. Check other companies online and see if your insurer will give you a better deal.
Pay for Insurance Once a Year if Possible
Paying monthly can be easier, but it often costs more because of interest—sometimes up to 30% extra. Paying once a year is usually cheaper.
If you can’t pay all at once, try using a credit card with no interest (but only if you can pay it off before interest starts) or save a little money each month.
Make Your Car More Secure
Where you park matters. Insurers like driveways more than parking on the street. Private parking, gated areas, or parking with a security fob usually lowers your insurance cost. Tell your insurer about this.
Also, using things like steering wheel locks, immobilisers, or dashcams makes your car safer and could lower your price.
Choose Your Job Title Carefully
The job you say you have can change your insurance price a lot. Some jobs cost more because of past claims or how people in those jobs use their cars.
If possible, pick a similar but lower-risk job title that is still true. For example, use “writer” instead of “journalist.” Don’t lie, because that can cancel your insurance.
MoneySuperMarket has a tool to help find the best job title for your insurance.
Raise Your Excess to Lower Costs
Your excess is the money you pay before insurance pays for a claim. There is a required part and a voluntary part you choose.
Most people pick £250 for their voluntary excess, says Rhydian Jones from Confused.com. If you choose a higher excess, your insurance cost might go down.
Just make sure you can afford to pay your excess if you need to make a claim, or you could get into trouble.
Build your no-claims discount
You get a bigger discount for every year you drive without making a claim. After one year, you might get a 20% to 30% discount. After five years, some insurance companies may reduce your cost by 60% or more.
Your no-claims discount is for you, not the car. So if you change your car or your insurance company, you can usually keep your discount. If you have an accident, you might not lose your discount—especially if it wasn’t your fault and the other driver’s insurer pays.
It’s a good idea to ask your insurance company how much your cost would go up if you made a claim.
Published: 5th May 2025
For more article like this please follow our social media Twitter, Linkedin & Instagram
Also Read:
UK Energy Prices in 2025: Relief or More Pressure Ahead?
Is the UK Still a Safe Haven for Foreign Investors?
Where to Buy Property in the UK for Best ROI in 2025
