Young motorists can drive down car insurance costs

Frightening new statistics have been released by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) that offer the clearest indication yet of the threat young drivers pose to other motorists and themselves.

Not only are crashes involving youngsters driving up car insurance premiums across the board, but the research shows that every day Britain’s roads see four fatalities or serious injuries as a consequence of accidents involving young drivers. In fact, the country’s 18-year-olds alone cause 50 collisions a day – that’s three times as many as drivers in their fifties.

The backlash against young drivers has already begun, with many car insurance providers now refusing to offer quotes to 17-year-olds. However, is rejection really the answer or could we be doing more?

Possible solutions to help youngsters drive safely

In response to the statistics, the ABI is calling for a one-year minimum learning period for all learner drivers. It is hoped that more experience behind the wheel will put younger drivers in a position to more ably cope with the hazards around them.

In addition however, the ABI is asking for restrictions on the number of teenage passengers a young driver can have in the car with them. Passenger restrictions in the first year of driving are shown to have a considerable effect on the risk of an accident.

In the USA, these restrictions have led to a 37 per cent fall in the number of fatal crashes among novice young drivers.

Young drivers can take action – and cut their car insurance

The good news for young drivers is that they don’t have to wait for Government action to be proactive about their approach to driving.

The first step is to take a Pass Plus course immediately after passing your driving test. Though the Pass Plus is available to all drivers, and should be considered if you feel unsure about motorway, night-time or city driving, its benefit for car insurance premiums only comes into effect as you start out as a driver.

Typically a Pass Plus course will cost between £100 and £150. However, with a potential 35 per cent discount on car insurance, these costs can quickly be recouped. Perhaps more reassuringly, young drivers should feel much more accomplished and assured behind the wheel.

Don’t pay for reputation with car insurance premiums

It’s clear that while young drivers may generally have a poor reputation, there are still a significant number of youthful motorists who are perfectly competent behind the wheel. However, these drivers will be punished through higher car insurance premiums based on the status of their peers – unless they take steps to prove to an insurer that they carry less of a risk.

One common mistake young drivers make is to assume that buying an old car will mean cheap car insurance premiums by comparison to a new car. This is rarely the case as teenage boy racers have a reputation for hurtling around in old bangers.

Instead, young motorists should pick out a car with a small engine and low insurance group. They aren’t as heavy and so cause less damage when they are involved in a collision and aren’t capable of the high speeds associated with many accidents.

Limiting the number of modifications to the car will help too – as will having a safe place to park the car at night, particularly if you live in a student area.

Additional steps to cheap car insurance

There are many other ways that young drivers can slash their premiums.

Buying a policy online will help a driver of any age secure a discount – most of the UK’s leading insurers offer online discounts in the region of 10 per cent for buying a policy online. Young drivers should also consider all the options available to them and utilise a car insurance comparison tool to gain a series of quotes.

Paying annually, assuming you have the money in place, is usually cheaper than a monthly direct debit although a handful of insurers will allow you to pay monthly at no extra charge.

Another option for young drivers is to agree to a mileage limit or to only drive at set times of the day. Norwich Union offers a Pay as You Drive scheme which effectively encourages young drivers to be on the road during off-peak hours – premiums are approximately 21 per cent cheaper as a result.

One tactic young drivers should not employ however, is to ask a parent to ‘front’ a policy and install them as a named driver. This is considered fraud and could invalidate a claim.

If you’re a young driver searching for cheap car insurance don’t lose hope – and remember that driving safely is the fastest way to drive your premiums down.