How do I get cheap teenage car insurance quotes?
Car insurance is expensive for many motorists, but teenage car insurance premiums are even bigger than for the rest of us.
Unfortunately, one in five drivers are involved in a crash during their first year on the road. Now, not everyone learns to drive when they turn 17, but statistics do show that teenagers are more like to be involved in accidents and make claims on their insurance than older, more experienced drivers.
This is why young drivers tend to pay the most for their cover, as insurers offset the increased risk of a claim with higher premiums.
Until this year, male teenage drivers bore the brunt of this, paying more for cover than their female counterparts, but there have been some big changes in how insurers price their policies which mean those days are over.
This is why young drivers tend to pay the most for their cover, as insurers offset the increased risk of a claim with higher premiums.
Until this year, male teenage drivers bore the brunt of this, paying more for cover than their female counterparts, but there have been some big changes in how insurers price their policies which mean those days are over.
The EU Gender Directive
Statistics have always shown that young male drivers are involved in more accidents than young female drivers.
Although this continues to be the case, new European legislation introduced in 2012 means that insurers can't discriminate based on whether you're a man or a woman.
In an ideal world this would mean men's premiums would drop to the levels previously enjoyed by women, but in reality it means cover for women is going to get more expensive.
The high cost of car insurance for teenagers
We've seen the cost of motoring accelerate over the past couple of years thanks to rising fuel prices and insurance costs.
As well as the introduction of the EU Gender Directive, we've also seen the introduction of Continuous Insurance Enforcement legislation, which means even vehicles not being used must be insured, unless they are declared as off the road with a Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN).
Anyone found to be keeping a vehicle without insurance and a SORN declaration can receive a fixed penalty notice of £100 or face fines of up to £1,000.
EnglishCarInsurances research found that two thirds of drivers are changing their driving habits to cope with the rising costs, while five per cent have given up driving altogether.
But there are still people who continue to flout the law and drive without car insurance, and it's pushing up costs for the rest of us. The Motor Insurers Bureau says that uninsured drivers cost insurers up to £500million a year, adding £30 to average, law-abiding motorist's premiums
This makes it more important than ever to shop around to get the best possible price on car insurance for teenagers.
Get cheap car insurance for teenagers
As a teenage driver you might be tempted to take some shortcuts on your cover to get a more affordable teenage car insurance quote, but this could prove a false economy if it came to making a claim.
There are some legitimate things you can do to bring down your premiums without cutting corners though, all while maintaining the level of cover you need.
For example, taking an advanced driving course such as Pass Plus will colour you as a more responsible driver in the eyes of some insurers. The high premiums faced by teenage motorists reflect their relative experience on the roads, so any courses which give you more experience should be rewarded with cheaper teenage car insurance cover.
Alternatively, adding an older or more experienced driver to your policy as a named driver can bring down your premiums in some cases.
However, you should never set up a policy with an older friend or relative as the main driver and yourself as a named driver if you're really the main driver. This is known as fronting, is illegal and could invalidate the policy, or worse, earn you a conviction for driving without insurance.
If you've just passed your test and you're car shopping, bear in mind that the more valuable and powerful your car is, the more it will cost you in insurance - because it would either be more expensive to repair and replace or it would be more likely to be involved in an accident.
Securing your car with additional security features (think steering wheel locks, immobilisers) will reduce the chances of it being stolen, and earn you cheaper teenage car insurance quotes. Similarly, keeping the car parked in a secure location, such as a locked garage, will also work in your favour.
Take advantage of our car insurance money saving tips to find out how to get cheaper car insurance for teenagers. You can also utilise our young driver car insurance guide to find a more specific guide for people in your age bracket.
