Young Driver Insurance
Specialised car insurance policies designed for young drivers.
What is young driver insurance?
Young driver insurance is a type of car insurance policy which is designed for inexperienced or new drivers, usually aged between 17 and 25.
Young drivers typically haven’t held their licence for a long time, and statistically, they’re more likely to be involved in an accident. As a result of that, standard car insurance premiums are more expensive more young drivers.
However, insurers can offer specialised insurance for young drivers, such as named driver cover, which can help them lower their premium costs.
Howden Insurance Benefits
- Specialised policies such as named driver and learner driver.
- A wide range of policy features and add ons such as breakdown cover, courtesy car cover.
- Comprehensive, third-party, fire & theft and third party cover available.
- Offer a personalised service which comparison sites can’t provide.
Types of car insurance for young drivers
There are three main levels of cover young drivers can choose from:
- Third-party only: This covers only damage or injury to a third-party’s vehicle or property. This is also the minimum legal requirement.
- Third party, fire & theft: As well as third-party cover, this includes added protection if your car is damaged by a fire or stolen.
- Comprehensive: All-round cover which includes everything above, plus damage to your own car (even if the accident was your fault) and personal injury cover for yourself.
What’s included? Policy features & add ons
Depending on the insurer, you can expect to have the following included in your young driver car insurance policy, or offered as an add-on:
- Breakdown assistance cover: Gives you roadside assistance if your car breaks down, helping you get back on the road.
- Lost key cover: Pays to replace your car keys if they’re lost, stolen or damaged.
- Courtesy car: Provides a temporary replacement car while yours is being repaired (not all insurers offer this!).
- Personal accident cover: Offers compensation if you’re seriously injured in a car accident.
- No Claims Bonus: Rewards careful driving by reducing your premium for each year you don’t.
- Windscreen cover: Covers the cost of repairing or replacing a chipped or cracked windscreen.
It's important that you can only commit to the cover you NEED. We can help you build a car insurance plan which not only provides comprehensive cover for you, but also suits your budget.
Why is car insurance more expensive for young drivers?
Young drivers typically pay higher premiums because insurers see them as higher‑risk. They have less driving history and experience, have riskier driving patterns and behaviours, and are generally more likely to be involved in an accident, which elevates perceived risks for insurers.
If you’re still unsure why you may be facing more expensive premiums, get in touch with a specialist at your local branch, and they can give you some further insight into how this works.
4 tips to get cheaper young driver insurance premium
There are several ways young drivers could reduce the cost of their policy premium:
Choose a lower‑risk car / lower insurance group
The type of vehicle you drive will significantly affect premium price, and vehicles in lower insurance groups vehicles are typically associated with cheaper premiums compared to the vehicles in higher insurance groups.
Add an experienced named driver
Including a more experienced driver on the policy can reduce risk and, in turn, reduce cost.
Improve vehicle security
Better security (parking location, alarms, immobilisers) helps lower premiums because it reduces the risk of theft.
Consider named young driver insurance
Being insured as a named young driver on a parent’s / guardian’s car can be a more affordable alternative to holding a standalone policy.
How does a named young driver insurance policy work?
Named young drivers can be added to a parent’s / guardian’s existing car insurance policy rather than having their own cover. This means the young driver can build their own No Claims Discount while protecting their parent’s / guardian’s NCD from any accidents they might have.
If the car belongs to the young driver, they must take out the insurance in their own name. As a named driver, they will earn named driving experience.
What do you need to get a quote?
To get a young driver policy quote, we need you to provide us with the following:
- Personal information: Full name, date of birth, address where the vehicle is kept overnight.
- Driving details: Driving licence number/details, driving history (claims, convictions, accidents).
- Vehicle information: Registration number, make & model, if there’s been any modifications,how the car/van is used (e.g., social, commuting, business).
- Mileage / usage: Estimated annual mileage.
You can get a car insurance quote and be in touch with a member of our team by clicking the Get a Quote button on our website.
FAQs about young driver insurance
What are the cheapest cars to insure for young drivers?
The cheapest cars to insure for young drivers are typically those that fall into the lowest insurance groups, between 1 and 5. These cars generally have lower repair costs, have high safety ratings and smaller engines.
Below are five examples of car models which are known to be cheap to insure:
- Hyundai i10
- Kia Picanto
- Toyota Aygo X
- Volkswagen Polo
- Ford Fiesta
Are newer cars cheaper to insure for young drivers?
No, not necessarily, because it depends on the car rather than the age of the vehicle. Insurance costs are strongly influenced by factors such as:
- Insurance group (1–50)
- Vehicle value
- Engine power
- Repair costs
- Safety and security features
Therefore, newer cars are not automatically cheaper to insure for young drivers. They can be cheaper if they fall into a low insurance group, maybe due to the fact that they’re safer. But many newer cars, especially tech‑heavy ones, sit in higher groups because of higher repair and replacement costs, and therefore face higher insurance costs.
Are electric cars cheaper to insure for young drivers?
Generally, no, electric cars are not cheaper to insure, including for young drivers.
This is because the upfront fees and repairs costs associated with EVs are typically higher, meaning premiums are more expensive for drivers of these cars. Young drivers already face higher premiums due to risk profiles, so combining that with EV repair costs can make insurance noticeably higher.
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