How can 17-year-olds get a cheap car insurance?
Finding cheap car insurance for 17 year olds, first-time drivers is a genuine difficulty. In fact, rates for many people of this age are excessively exorbitant. However, if you know where to search, there are ways to cut the cost of insurance. The best way is to use a car insurance comparison website like ours. The reason for this, you will be able to clearly see all the car insurance quotes and the optional extras included.
Premiums are determined by a number of factors, including your age, driving experience, claims history, the age and type of vehicle you drive, and where you live. Unfortunately, 17-year-olds have very little driving experience, but there is enough of proof that they cause accidents and file insurance claims.
According to Brake, the road safety charity, drivers aged 17 to 19 are involved in 9% of all road traffic accidents, while accounting for only 1.5 percent of UK licence holders.
This is due to a number of factors, including:
Poor risk assessment - due to a lack of driving experience, young drivers may not recognise dangers in time to react.
Speeding - connected to risk assessment, learner drivers lack experience in determining what speed is appropriate in specific conditions, despite the speed limit.
Not wearing seatbelts - peer pressure can lead to teenage drivers not wearing their seatbelts.
Driving while using a mobile phone - according to Brake, 19% of teenage drivers admitted to texting while driving at least once a week.
Carrying passengers - when there are other people in the car, accidents involving young drivers are more likely to occur, resulting in injuries and greater insurance claims.
Driving late at night - driving when sleepy is risky, and because more young drivers are likely to drive late at night for fun, they are more likely to be involved in accidents.
The lack of driver experience, as well as the increased number of crashes involving 17-year-olds, are the primary reasons why insurers demand a higher annual car insurance premium. Add in the reality that teenage drivers frequently have accidents with their similarly young passengers, harming them. Because the compensation must cover the rest of the victim's life, insurance payouts for those permanently incapacitated cost higher the younger the victim. As a result, claims involving teenage drivers are among the most costly in the industry.
According to the Consumer Intelligence car insurance price index, the typical car insurance cover for 17 to 24 year olds costs £1,912. It is a large amount because younger drivers are more prone to make claims, and expensive claims at that. Young drivers frequently load their cars with friends, who, if wounded, can make a claim under the driver's third-party insurance policy. Treatment and rehabilitation can be very expensive.
Younger drivers are also more likely to be engaged in high-speed incidents, causing greater damage than would be caused, for example reversing into another car in a supermarket parking lot.
Finding the average premium of £1,912 a year is difficult when the average 16 to 17 year old in work earns roughly £200 a week (according to a House of Commons research). It doesn't help that insurance is expensive for everyone, so relying on your parents to cover your insurance costs in addition to their own may not be possible.
Instead, it makes sense to look for ways to purchase insurance for a lower price. Here are several possibilities:
Choose the appropriate vehicle.
Given the increased chance of getting pranged, it makes sensible to choose a less expensive vehicle with a smaller engine. Cars that are less expensive are less likely to be targeted by thieves and vandals. Car insurance prices are determined by one of 50 insurance organisations. Insurance costs more for cars in higher insurance groups, therefore it makes sense to look for a vehicle in a lower group to save money.
To your car insurance, add an experienced named driver.
The registered owner of a vehicle has the option of adding named drivers to their car insurance policy. This is usually a parent or sibling above the age of 25. Named drivers are preferred by insurers since it signifies that a more experienced driver will be driving a portion of your annual mileage.
If you'll be doing the majority of the driving, don't be tempted to apply for car insurance with someone else as the main driver and you as the named driver. This is called as 'fronting,' and it is against the law.
To save money on your premiums, consider black box insurance.
Telematics or black box insurance policies promote safe driving with possibly lower premiums than normal car insurance cover for a 17-year-old.
It entails installing a GPS-enabled gadget in the car that records braking and driving speeds, as well as where and when you use the road. While some drivers are uncomfortable with the concept of having their movements watched, the idea is that if you drive safely and intelligently. Follow any policy limits, such as avoiding driving at night, you will be rewarded with cheaper insurance rates.
An advanced driver's licence might help you save money.
Even inexperienced drivers can enrol in an advanced driving school, which normally entails a few hours of additional instruction with a certified instructor. PassPlus and IAM RoadSmart are two of the courses available.
Advanced driving classes normally cost between £100 and £200, but with the appropriate insurance, you might save even more. Also some councils provide discounts on the PassPlus course.
Avoid making changes to your vehicle.
Adding alloy wheels, strengthening the engine, or improving the body kit may make your car stand out from the crowd, but it will almost certainly raise your insurance price because it is either more powerful or more appealing to thieves. If you buy a car that has been modified, see if any modifications can be reversed or removed, and if it is worth your time. Run a car insurance quote comparison site with and without the adjustment to see how much of a difference it makes to your premium.
There are three types of insurance that will make you legal to drive on UK roads:
When you purchase car insurance, you will be asked if you want to cover any optional excess. This is the maximum amount you're willing to pay for a claim before the insurer kicks in to cover the rest. The bigger the excess you pay, the lower your premium will be in theory, but this is just half of the storey. Excesses should be carefully considered by a 17-year-old driver, since there is no purpose in choosing a large voluntary excess that requires you to pay for all damage to a low-value vehicle.
Also, keep in mind that most insurers impose a mandatory excess on top of the voluntary excess. This can be larger than the worth of your automobile in some situations, so if it's a write-off, you won't get anything.
To drive on public roads, even as a learner, you must be insured. Typically, a learner's initial driving experiences are in the car with a trained instructor who has insurance for their students, or as a named driver on a family member's car However, you may wish to purchase and insure your own car so that you may learn to drive in the vehicle that you will be driving after passing your test. If that's the case, you'll require learner driver insurance.
It's also a bit pricey, but it's worth a look. You must have a UK Provisional Driving Licence and be accompanied by a qualified driver who is at least 21 years old and has at least three years of experience when driving.
If you've looked high and low and still can't find affordable insurance, don't despair. You may always ask a parent or elder sibling whether you may be included as a named driver to their car insurance or the family's multi-vehicle policy.
On the plus side, you'll be able to legally drive on UK roads; on the negative side, you won't be able to accumulate any no-claims bonuses. However, you will have plenty of time to build up your no claim bonus once you are able to afford your own car insurance.
Is it possible to drive at the age of 17?
To drive on public roads, you must be at least 17 years old. You must have a valid driver's licence or a provisional driver's licence to participate. You must be insured in both circumstances, and the vehicle you are driving must have a current MoT and road tax. You can, however, drive on private property at any age.
Is it necessary to insure a 17-year-old?
A 17-year-old can nearly always receive car insurance, but because they are minors, they will nearly always need a parent or guardian to sign the policy alongside them, which means that the parents will be financially responsible for the policy in the end.
For a 17-year-old in the United Kingdom, how much does car insurance cost?
According to the Consumer Intelligence car insurance price index, the typical car insurance cover for 17 to 24 year olds costs £1,912. The amount is high because young drivers are more likely to make claims.
What’s ideal as a first car for a 17 year old?
The Vauxhall Corsa is one of the most popular cars among young drivers, and like its rivals, the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo, it has upped the ante with high-tech features and abundant equipment. The Corsa's engines are acceptable, quick around town, and handle nicely on the highway.
Why is it so expensive for a 17-year-old to have car insurance?
Younger drivers, particularly teens, pay more for vehicle insurance since they are statistically more likely to be involved in a traffic accident. You're a higher-risk driver with less driving experience, so insurers will charge you extra to cover you.
Is it possible for me to purchase a car at the age of 17?
Typically, a minor cannot own property; instead, his or her parents own the property until the child becomes an adult. A car dealer selling to a 17-year-old will usually require a parent or guardian to sign the bill of sale and other contractual documentation due to contract law.
What is the best insurance group for a 17-year-old?
Car insurance for 17-year-olds and other young drivers can be costly, but you can cut expenses by choosing a vehicle in a low insurance group, such as groups 1 and 2. The Volkswagen Polo and Hyundai i10 are two less expensive options to explore.