How can I reduce the cost of my car insurance as a young driver?

Young drivers who have recently passed their driving test are likely to pay more for car insurance due to the increased risk they pose to the insurance company.

There are several factors worth considering when trying to lower your premiums:

• Add a named driver to your policy – Adding a driver with more experience could reduce your overall risk level and result in lower premiums. For example, you could consider adding a parent to your policy, although they cannot pretend to be the main driver as this is illegal.

• Pay annually – Paying annually is cheaper than paying monthly, as insurers charge interest on monthly instalments. Consider privately saving your premium amount throughout the year in order to benefit from making an annual payment.

• Use a telematics device – Known commonly as a black box, this device will be fitted to your vehicle to monitor a number of driving characteristics, such as mileage covered, acceleration, braking and the time of day. The price of your insurance may go down if your insurer deems you a sensible, safe driver. Please note that in turn, your insurance could increase in price if you are deemed to be driving dangerously.

• Choosing a car with a lower insurance classification – Each vehicle is assigned an insurance group classification from 1 to 50, with 1 being the cheapest and 50 being the most expensive. Choosing a car with a low insurance classification is likely to result in lower insurance costs. We recommend exploring the classification of a vehicle before purchasing it or entering into a financing arrangement.

• Avoid unnecessary features – There are a number of additional add-ons that can be applied to insurance policies, such as breakdown cover or key cover. Whilst these may be useful, it may be cheaper to buy these features separately.

We always recommend using a local broker to ensure you purchase a policy suited to your individual needs. It is your duty to ensure that the information you supply to the broker and insurance company is correct and truthful.

We know that car insurance can sometimes feel like a minefield, so visit our blogs ‘Car Insurance Jargon Buster’ and ‘How do I choose the right insurance company for me?’, or give us a call for further information!