What is young driver excess?

Ebony Barker • February 13, 2025

For many young drivers, the cost of car insurance is extremely steep to begin with. This is because insurers view young and new drivers as a risk given their lack of experience, meaning that the potential for a claim being made is quite high.


As a result, in addition to the standard compulsory and voluntary excesses, a young driver excess may be applicable to these policies. This is dependent on age and will vary from insurer to insurer, however most policies tend to have this excess applied until they are over age 25.

It is important to remember when purchasing vehicle insurance that selecting a higher excess amount will result in lower premiums (and vice versa). Whilst this may be tempting to do, we encourage our customers to always select an excess amount that they can afford to pay, should the worst happen.


If you’ve had an accident, we always encourage calling CARS before your insurance company to ensure you receive credible and non-biased advice, tailored to your circumstances. Get in touch with our team on 01472 453622 for further information.



Visit our blog ‘Common car insurance myths’ to find out more.


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