Although the cost of insurance for young drivers has fallen since we started our campaign last year, it still averages over £1000. We'll never stop demanding insurance companies do a better job for young drivers - but we thought it would be helpful to provide some tips you can use to lower your insurance costs right now.
Tip 1: Be smart about getting quotes
Although comparison sites like Confused.com are a quick & easy way to get multiple quotes, they have a couple of drawbacks. First, they don't cover every insurance company; and second, they are more focused on price rather than the quality of the insurance. So, we've reviewed independent research on the options for young drivers to come up with a Top 5 we'd suggest you try:
- Co op Young Driver Insurance - 17 out of 20
- Aviva Young Driver Insurance - 16 out of 20
- AA Young Driver Insurance - 15 out of 20
- Churchill Young Drivers Car Insurance - 13 out of 20
- Endsleigh Car Insurance - 13 out of 20
You can read how we scored the different companies here and we've listed the nine best black box providers here.
Tip 2: Increase your excess to lower your quote
Once you've found the best quote, you can often make it cheaper by increasing the excess to £1000 (the excess is the amount you have to pay if you make a claim on your insurance). In fact, our research suggests this can save you as much as £400 per year.
You can then buy a separate policy to insure your excess for only £39.99, so you're covered if you do need to make a big claim.
Tip 3: Rethink your choice of car
The smaller your's engine car, the cheaper it will be to insure. Choosing a car in Insurance Group One will make a massive difference to your quotes.
The effect might even be enough to make a new car affordable. Recently Marmalade have started offering 12 month's free insurance when you buy a new car through them. With prices starting at £175 a month, it's an interesting alternative solution to getting cheaper car insurance.
That's it. Let us know how you get on with these in the Young Drivers Insurance forum - or if you have tips of your own you'd like to share.
