Anyone who has just passed their test wants to know how much is insurance for a new driver, and the honest answer is that it depends on age, postcode, the car, the level of cover and how the policy is structured. New drivers are statistically higher risk, so premiums are usually higher than for experienced drivers, but the gap can be narrowed with sensible choices.
Part of Insurance Checks. Start with the main guide: Is My Car Insured? How to Check
Updated October 2026 · Independent information, not legal advice
No fixed figure can be given here, because quotes vary between insurers and change over time. What follows explains what drives new driver auto insurance quotes, how to choose a car and cover level, and how to build a record that lowers costs at each renewal.
Why New Drivers Pay More
Insurers price on risk, and a driver with no record is an unknown. Young and recently qualified drivers tend to claim more often, so quotes reflect that.
What insurers weigh
They typically consider age, licence type, how long you have held it, occupation, where the car is kept, annual mileage and the car itself.
It is not a penalty
The price is a statistical estimate, not a judgement on you personally. Your own behaviour can improve it over time.
The Main Factors In A New Driver Quote
Understanding each factor shows you where you can make a difference.
- Age and how long you have held a full licence.
- Postcode, because claim rates differ by area.
- The car's insurance group and value.
- Annual mileage and what you use the car for.
- Where the car is parked overnight.
- The excess you choose.
Choosing Your First Car Sensibly
A small, modest-powered car in a low insurance group is typically cheaper to cover than a powerful or modified one. Check the group with the car insurance group checker before you buy.
Engine size and power
Smaller engines are usually rated lower risk. Power and performance badges push quotes up.
Repair costs and security
Cars with cheap parts and good security features tend to be easier to insure. A car that is commonly stolen may cost more to cover.
Check the car's history too
Before you commit, use the free MOT history checker to see MOT results, advisories and recorded mileage. A car that looks cheap to insure but fails tests repeatedly can cost more to run.
Third Party, Third Party Fire And Theft, Comprehensive
Many new drivers assume the cheapest level is third party, but it is not always the cheapest quote. Third party fire and theft adds cover for fire and theft of your car, and comprehensive cover adds damage to your own vehicle. The third party insurance explanation helps you decide, and a quote at each level is worth comparing, because pricing can be counter-intuitive.
| Cover level | What it usually covers | Worth considering if |
|---|---|---|
| Third party | Damage you cause to others | The car is low in value |
| Third party fire and theft | Adds fire and theft of your car | Theft is a worry where you park |
| Comprehensive | Adds damage to your own car | You want your own repairs covered |
Excess And Voluntary Excess
The excess is what you pay towards a claim. Choosing a higher voluntary excess may lower the premium, but only choose a level you could afford to pay on the day you need it.
- Compulsory excess is set by the insurer.
- Voluntary excess is an amount you add.
- Young or inexperienced drivers may face a higher compulsory excess.
- Some add-ons have their own excess.
Telematics Or Black Box Policies
A telematics policy uses a device or app to record how you drive, such as speed, braking, cornering and time of day.
How it can help
Good driving may reduce the cost at renewal, and some policies offer discounts over time.
What to check
- Are there curfews or mileage limits?
- What happens if you drive late at night for work?
- Is the premium reviewed during the year?
- How is the data used in a claim?
Privacy and data
Read how your driving data is stored and shared before you agree.
Adding A Named Driver To Someone Else's Policy
Being named on a parent's policy can be a legitimate route, but the main driver must genuinely be the main driver. Listing an experienced person as the main driver while the new driver uses the car most of the time is known as fronting and can invalidate cover.
Honest arrangements
- Be named as an occasional driver if that is true.
- Tell the insurer who uses the car and how often.
- Do not misstate who the registered keeper is.
Why it can still help
Some young drivers find being a named driver a useful way to start, and your own record then begins once you hold a policy of your own.
Pass Plus And Extra Training
Extra training after your test is aimed at motorway, night and bad-weather driving, which new drivers often have little experience of. Some insurers recognise extra training such as Pass Plus, though not all give a discount. Ask providers directly, and weigh the cost of the training against any saving.
Learner And Provisional Cover
Learners need suitable cover when practising in a private car. Check whether a separate learner policy or an extension to the owner's policy is needed, and what happens to the owner's no claims discount if an accident occurs. The short-term or temporary options are also worth understanding when you are between cars.
Starting A No Claims Discount
Your no claims discount grows with each claim-free year on your own policy. It is valuable, so protect it, and keep written proof of the years you have earned.
- Check whether protection is offered and what it covers.
- Ask how many years are needed to reach the top.
- Remember that a claim may reduce the discount even if protected.
Payment Options
Annual payment may cost less overall than monthly, but monthly payments can help cash flow. Compare the total, not just the first instalment.
Direct debit and missed payments
If a direct debit fails, cover can be cancelled. Keep an eye on payment dates.
Cancellation fees
Check for admin charges if you cancel or change the vehicle.
Comparing Quotes Properly
Use the same details, cover level and excess for each quote. Enter information truthfully, because incorrect details may lead to a refused claim.
Comparison sites versus direct
Comparison sites show many options, but some insurers are not listed. A direct quote from one or two more providers can be worth having.
Reading reviews
Reading car insurance reviews helps you judge claims handling and service, not only price.
Young Drivers Versus Late Starters
Age is only one part of the picture. A driver who passes at forty still has no record, but may be viewed differently from someone who passes at seventeen.
Passing young
Drivers in their late teens and early twenties usually see the highest premiums, because claim rates in that group are highest.
Passing later
Older new drivers may find quotes lower, although the lack of a no claims history still counts. Compare rather than assume.
Motorbikes, Vans And Other Vehicles
If your first vehicle is a motorbike, moped or van, pricing follows different rules. The motorbike MOT guide covers testing, and insurers will ask about licence category, use and engine size.
- Check your licence allows the vehicle.
- Declare business use if the van is for work.
- Ask whether the policy covers modifications and accessories.
Electric And Hybrid First Cars
An electric vehicle can be a sensible first car, but check repair costs, battery cover and charging equipment cover with the insurer. Some electric cars sit in higher groups than similar petrol ones, so look at the group rather than the fuel type.
Who Is On The Policy Matters
The registered keeper, the policyholder and the main driver can be different people, and mixing them up causes claim problems.
Keeper versus policyholder
The keeper is named on the V5C and is responsible for the car. The policyholder buys the insurance. Keep them aligned unless there is a genuine reason.
Main driver versus occasional driver
Answer honestly about who drives most. A claim can be reduced or refused if the answer was not true.
Saving Money Without Cutting Corners
Legitimate savings exist, but they should never mean lower honesty.
- Choose a lower insurance group car.
- Raise the voluntary excess only to an affordable level.
- Pay annually if you can.
- Reduce annual mileage only if the estimate is realistic.
- Park off-street where possible.
- Compare at every renewal.
Modifications And Parking
Alloy wheels, tuned engines or tinted windows can affect cover, so declare them. A locked garage or driveway may lower the cost compared with on-street parking.
Insuring Before You Drive
You must be insured before driving on a public road, and that includes the short drive home from a seller. Many buyers arrange cover online in advance so it starts at a set time, and keep a digital copy of the certificate on their phone. Do not rely on the seller's policy or on a promise that the car is covered for the day, because any cover must be in your name for the journey. Arrange the policy to start on the day you collect the car, and do not drive away without confirmation. Uninsured driving can lead to a fine, penalty points and seizure, so the risk is not worth taking.
Check the vehicle appears
After buying, you can see whether a vehicle appears on the Motor Insurance Database. The Motor Insurers' Bureau supports it, and askMID is a common way to check. The is my car insured steps show what to do if it does not.
Tax, MOT And Insurance Together
Insurance is one of several responsibilities. You also need vehicle tax and, for older cars, a valid MOT. See how to tax your vehicle and when is my MOT due so nothing lapses in your first year.
Buying A Used Car As A New Driver
First-time buyers are vulnerable to problems. The what to look for when buying a used car checklist covers basic checks, and check finance on a car explains why history checks matter before you pay.
If You Have A Claim Early On
Report promptly, avoid admitting fault at the scene and keep evidence. An early claim may raise the next renewal, but honest reporting is essential because failing to report can cause problems later.
At the scene
Make the vehicle safe, exchange names, addresses, registrations and insurer details, and take photographs of the scene, the damage and road conditions. Do not argue about blame, and call the emergency services if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked.
Afterwards
Contact your insurer as soon as you can, even if you do not plan to claim, because many policies require notice. Ask how the incident could affect your discount and whether a non-fault claim is treated differently. Keep a note of every call and reference number.
If the other driver has no insurance
Tell the police and your insurer, and ask what support your policy provides. Checking whether the other vehicle appears on the Motor Insurance Database may help, although the process has limits.
Renewal In Your First Years
Premiums often fall as you gain experience, but not automatically. Compare at each renewal. The car insurance renewal guidance shows what to check.
Mistakes New Drivers Make
- Choosing a car first and checking the insurance group second.
- Understating mileage or overstating experience.
- Leaving the policy to auto-renew without comparing.
- Driving a friend's car assuming it is covered.
- Forgetting that cheaper cover can mean a bigger excess.
Myths
- Myth: passing first time lowers your premium. Not necessarily.
- Myth: a named driver on a policy is always cheaper. Not always.
A Simple Plan For Your First Policy
- Check the car's group and history.
- Collect quotes at the same cover level and excess.
- Consider telematics if you are comfortable with it.
- Protect your no claims discount.
- Diarise the renewal date and compare again.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is insurance for a new driver?
There is no single figure, because quotes depend on age, postcode, the car, the cover level and the excess. New drivers usually pay more than experienced ones. The best way to find out is to compare several quotes using identical details, and to check the car's insurance group first.
Why is new driver auto insurance so expensive?
Insurers view drivers with little experience as higher risk, based on claims data. That is reflected in the premium. As you build a claim-free record, prices typically fall, although shopping around at each renewal still matters.
Is third party cheaper than comprehensive for new drivers?
Not always. Pricing is based on risk and several other factors, so third party cover can occasionally cost as much or more than a comprehensive quote. Compare all levels before choosing, and look at the excess as well as the premium.
Does a black box always reduce the cost?
No. It may help if you drive carefully and within the policy's limits, but it can also come with curfews or mileage restrictions. Read the terms, check how your driving is scored and find out how the policy is reviewed.
Can I be added to my parent's policy?
Often yes, as long as the arrangement is honest. If you are the main driver, the policy should say so. Listing someone else as the main driver to cut the price is fronting and can invalidate cover.
What is the best car for a new driver to insure?
Generally a small, lower-powered car in a low insurance group, with good security and affordable parts. Check the group before you buy, and look at the MOT history so running costs are not a surprise.
Do I need insurance to learn to drive in my own car?
Yes. A learner needs suitable cover when practising in a private car, and the car must also be taxed and have a valid MOT where required. Ask your insurer about learner cover or an extension.
Does Pass Plus reduce my premium?
Some insurers may recognise it, but not all do, and the benefit varies. Ask for quotes with and without it, and weigh the training cost against any saving.
How long until my premium falls?
It usually improves as you build claim-free years and gain experience, but there is no fixed timetable. Compare quotes at renewal, and keep proof of your no claims discount.
Can I check if my new car is insured?
You can look for a vehicle on the Motor Insurance Database using askMID or another official route. Allow time for your insurer to update records after purchase.
What happens if I drive without insurance?
You may face fines, penalty points, a vehicle being seized and difficulty getting cover later. Check the official guidance, and never drive until a valid policy is in place.
Official Sources
Rules, fees and deadlines change. Confirm anything that affects your money or legal position with the official service.