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Passing your test is a great feeling, until you see your first car insurance quote. New and young drivers usually pay the most, because insurers have little driving history to go on. The good news: there are honest, practical ways to bring the price down, and a few traps worth avoiding.
Know the two-year rule first
For the first two years after you pass your test, you’re on a probationary period. If you build up 6 or more penalty points in that time, including points carried over from your provisional licence, the DVLA will automatically revoke your licence. You’d have to reapply for a provisional licence and pass both the theory and practical tests again. Six points can come from a single offence, such as using a handheld phone while driving.
Points also push up insurance prices, so driving carefully in those first two years protects both your licence and your premium.
How to bring your first premium down
1. Choose your first car carefully
Every car sits in an insurance group from 1 to 50. Smaller, lower-powered cars in low groups are usually much cheaper to insure. Check the group before you buy, not after.
2. Consider a black box policy
Telematics, or “black box”, insurance bases part of your price on how you actually drive: speed, braking, time of day and so on. Careful drivers can see lower prices at renewal. Check the rules first, such as night-time driving limits or mileage caps.
3. Add an experienced named driver, honestly
Adding a parent or partner with a long, clean driving record can sometimes reduce your price. But you must be the main driver if you drive the car most. Putting a parent down as the main driver of a car you mainly use is called fronting. It’s fraud, it can invalidate your policy, and it can mean claims aren’t paid.
4. Look at Pass Plus
Pass Plus is a practical course of about six hours for newly qualified drivers, covering situations such as motorway, night and rural driving. Many insurers offer a discount if you complete it, but not all do. Check whether your insurer recognises it, and whether the saving outweighs the course cost.
5. Keep the car somewhere secure
A car kept on a driveway or in a garage is usually cheaper to insure than one parked on the street. Fitting approved security such as an immobiliser or tracker can help too.
6. Be accurate about mileage and your job
Give a realistic annual mileage and describe your job or studies accurately. Wrong details might lower a quote today, but they can invalidate your cover when you need it.
7. Pay annually if you can
Monthly payments usually mean borrowing the cost of your policy, with interest. If you or your family can pay upfront, it’s usually cheaper overall.
8. Start building your no claims discount
Each year without a claim builds your no claims discount, which can make a big difference over time. Your second and third years should get noticeably cheaper if you stay claim-free.
9. Avoid modifications
Alloy wheels, body kits, tinted windows and engine remaps can all push up your premium. Any changes must be declared to your insurer. Undeclared modifications can invalidate your policy.
10. Compare, and compare again at renewal
Prices vary a lot between insurers, especially for new drivers. Compare before you buy, and again every year at renewal.
Learning to drive? Get the right cover
If you’re still learning in a family car, you’ll need to be insured on it as a learner. You can usually be added to the owner’s policy, or take out separate learner driver insurance, which avoids risking the owner’s no claims discount. Once you pass, tell the insurer straight away: learner cover won’t cover you as a full licence holder.
Ready to compare?
Once you’ve checked the points above, compare car insurance quotes from UK insurers. It’s free and there’s no obligation to buy.
Related: How to cut your car insurance: 10 practical tips for UK drivers
Sources: Ashfords, New drivers and the law; What Car?, What is Pass Plus?.
