The most comprehensive report on car insurance pricing in the UK

Younger drivers still pay the most overall. 17-year-olds now pay £1,695 on average, even though prices have decreased over the past year. That’s because newer drivers typically have less experience and little or no no-claims history, which increases risk in the eyes of insurers.

As drivers get older, prices usually come down. On average, premiums don’t fall below £1,000 until around age 30, and they only start to look closer to the UK average in the mid-to late 30s. From there, prices tend to level out, with drivers in their 60s paying some of the lowest amounts, at around £465, on average.

Even if two drivers look identical on paper, living in different areas can mean very different prices. That’s because insurers take into account things like:

• Crime and theft rates in the area


• Traffic levels and congestion, which can increase the chance of accidents


• How often claims happen locally, and how expensive they tend to be

This is why Inner London is the most expensive area in the UK for car insurance, while drivers in the South West typically pay some of the lowest prices. Other areas, such as Manchester and Merseyside, have seen bigger price drops over the past year. The map shows how average prices compare across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

See car insurance costs by region.

How often you use your car might have a bigger impact on your car insurance price than you may think.

People who drive around 11,000 to 14,000 miles a year tend to pay less, while prices rise at both ends of the scale.

• Drivers covering around 14,000 miles a year pay about £601 on average
• Those who say they drive around 5,000 miles pay closer to £768
• At the highest mileages, prices increase again, with drivers doing around 50,000 miles paying close to £946

That’s a difference of more than £300 a year, based on mileage alone.

Why mileage affects the price
Driving very little isn’t always cheaper. Lower mileage can mean less regular driving, which insurers may see as higher risk. On the other hand, higher mileage means more time on the road, increasing the chance of an accident.

It’s also important to be accurate. Underestimating your mileage to get a cheaper price can backfire - not only could it cost more, but being over your declared mileage when making a claim could cause problems with your cover.

The table shows how average premiums change across different mileage ranges.

Insurers use occupation as one of many signals to help assess risk, based on how claims have historically varied across different roles. The type of job you have can suggest things like driving patterns, mileage and working hours.

In general, jobs that have regular hours and  involve lower mileage and less time driving tend to be cheaper to insure. However, small wording changes can sometimes make a difference. Two job titles that sound similar can be treated differently by insurers, even if the role itself hasn’t changed.

For example, someone listed as a “Fast Food Caterer” pays £1,312 on average, while a “Caterer” pays £733 -  a potential saving of £579. Likewise, a “Mechanic” pays £1,266 on average, compared to £672 for a “Mechanical Engineer” - a difference of £594. 

The table shows some of the cheapest job titles for car insurance, based on average premiums.

*All data based on quotes made by Confused.com customers between March 2025 - May 2026. Prices based on the average median price displayed. The top and bottom 10 occupations were selected based on a minimum of 2,000 quotes per occupation. ‘Alternative’ occupations may include roles where fewer than 2,000 quotes were returned.

England shows the widest variation in car insurance prices anywhere in the UK.

Drivers in Inner London pay the most, with average premiums of £1,088, even with prices falling by 8% over the past year. Other large cities and urban areas also tend to be more expensive, where traffic levels, theft and claims costs are likely to be higher.

The South West is the cheapest region in England, with drivers paying £504 on average.

Some of the biggest price drops over the past year have been seen in Manchester and Merseyside, where premiums have fallen by £89 on average.

Car insurance in Wales is generally cheaper than the UK average, though prices still vary depending on where you live. Drivers in Central and North Wales pay the least, with average premiums of £511. Prices are higher in South Wales, where larger cities like Cardiff tend to see higher traffic levels. Here, drivers pay around £570 on average.

Overall, prices across Wales have continued to fall over the past year, helping to keep premiums relatively stable compared to some other parts of the UK.

Car insurance in Scotland remains relatively affordable overall. Drivers in the Scottish Borders pay the least, with average premiums of £539. Prices are higher in Central Scotland, where larger cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh see more congestion and potentially higher claims costs. Here, drivers pay around £717 on average.

Elsewhere, premiums sit somewhere in between. Drivers in East and Northeast Scotland pay around £599, while those in the Highlands and Islands pay £583 on average.

Prices in Scotland are now around 1-2% more expensive year-on-year. This is a marginal increase, but car insurance costs here are relatively low compared to the UK average.

Northern Ireland is one of the more expensive parts of the UK for car insurance, with average premiums of £1,020.

While car insurance premiums have increased minimally in Scotland year-on-year, prices in Northern Ireland have risen significantly over the past 12 months by £168 (20%). This suggests different market conditions compared to the rest of the UK.