Learner driver insurance

If you have a provisional driving licence and are learning to drive, you’ll need to get the right insurance in place. Along with professional driving lessons, you may want to get extra practice in with a family member or friend in their car. Or in your own car if you’re lucky enough to have one. 

Whatever your circumstances, if you’re not having lessons with an instructor in their car, you’ll need a policy in place. Here are your options:

• Annual car insurance – this is a 12-month policy that starts on a provisional licence. Once you pass your test, you can amend your policy to change your licence type. This kind of policy might be suitable if you own your car. When getting a quote, make sure to select ‘UK provisional’ when telling us your licence type. Get a quote to start comparing annual policies.

• Short-term car insurance for learners – this offers cover for up to 90 days. This type of policy is suitable if you’re driving someone else’s car while you learn to drive. Get a quote to get started.

• Named driver – if you’re learning to drive in a family member or friends’ car, they can add you as a named driver on their policy. This can work out cheaper than taking out your own policy. But it can affect the main policyholder if you have an accident while driving the car. Always remember to add the main driver as the person who uses the car the most. Otherwise this is what’s known as ‘Fronting’ which is illegal.

We compare prices from top insurance providers across the UK. Sort your results based on what’s most important to you, whether that’s the price or the policy benefits.

One way to reduce the cost of insurance for learner drivers and get flexible cover that suits your own situation is with short term car insurance. If you only need learner driver insurance for a month or a week, then just paying for what you need could save you money. 

Tempcover provides learner drivers aged between 17 - 21 with a fully comprehensive policy. Cover is available from 7 - 28 days or if you need longer, 30, 60 or 90 day policies are also available. The average cost for short-term cover is £116.77* (based on 14 days cover).

You can add learner driver insurance alongside any existing car insurance policy, it doesn’t need to be with Tempcover, but with them you get:

• Instant cover. Immediate start time is available, or if you’d prefer you can arrange cover for up to 28 days in advance.
• Policy documents delivered straight to your email. As soon as you’ve purchased the policy you’ll receive your policy documents by email moments later. 
• If using someone else’s car then the car owner’s no claims bonus won’t be affected in the event of a claim. 
• Providing you are not using your instructor’s car, you can use this policy to take your practical driving test (cover ends if you successfully pass your test and gain your full driving licence). 

Tempcover learner driver insurance offers flexible short-term cover for provisional licence holders who want to learn to drive with someone they know, in a familiar car. And it could be cheaper than being added to an existing policy as a named driver. Get a quote to get started.

*Based on Tempcover data. 14 days average duration, average premium is £116.77 (inc. Admin fee). Prices correct Jan - Dec 2020.

Learning to drive should be a new and exciting experience but the reality is that passing your test and getting your licence can be stressful and expensive. The cost of a provisional licence and professional lessons alone can cost over £1,000**.

Insurance companies base their policy prices on risk. That’s why learner drivers with little driving experience who are looking for an annual 12-month policy often struggle to find competitive insurance prices. But there are ways that could help you save some money:

• Consider the car you drive: all cars are grouped from 1-50 for insurance purposes. Generally, the higher the car insurance group, the more expensive your insurance will be. 

• Black box, or telematics: this type of policy is suited for young or inexperienced drivers. It can make insurance more affordable. 

• Voluntary excess: Opting to pay a higher excess can help reduce your price. But remember to only add in the amount you can afford to pay if you make a claim.

You'll also pay different premiums based on the level of cover you choose (third-party only, third-party fire and theft or comprehensive), which you can read more about in our guide to car insurance policy types.

If you’re looking to get a quote for a standard 12-month policy – get started. Getting a quote takes about 5 minutes. You’ll need the following details at hand:

• Details of the car you want to insure
• Details of any other drivers you want on the policy
• Your provisional driving licence number

Or, if you want short-term cover, you can get started now. You’ll need the same details as above to get a quote.

According to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), you don't need a specific number of lessons or driving hours with a professional instructor before you can take your test. Instead, you should book your test when you believe you are ready.

The driving test is continuously being updated to adapt to changes in driving technology and habits.

In 2017, changes to the driving test included following directions from a sat nav. The independent driving part of the test also increased from ten to 20 minutes.

Reversing around a corner will no longer be part of the test, along with 'turn-in-the-road'. Instead you could be asked to do one of the following:

• parallel park at the side of the road
• pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for 2 car lengths and rejoin the traffic
• park in a bay - driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out

Since June 2018, learner drivers can now take lessons on motorways but must be accompanied by a professional driving instructor. Any motorway lessons are voluntary and it is up to the driving instructor to decide whether their learner driver is ready for them.