What level of student car insurance should I get?
There are three levels to choose from when buying car insurance.
Remember, the lowest level of cover isn’t always the cheapest. You may end up with a higher level of cover for a cheaper price.
The three levels are:
- Third party insurance
- Third party fire and theft car insurance
- Comprehensive car insurance
How much does car insurance cost for students?
The exact cost of your student car insurance is not just down to your age. It’s based on a variety of factors, including your driving history and the car you drive.
The location of the university you attend can influence the cost of your insurance too, as crime and insurance claim rates are often higher in university towns and cities.
This table shows the average comprehensive policy price for a selection of the top universities in the UK.
The prices shown are an average across all age ranges, and not just student car insurance quotes.
| University 2 | Avg fully comp policy price 3 |
|---|---|
|
University of Birmingham
|
£735
|
|
University of Cambridge
|
£428
|
|
The University of Edinburgh
|
£432
|
|
Lancaster University
|
£425
|
|
University of Leeds
|
£665
|
|
University College London
|
£1,046
|
|
University of Manchester
|
£782
|
|
Newcastle University
|
£502
|
|
The University of Nottingham
|
£522
|
|
University of Oxford
|
£447
|
|
The University of Sheffield
|
£572
|
|
University of Southampton
|
£447
|
|
University of St Andrews
|
£393
|
|
The University of Warwick
|
£557
|
2. Universities have been taken from the 2020 UniRank league table. We've added just one London University as all would show the same car insurance premium. Price is based on West Central London.
3. Confused.com price insurance index Q2 2022.
How can I get cheaper student car insurance?
Insurers consider many factors when working out how much you’ll pay for insurance. This includes things like your age, where you live and the car you drive.
This can leave many wondering how to get cheaper car insurance.
But don't worry. Here are a few things you could do to help save yourself some money:
- Shop around and avoid auto renewal
- Think about the car you drive
- Consider a black-box policy
- Add a named driver
- Accurately estimate your mileage
- Pay upfront
- Increase your excess
- Avoid modifications
- Consider pay per mile insurance
- Take an advanced driver course
Shop around and avoid auto renewal as insurers don’t always reward loyalty, so there’s a chance the price they offer you will be more than what you paid last year.
Think about the car you drive as cars in high car insurance groups can be pricier to insure than those in lower ones.
Consider black box insurance or a telematics insurance policy, as these may be cheaper than standard car insurance policies.
Add a named driver to your policy, as this may cut your premiums.
Pay upfront as it can be as much as 16%4 cheaper to pay for your insurance in one go, rather than in monthly installments.
Accurately estimate your mileage as over-estimating could increase your price. The average is about 6,5004.
Increase your voluntary excess as the more you're willing to pay, the cheaper your policy is likely to be.
Avoid car modifications as most are likely to bump up the cost of your insurance.
Consider pay per mile insurance, also known as pay as you go car insurance, as these policies only bill you for the miles you drive.
Take an advanced driver course as insurers may offer you a lower price if you do.
4Based on Confused.com data Jan 2022 - Jun 2022
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Need more help?
Can I just use my parents' car insurance?
Your parents could add you as a named driver on their car.
But if you were to take this car away to university you would actually be the main driver.
This is known as fronting, which is illegal and could invalidate your policy.
Can I get temporary student car insurance?
Yes. It’s possible for all drivers to buy temporary car insurance as and when they need it.
This can be helpful for students who only have access to cars when they're back home, for example.
Can I insure my housemates on my car?
Yes, if they occasionally drive the car you can add them as named drivers on the policy.
Can I put my mum and dad down as named drivers?
If you would like your parents to drive your car from time to time when you are at home, you could add them as named drivers.
Adding older, more experienced drivers to your policy can be a helpful way to reduce your premiums.
Do I still need insurance if I leave my car home while I'm at uni?
If your car is parked on the street it will need to be insured.
However if you can park it off road in a garage or on a drive you can declare it SORN.
Before you get behind the wheel again you will need to arrange insurance and pay your road tax.
Do I need to insure my car while I'm not using it?
The only way to avoid insuring your car is to declare it off road with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
But remember, a car with a SORN can’t be driven or parked on any public road – it’s a £2,500 fine otherwise.
See our guide on how to SORN a car for tips on declaring your car off-road.
Will I pay more for car insurance as a mature student?
Age will usually be on your side when it comes to car insurance, with older more experienced drivers benefiting from lower prices.
However, mature students still pay a lot for car insurance compared to other drivers of the same age. This is because being a student is considered a higher risk ‘occupation’.
Can address should I use when I get student car insurance?
When getting a quote, you should use the address where your car is for most of the year. If you’re a student living away from home, you should – for insurance purposes – use your student accommodation as the main address on your policy.
Student areas are highly populated and often higher risk, so this may hike up the price.
It’s worth noting that failure to state the correct address can lead to your policy being invalid in the event of a claim.
What our student car insurance expert says
If you’re a student you might live in a city, where crime rates can be higher. This can see you paying more for your car insurance. It might be tempting to use your home address instead of your student accommodation to get a cheaper quote, but doing so runs the risk of invalidating your policy and leaving you without cover.
Alex Kindred
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Types of car insurance
Black box car insurance
lets you prove you’re a safe driver, and save money on your policy, even if you’re inexperienced or seen as high risk.
Classic car insurance
offers cover for owners of classic cars. For insurance purposes, a classic car can be any car that’s older than 15 years.
Business car insurance
covers you if you use your car for work, including travelling between offices or across the country.
Car insurance
is a legal requirement if you're driving in the UK. Find out more about choosing the right cover at the right price.
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