Life can be tough for young drivers when you're faced with enormous car insurance costs.
We'll run through a list of ways you can keep the cost of car insurance down.
Key takeaways
- 17-20-year-olds pay far more for car insurance on average compared to any other age group, at £1,787*
- Premiums for young drivers naturally fall over time with more driving experience and built years of no-claims bonus
- However, there are some tips to help keep costs down especially if it's your first time buying car insurance
The "Golden Window": Best time to get car insurance quotes
Most factors that are used to calculate your car insurance premiums are out of your control, but there is one that's in your hands: timing. This refers to how far in advance you buy car insurance before the policy start date.
The best time to get car insurance quotes is exactly 20 to 27 days before your policy start date. The closer you buy car insurance to the policy start date, the more you could end up paying.
This is because insurers view last-minute shopping as a sign of high-risk behaviour.
Telematics: The path to the cheapest insurance for new drivers
Telematics car insurance – you may have heard of it, but what does it actually mean? Essentially it's a type of policy whereby your car is fitted with some form of tracking device to monitor your driving.
There are a few variations of telematics, such as a black box device that's fitted to your car or by activating an app on your phone while you drive.
By monitoring your driving, insurance companies can calculate your premiums based on how you drive. Some telematics policies restrict how you use your car with driving curfews or mileage caps.
However, telematics policies help promote safer driving, and in turn, it can reduce what young drivers pay for car insurance.
How to lower car insurance with a named driver
Adding a named driver to your car insurance policy is essentially insuring someone else to drive your car on a non-primary basis.
But surely the addition of another driver on a policy costs more money, right?
It can. But if you're a young driver, and you add an older, more experienced driver (such as a parent), it can actually reduce the risk profile of the car! Ideally, adding someone with a limited to no claims history can reduce the cost of insurance. However, bringing someone onto your policy with a lengthy claim rap sheet can have the opposite effect, and you might end up paying more.
If you plan on adding a named driver to your policy, just make sure you're the main driver of the vehicle. If the named driver uses the car more often than you do, you'll be committing an offence known as 'fronting'.
When could the cost of your insurance be reduced?
If you're faced with exceptionally high car insurance premiums, it's completely understandable if you're asking yourself when you can expect financial relief. The good news is that help is just around the corner, especially after your first year of claim-free driving.
Usually beginning to build your no-claims bonus is when you can expect your car insurance premiums to drop, and at ages 21 and 25.
The average cost of car insurance for someone aged 17-20 with no years built up of no-claims bonus is £2,218*. This drops significantly to £1,321* for those in the same age group with 1 year of no-claims bonus, on average.
You may also be able to save further if you complete the UK government's Pass Plus course. It's a 6-hour course split into modules you can undertake with an approved driving instructor designed to improve your skills and safety behind the wheel. It can cost between £200 and £300. or just £20 if you live in Wales! But some insurers may offer you a discount on your car insurance premiums if you have a certificate.
Choosing the right car insurance for new drivers
There's lots to think about when buying a car, but a vehicle's insurance group is just as important as how it looks. That's because a car's insurance group can impact what you pay for a policy. The higher the group, the more expensive it can be to insure a vehicle due to the risk involved and the cost of repairs.
So, what are the common characteristics of group 1 insurance cars (the lowest insurance group)? Generally these cars are smaller in size, have modest performance, integrated safety features and have good fuel economy. Car modifications can increase your premiums, so it's best to avoid these where possible.
Examples of group 1 insurance cars include the Hyundai I10, Kia Picanto and Volkswagen Polo. But if you're unsure, try our car insurance group checker to find out the insurance groups of different cars.
Practical hacks for how to get cheap car insurance
If you're looking to make even more savings on your car insurance premiums, there are plenty of small tweaks that can provide a helping hand! Some of these include:
Shopping around for car insurance: Comparing car insurance is quicker than you think, and it could save you money! Using price comparison websites like Confused.com can help you find the cover you need for the right price.
Paying for your car insurance annually: It can be a large sum to pay up front, but paying for your car insurance annually instead of monthly can actually work out cheaper. That's because insurers tend to charge you interest for spreading the cost of car insurance over monthly payments. So, paying up front, if you can afford it, can help you save over the long run.
Adjust your voluntary excess: A voluntary excess is what you're willing to contribute towards a potential claim. If you can afford to do so, raising this amount may bring down the cost of your car insurance.
Be precise with mileage: Underestimating your mileage can void your cover, but overestimating means you may be paying to cover mileage you don't need. That's why it's always important to accurately estimate your mileage when searching for a car insurance quote.
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*Confused.com data based on car insurance policies between October 2025 and January 2026
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