New drivers and cheap snotters.

[Handie Andy]

So having passed my test finally on Monday just gone i have been looking at cars and insurance quotes. Why is it that i can buy a car out right for under a grand, but pay 4x the amount to insure it?.

But i could go and get me a 2011 corsa on a finance deal pay way over the odds but get 'more' reasonable quotes in the 1500-2000 price mark.

Any tips anyone? at this rate my licence will be better placed in a picture frame.

P.s I did have a second thought about finance but my job as of last night, might be no more from the 24th December.

[shovelheadrob]

It's down to statistics

[jagnet]

Handie Andy said:

Why is it that i can buy a car out right for under a grand, but pay 4x the amount to insure it?.

Because there's a lot of other newly qualified drivers doing the same, then bumping into the scenery/other cars as newly qualified drivers have a habit of doing.

The more you can distance yourself from this the better your quotes will get. Look outside the box for ones you wouldn't automatically think of as first cars.

[cptsideways]

DSC, ABS, TC, BFD is fitted to new cars, you have to be a right numty to crash one!

[k15tox]

cptsideways said:

DSC, ABS, TC, BFD is fitted to new cars, you have to be a right numty to crash one!

never underestimate the ablility of a roybacer.

i managed to power my 1.0 corsa down a ditch....lift off oversteer.

didnt have a clue what it was when i was 17!

saying that i had nothing, not even abs!!

theres only so much electronics can do!

[EDLT]

k15tox said:

1.0 corsa ....lift off oversteer.

Pics or it didn't happen

[Bill]

jagnet said:

Because there's a lot of other newly qualified drivers doing the same, then bumping into the scenery/other cars as newly qualified drivers have a habit of doing.

The more you can distance yourself from this the better your quotes will get. Look outside the box for ones you wouldn't automatically think of as first cars.

it's down to how many new drivers bin old cars vs how many bin new ones. Add to that the fact that a snotter is more likely to be neglected so tyres and brakes etc will be more knackered and modern driver aids and the new car is seen as less of a risk.

[k15tox]

EDLT said:

Pics or it didn't happen

havent got any pics of the car!

i wouldnt show them on here anyway.....shameful.

had some tsw alloys with some 195 yokohamas and it was lowered on springs.

came off a big roundabout at a silly speed, started to understeer i panicked lifted off and hey presto!!!

i wasnt aware of the procedure that is 'counter steering' and promply made my way into a ditch!

hey, you live and you learn!

[sparks_E39]

Go for something a young driver typically doesn't drive. Even something with a big engine, you may be pleasantly suprised. At your age I'd rather something that does 25mpg and costs less than a grand to insure, over something that does 40 mpg but costs £3000 third party.

[MG CHRIS]

Well i drive a very non 19 teen year old car its a quantum mk1 kit car.

Paid £435 and insurance tpft £735 which was half the price that i was paying for my mg zs i had before.

Just try different cars and play about on price comparison sites when you find a car at a reasonable price to insure and you like phone up companies almost always get a better quote on the phone. Add parents on the policy put the excess up and if you can limit millage will all reduce the quote.

Running cars is not cheap for new drivers.

[eltax91]

Think outside the box, get something others don't. What about an old Landy? A series, or an early Defender. They can be had on classic policies, and OK, you don't accrue no claims, but they are a LOT cheaper.

[TomCooper]

I'm in a similar position to you. I passed my test 10 months ago and still on the hunt for some decent insurance. If you don't need 4 seats look at a smart fortwo. The insurance in staggeringly cheap for young drivers and they arent too expensive to buy now. Keep it for a year or 2 to get some no claims then upgrade to something better

[Handie Andy]

Thanks guys i will keep looking!.

May i just add that i am now 25 so not quite the young teen driver. Which i thought would go in my favour but apparently not. Having children means smaller cars are out of the question. I guess my hunt continues.

[chrisispringles]

Have a look at old Volvos like the 440 or 850, I'd have thought they'll be fairly reasonable for a new driver.

[lawrence567]

I passed 18 months ago at the tender age of 24...
I ended up with a Punto, it cost me £980 FC.
Currently i have a 1.6VVT Scenic that's costing me circa £1100 FC!
Looking at 325D's / Alfa GT Coupe's the insurance is about £400 cheaper than the Scenic..

[V8Triumph]

Get yourself an old car, I mean reaaaaaally old, like an MGB or a Midget - perfect for a first time driver and cheap to insure

[annodomini2]

eltax91 said:

Think outside the box, get something others don't. What about an old Landy? A series, or an early Defender. They can be had on classic policies, and OK, you don't accrue no claims, but they are a LOT cheaper.

Most classic policies typically limit to 21 and over.

998 Mini City, no modifications, getting one in good condition for reasonable money is the challenge.

[Greg_D]

an old jag or something is usually cheap to insure because they are often driven by old duffers, but they do have a touch of cool about them as opposed to the other 'leftfield' choices you may be considering

[jagnet]

Greg_D said:

an old jag ... often driven by old duffers

I had an invitation to the local bowling club left on mine. A little early yet for me to be thinking of that, but clearly the stereotype is alive and well around here.

If it makes for cheaper insurance, I'm not letting on that it's not true

[Handie Andy]

Just spent the last 4-5 hours grabbing reg numbers off ebay and getting quotes. Everything was still coming back 2900+ except a daewoo matiz which came back at 2600 with a female named driver. Looks like i just need to pick a car and bite the bullet for a year.