New driver insurance, impossible in the UK?
Discussion
Hi there,
My daughter will soon start to learn driving, and I'm thinking of getting her a smaller car of her own, possible a Seat Leon 1.5L (Manual) around the 2018 generation, you can find decent ones for £12k-ish.
I've tried getting some quotes and its ridiculous, if I (a grown up 45 year old man with a licence for 17 years), try to get a quote I'm getting a reasonable £700-£1,000 (In London, so that's ok). But the moment I add her as a driver with 0 years/month experience (but a full UK licence) it goes past £10k a year!
I played with different parameters, put the car under her moms name (even better risk than me), yet nada.
What's the logic in this? We want people to learn to drive, get a licence then NOT drive for 2-3 years? Is that a better risk profile for insurers?
I know some people say new drivers should drive the smallest crappiest possible car, but:
1. A Leon isn't such a luxury and is literally only 20cm longer than an Ibiza
2. I do care for her safety and want to find her a safe/modern car bit not too big - bear in mind that is an SUV crashes into a C-segment car...
Are here any tricks I'm missing? Thank you
My daughter will soon start to learn driving, and I'm thinking of getting her a smaller car of her own, possible a Seat Leon 1.5L (Manual) around the 2018 generation, you can find decent ones for £12k-ish.
I've tried getting some quotes and its ridiculous, if I (a grown up 45 year old man with a licence for 17 years), try to get a quote I'm getting a reasonable £700-£1,000 (In London, so that's ok). But the moment I add her as a driver with 0 years/month experience (but a full UK licence) it goes past £10k a year!
I played with different parameters, put the car under her moms name (even better risk than me), yet nada.
What's the logic in this? We want people to learn to drive, get a licence then NOT drive for 2-3 years? Is that a better risk profile for insurers?
I know some people say new drivers should drive the smallest crappiest possible car, but:
1. A Leon isn't such a luxury and is literally only 20cm longer than an Ibiza
2. I do care for her safety and want to find her a safe/modern car bit not too big - bear in mind that is an SUV crashes into a C-segment car...
Are here any tricks I'm missing? Thank you
Young driver insurance is seriously high and often hear of drivers who have 2-3 years no claims still paying £1500+ a year let along brand new.
OP, try looking at cars with 1.0 n/a engines and see how the quotes come in. The Leon is a nice car and probably nicer than most new drivers (even if you think it's fairly average). Check a quote on an UP! or similar and see if they're any more favourable
OP, try looking at cars with 1.0 n/a engines and see how the quotes come in. The Leon is a nice car and probably nicer than most new drivers (even if you think it's fairly average). Check a quote on an UP! or similar and see if they're any more favourable
TB404 said:
Hi there,
My daughter will soon start to learn driving, and I'm thinking of getting her a smaller car of her own, possible a Seat Leon 1.5L (Manual) around the 2018 generation, you can find decent ones for £12k-ish.
I've tried getting some quotes and its ridiculous, if I (a grown up 45 year old man with a licence for 17 years), try to get a quote I'm getting a reasonable £700-£1,000 (In London, so that's ok). But the moment I add her as a driver with 0 years/month experience (but a full UK licence) it goes past £10k a year!
I played with different parameters, put the car under her moms name (even better risk than me), yet nada.
What's the logic in this? We want people to learn to drive, get a licence then NOT drive for 2-3 years? Is that a better risk profile for insurers?
I know some people say new drivers should drive the smallest crappiest possible car, but:
1. A Leon isn't such a luxury and is literally only 20cm longer than an Ibiza
2. I do care for her safety and want to find her a safe/modern car bit not too big - bear in mind that is an SUV crashes into a C-segment car...
Are here any tricks I'm missing? Thank you
Insure in her name, you and Mum as named drivers. Look at different cars.My daughter will soon start to learn driving, and I'm thinking of getting her a smaller car of her own, possible a Seat Leon 1.5L (Manual) around the 2018 generation, you can find decent ones for £12k-ish.
I've tried getting some quotes and its ridiculous, if I (a grown up 45 year old man with a licence for 17 years), try to get a quote I'm getting a reasonable £700-£1,000 (In London, so that's ok). But the moment I add her as a driver with 0 years/month experience (but a full UK licence) it goes past £10k a year!
I played with different parameters, put the car under her moms name (even better risk than me), yet nada.
What's the logic in this? We want people to learn to drive, get a licence then NOT drive for 2-3 years? Is that a better risk profile for insurers?
I know some people say new drivers should drive the smallest crappiest possible car, but:
1. A Leon isn't such a luxury and is literally only 20cm longer than an Ibiza
2. I do care for her safety and want to find her a safe/modern car bit not too big - bear in mind that is an SUV crashes into a C-segment car...
Are here any tricks I'm missing? Thank you
Have a black box if you must.
Avoid Hastings Insurance.
Been through similar with my daughter. Went through numerous car's (wanted to het her a 1.0 fiesta) and there a huge differance between seemingly similar cars.
All 1.0l, value maybe 3-4k and the Fiesta, VW's all came out at £3k or so. The only affordable car was the 1.0l 107/Aygo/C2 which came out at £1k
All 1.0l, value maybe 3-4k and the Fiesta, VW's all came out at £3k or so. The only affordable car was the 1.0l 107/Aygo/C2 which came out at £1k
About 6 weeks ago I paid £2600 to insure my daughter on a 1.2 2012 Kia Picanto when she passed her test.
She was 2 months shy of her 18th birthday.
18 months ago my eldest passed her test, same age and it cost £900 to insure her on a Hyundai i10, under the skin the same car. As we all know prices have gone mad recently, but was taken back by that increase.
All I can say, like others have, shop around with various cars/insurers.
For a bit of context we live South London/Surrey borders, insurance in daughters name, Black box, me and wife are named drivers, car parked on drive overnight and she’s covered for commuting to college.
She was 2 months shy of her 18th birthday.
18 months ago my eldest passed her test, same age and it cost £900 to insure her on a Hyundai i10, under the skin the same car. As we all know prices have gone mad recently, but was taken back by that increase.
All I can say, like others have, shop around with various cars/insurers.
For a bit of context we live South London/Surrey borders, insurance in daughters name, Black box, me and wife are named drivers, car parked on drive overnight and she’s covered for commuting to college.
Building some NCD on a classic car policy could be the answer here depending on where you live and if it can fit with your daughter's lifestyle (i.e. her appetite for adventure!).
Having started driving in 2009 I was merrily driving around in all sorts of fun things in my late teens and 20s and can't ever remember paying more than £350 to insure the old stuff (Beetles, BMW E21, Mk1 and Mk2 Golfs (inc. early GTIs), Mercedes W115 and W123, Porsche 924 and even a 6.75 V8 RR Silver Shadow...). Most of the cars increased in value during my ownership and it taught me a thing or two about car maintenance and driving along the way too.
Having started driving in 2009 I was merrily driving around in all sorts of fun things in my late teens and 20s and can't ever remember paying more than £350 to insure the old stuff (Beetles, BMW E21, Mk1 and Mk2 Golfs (inc. early GTIs), Mercedes W115 and W123, Porsche 924 and even a 6.75 V8 RR Silver Shadow...). Most of the cars increased in value during my ownership and it taught me a thing or two about car maintenance and driving along the way too.
Go for an Aygo / 107 / C1 (all the same basic car but with cosmetic differences) which sit in insurance groups 1-3 depending on version. Admittedly we're in Dorset rather than London, but eldest daughter was getting first year (17 y/o) quotes of £1,200-£1,500 on her 2011 Aygo "Go" (Group 3), depending on whether she opted for a black box or not. Annual VED rate is £20, and the car is ULEZ compliant as well, not that ULEZ is a massive consideration in this neck of the woods...yet.
These are a near perfect first cars. Tiny, great visibility, a doddle to park and manoeuvre, light (875kg), and a little 1.0 3 cylinder engine that you simply can't coax below 40 mpg however you drive it. 4* NCAP rating as well. And of course Toyota reliability. We've had this one for 18 months. I've serviced it once and other than that haven't touched it.
Anything in a double-digit insurance group (which a 1.5 TSI Leon is) will be eye wateringly expensive to insure as a new driver.
These are a near perfect first cars. Tiny, great visibility, a doddle to park and manoeuvre, light (875kg), and a little 1.0 3 cylinder engine that you simply can't coax below 40 mpg however you drive it. 4* NCAP rating as well. And of course Toyota reliability. We've had this one for 18 months. I've serviced it once and other than that haven't touched it.
Anything in a double-digit insurance group (which a 1.5 TSI Leon is) will be eye wateringly expensive to insure as a new driver.
Edited by Limpet on Monday 4th December 09:08
Toyota Aygo / Peugeot 107/108 depending on age / Citroen C1 (not C2) with 1.0L engine is your friend. You're never going to get anything bigger with a bigger engine with a turbocharger insured for a new driver for less than several thousand pounds.
I mean, come on, it was the same when we were younger as well; it wasn't as if you could get your licence and jump into an Escort Cosworth the next day with insurance for £200...
I mean, come on, it was the same when we were younger as well; it wasn't as if you could get your licence and jump into an Escort Cosworth the next day with insurance for £200...
My daughter is 17 next year so I started doing a few quotes recently for a Surrey postcode with myself and her mum as named drivers. On a car worth about £4K the quotes were
Renault Clio 1.2 16v = £3000
VW Up! = £2225
Hyundai i10 = £1775 (the absolute cheapest car I could find to insure)
Interestingly in a lot of cases fully comprehensive was cheaper.
It will mainly be down to the car, as others have said a 1.5 Turbo will be seen as a much higher risk than a 1 litre 3 cylinder. I changed the car to my car, a Renault Megane 1.4 turbo and the quote was £6K
Oh and someone will be along to tell you that the Volvo C30 is the secret car insurance weapon and they are cheap to insure as it is not a youngsters car. In my experience this is not true. It was cheaper than the Clio I will admit but it was still £2600.
All these people who "want to get something fun" for their 17 year old son's car such as a Swift Sport or 208 Gti how on earth do you do it?
Renault Clio 1.2 16v = £3000
VW Up! = £2225
Hyundai i10 = £1775 (the absolute cheapest car I could find to insure)
Interestingly in a lot of cases fully comprehensive was cheaper.
It will mainly be down to the car, as others have said a 1.5 Turbo will be seen as a much higher risk than a 1 litre 3 cylinder. I changed the car to my car, a Renault Megane 1.4 turbo and the quote was £6K
Oh and someone will be along to tell you that the Volvo C30 is the secret car insurance weapon and they are cheap to insure as it is not a youngsters car. In my experience this is not true. It was cheaper than the Clio I will admit but it was still £2600.
All these people who "want to get something fun" for their 17 year old son's car such as a Swift Sport or 208 Gti how on earth do you do it?
QuickQuack said:
Toyota Aygo / Peugeot 107/108 depending on age / Citroen C1 (not C2) with 1.0L engine is your friend. You're never going to get anything bigger with a bigger engine with a turbocharger insured for a new driver for less than several thousand pounds.
I mean, come on, it was the same when we were younger as well; it wasn't as if you could get your licence and jump into an Escort Cosworth the next day with insurance for £200...
Good point.I mean, come on, it was the same when we were younger as well; it wasn't as if you could get your licence and jump into an Escort Cosworth the next day with insurance for £200...
I started driving at 18 in London but it was the late 70s.
My first car was a Renault 6 costing £200 with maybe 20bhp.
I went through loads of old bangers and weird stuff for years, Cortina Mk3 and Mk4, Citroen CX and DS and didn't buy my first new car until 1996, a Renault Mégane coupe 1.6e.
So I was 34 by then.
Performance cars didn't come until I was 37 but I'd been riding motorcycles since 17, thus where I got my speed fix.
Someone mentioned something similar to the below the other day which I thought was a good idea.
A comparison site where you put in all your details APART from the car.
It then produces a list of the 5/10/20th cheapest cars to insure.
Part of the problem is, the popular cars for new/young drivers (primarily small hatchbacks) are the ones that most new/young drivers buy and then crash etc. so the stats are poor for those cars. Need to think “out the box” a little, the aforementioned comparison site idea would help but not seen one….
A comparison site where you put in all your details APART from the car.
It then produces a list of the 5/10/20th cheapest cars to insure.
Part of the problem is, the popular cars for new/young drivers (primarily small hatchbacks) are the ones that most new/young drivers buy and then crash etc. so the stats are poor for those cars. Need to think “out the box” a little, the aforementioned comparison site idea would help but not seen one….
Twentyfourcylinders said:
Building some NCD on a classic car policy could be the answer here depending on where you live and if it can fit with your daughter's lifestyle (i.e. her appetite for adventure!).
Having started driving in 2009 I was merrily driving around in all sorts of fun things in my late teens and 20s and can't ever remember paying more than £350 to insure the old stuff (Beetles, BMW E21, Mk1 and Mk2 Golfs (inc. early GTIs), Mercedes W115 and W123, Porsche 924 and even a 6.75 V8 RR Silver Shadow...). Most of the cars increased in value during my ownership and it taught me a thing or two about car maintenance and driving along the way too.
I'm surprised you got classic car insurance at that age. Perhaps it became too risky for underwriters, but I've had classics for many years and the vast majority of companies will only cover drivers 21 y.o. plus. Having started driving in 2009 I was merrily driving around in all sorts of fun things in my late teens and 20s and can't ever remember paying more than £350 to insure the old stuff (Beetles, BMW E21, Mk1 and Mk2 Golfs (inc. early GTIs), Mercedes W115 and W123, Porsche 924 and even a 6.75 V8 RR Silver Shadow...). Most of the cars increased in value during my ownership and it taught me a thing or two about car maintenance and driving along the way too.
The majority of them do not earn NCD and will also not provide 3rd party other vehicles. Twentyfourcylinders said:
Building some NCD on a classic car policy could be the answer here depending on where you live and if it can fit with your daughter's lifestyle (i.e. her appetite for adventure!).
Having started driving in 2009 I was merrily driving around in all sorts of fun things in my late teens and 20s and can't ever remember paying more than £350 to insure the old stuff (Beetles, BMW E21, Mk1 and Mk2 Golfs (inc. early GTIs), Mercedes W115 and W123, Porsche 924 and even a 6.75 V8 RR Silver Shadow...). Most of the cars increased in value during my ownership and it taught me a thing or two about car maintenance and driving along the way too.
Do you get a NCD on a classic car policy ?Having started driving in 2009 I was merrily driving around in all sorts of fun things in my late teens and 20s and can't ever remember paying more than £350 to insure the old stuff (Beetles, BMW E21, Mk1 and Mk2 Golfs (inc. early GTIs), Mercedes W115 and W123, Porsche 924 and even a 6.75 V8 RR Silver Shadow...). Most of the cars increased in value during my ownership and it taught me a thing or two about car maintenance and driving along the way too.
I certainly don't with FJ.
TB404 said:
What's the logic in this? We want people to learn to drive, get a licence then NOT drive for 2-3 years? Is that a better risk profile for insurers?
The logic is that no insurer really wants to cover brand new drivers, so they all price appropriately hoping that somebody else will insure them until they are a more manageable risk.Good luck, sounds painful!
Hello again, OP here,
Thanks for all the replies.
So a couple of clarifications,
As parents our top priority is her safety, which means not the absolutely smallest car possible. Ideally.
Also about a 1l N/A engine, I believe some power/speed is actually a part of safety. try to join the M1 in a car that does 0-60 in 14 seconds... Personally I'd draw the line at 8 seconds, below that it's 'fast'.
Lastly it seems what matters to insurers is not the NCD but literally years of having a licence (even without driving, weird, I know).
Please keep coming up with ideas, Thank you.
I like the direction of an old Volvo or some 'magical car' that results in cheaper insurance...
Thanks for all the replies.
So a couple of clarifications,
As parents our top priority is her safety, which means not the absolutely smallest car possible. Ideally.
Also about a 1l N/A engine, I believe some power/speed is actually a part of safety. try to join the M1 in a car that does 0-60 in 14 seconds... Personally I'd draw the line at 8 seconds, below that it's 'fast'.
Lastly it seems what matters to insurers is not the NCD but literally years of having a licence (even without driving, weird, I know).
Please keep coming up with ideas, Thank you.
I like the direction of an old Volvo or some 'magical car' that results in cheaper insurance...
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