It’s no secret that car insurance in the UK has become more expensive over the past few years, which has caused premiums to increase across the board. However, certain driver categories are more impacted by the cost of car insurance than others — especially new, younger drivers. This can make finding suitable insurance for a 17-year-old quite challenging, as annual premiums regularly go into the thousands for these policies.
At Forces Compare, we want to make car insurance accessible for everyone, which is why we make it easy for you to compare quotes and find a price that suits your budget for car insurance. In this article, we’ll take this a step further by helping you find the cheapest car to insure for a 17-year-old.
Understanding insurance for 17-year-olds
Car insurance rates are higher for 17-year-olds primarily due to their lack of driving experience and higher risk of accidents. Statistics show that young drivers are more likely to be involved in collisions than older, more experienced drivers. Insurers set higher premiums to mitigate these risks. As a result, car insurance for 17-year-olds tends to be much more expensive than most other policies, including car insurance for over 50s or classic car insurance.
Young driver car insurance is already expensive in its own right, but when you’re trying to insure 17-year-olds, who are the youngest drivers on UK roads, it becomes really tough. Annual premiums for these drivers are incredibly high, which limits the type of car they can drive and in some cases how they drive.
Do you need car insurance?
In the UK, car insurance is a legal requirement for all drivers. There are different levels of cover available though, with some costing less than others. For new drivers, this typically means having third-party insurance, which covers damage to others but not the insured’s own vehicle. This comes at a cost, though, as your insurance won’t cover any damage to your car. So, in the event of an accident, you will be responsible for the costs of any repairs to your vehicle.
Factors that affect car insurance costs
There are a few different factors that impact the insurance costs for 17-year-olds, but the biggest is the type of car they choose. The make, model, and age of the car are strongly rated by insurers and directly impact insurance costs. Generally, vehicles with lower performance capabilities and advanced safety features attract lower premiums. So, if you’re looking for an affordable car for a 17-year-old, look for small hatchbacks with safety add-ons.
The other main factor that impacts car insurance that you can change is the level of insurance coverage. There are three levels of car insurance to choose from, offering varying levels of protection:
- Third-party: Covers damage to others caused by the insured.
- Third-party, fire and theft: Includes coverage for damage caused by fire or theft.
- Comprehensive: Covers all of the above plus damage to the insured’s own car.
Making the right choice here is tough, as comprehensive cover can be quite expensive for 17-year-old drivers. On the other hand, opting for third-party coverage is quite limited in terms of helping you following an accident. Ideally, you would choose an affordable comprehensive policy if you can afford to.
Choosing the right car
One of the most effective ways to keep car insurance affordable for 17-year-old drivers is by choosing the right car. Due to the way that insurers rate younger driver, some cars are outright off-limits as underwriters would not cover them for 17-year-olds. This typically includes high-performance cars and heavily modified vehicles.
For 17-year-olds, small hatchbacks and city cars often come with the most affordable insurance premiums. These cars are generally viewed as safe by insurers, aren’t targeted by car thieves and are not designed with speed or power in mind. Popular models that are typically cheaper to insure include:
- Hyundai i10
- Volkswagen Polo
- Toyota Aygo
- Ford Fiesta
- Kia Soul
- Fiat 500
Car features that can lower car insurance costs
The type of car that you choose as a 17-year-old driver can help with insurance costs, but so can the features found in it. By selecting a car with the right features, you can help keep insurance costs down. Some of the main things to consider here include:
- Engine size: Cars with smaller engines are usually less expensive to insure. For young drivers, a car with an engine size under 1.0 litre is often ideal.
- Safety features: Vehicles equipped with advanced safety features such as automatic braking, lane-keeping assistance, and multiple airbags can be cheaper to insure due to their potential to prevent accidents.
A car’s safety rating is another factor in insurance calculations. Vehicles with high safety ratings from recognised bodies like Euro NCAP are less expensive to insure. These ratings assess the protection cars provide to passengers and pedestrians in the event of a crash, and higher scores can significantly reduce insurance premiums.
Is it worth getting an older, less powerful car?
Older, less powerful cars can be a cost-effective option for young drivers, primarily due to lower initial purchase prices and insurance costs. However, older cars may lack modern safety technologies, which can compromise safety and potentially lead to higher costs in the long run.
Some older cars may also be more expensive to insure than newer models based on the risk factor insurers attach to them. If you’re looking to buy an older car, it’s also important to know what to look for so that you don’t buy a badly damaged or unroadworthy vehicle.
The market value of the car is directly proportional to the insurance premium. More expensive cars, while more comfortable and appealing, cost more to insure because they are costlier to repair or replace. For a 17-year-old, a less expensive, older vehicle can often be a smart choice, as it keeps insurance premiums more manageable.
Tips for reducing insurance costs
Although the price of insuring a 17-year-old for car insurance can be quite high, there are a few things you can do to reduce the overall cost. At Forces Compare, we can help you find a price that suits your budget for car insurance for 17-year-olds by helping you compare quotes from some of the UK’s top insurers. There are a few other things you can do to help keep insurance costs down, such as:
Telematics insurance
Telematics (or black box insurance) monitors driving habits and can significantly lower premiums for safe, responsible driving. This can be really useful for drivers aged 17 because it keeps insurance costs down and encourages better driving, which reduces the likelihood of an accident.
Insurance discounts
Some insurers offer discounts for students with good academic records or those whose parents have existing policies with the company. If your household insures multiple vehicles, then looking into multi-car insurance is a good option.
Adding a parent as a named driver
Including a parent as a named driver on the policy can lower premiums, though the primary driver must still be the young driver to avoid “fronting,” a form of insurance fraud. This works by spreading the risk on the policy, as it won’t solely be used by the ‘high-risk’ younger driver.
Building a no-claims bonus
Young drivers can reduce their premiums over time by avoiding insurance claims, thus earning a no-claims bonus. This will bring the cost of insurance down year-on-year, so it isn’t an instant fix.
Location and excess choices
Location can affect insurance costs due to varying risks of theft and accidents. You can’t really change where you live, but if you can store your vehicle in a garage or on a driveway, this can potentially lower the insurance premiums.
Opting for a higher excess can lower premiums but it increases any out-of-pocket costs in the event of an accident. So, think carefully before increasing your voluntary excess to the point that it becomes unaffordable if you have to make a claim.
Specific considerations
Car insurance for 17-year-olds can be difficult to get right, especially when the costs are so high. However, it shouldn’t be a reason to limit younger drivers or stop them from learning how to drive early. So, to help you make the best decision about insuring 17-year-olds on car insurance, let’s go over a few special considerations:
Risks of driving without insurance
Driving without insurance can lead to severe legal penalties, including fines and disqualification from driving. There’s no good justification for driving without insurance in the UK, so don’t risk it!
Impact of academic records
Some insurance companies offer lower premiums for students with good academic performance, under the assumption that responsible students are also responsible drivers. This isn’t a benefit offered by all insurers, though, so you may have to shop around.
Pass Plus training
Pass Plus is a training scheme that some insurers recognise, potentially reducing premiums for young drivers who complete it. It’s considered an extension to passing the driving test and can show insurers that you are a competent, thoughtful driver at a young age.
Comparing insurance quotes
Online comparison sites, insurance brokers, and direct inquiries with insurers are effective ways to compare quotes. At Forces Compare, we have made it simple for you to compare quotes from some of the UK’s biggest insurance companies. However, you might also benefit from speaking to some providers directly, such as Direct Line, as they don’t appear on comparison sites.
Key information needed for quotes
Accurate quotes require details about the car, the driver’s age, driving history, and intended use of the vehicle. So, make sure you have all of this information up-to-date and at-hand when getting quotes.
How often should you compare car insurance quotes?
It’s advisable to compare insurance quotes annually to ensure competitive pricing. Almost all policies in the UK run annually, which means you will renew your policy each year. Try to start finding quotes around one month before this renewal date so that you can best compare different deals.
General terms
17-year-olds likely won’t have interacted with insurance policies too much in their lives, which can make the process of securing car insurance quite confusing. Insurers love to use words and phrases that are industry-specific, which leaves many people unsure about what their insurance does or covers. So to help, we’ve explained a few of the more common jargon terms used in car insurance below:
- Coverage: Coverage is the level of car insurance you have taken out, such as third-party only or comprehensive.
- Excess: Your excess is what you initially pay when making a claim. You will either have compulsory excess, voluntary excess or both as part of your policy.
- Renewal: When your policy expires after one year, it will need to be renewed. This essentially extends the policy for another year but we suggest comparing different insurance quotes before renewing, as this will get you a price that suits your budget.
- Claim: If you have a car accident or your car is vandalised or stolen, you make a claim with your insurance company to cover the costs.
- No claims bonus: Your no claims bonus is a discount applied to your policy after one year. This discount increases each year when you don’t make a claim. It also transfers to other insurance policies, so it stays with you provided you stay claim-free.
Maximum car value covered
Most policies have a limit on the maximum value of the car covered, which should be considered when choosing a vehicle. In most cases, this won’t be too much of a problem as 17-year-olds likely won’t be driving high-value cars. With that said, it’s still good to know what you’re covered up to, so make sure you confirm this figure before taking on the policy.
Find affordable car insurance for 17-year-olds with Forces Compare
At Forces Compare, we understand how expensive car insurance can be for younger drivers. We want to make car insurance more accessible for everyone, which is why we make it easy to compare different car insurance quotes from the UK’s biggest providers. For more information, visit our Car Insurance page or get a quote directly.