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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

Teenage drivers - any tips for cheapest car insurance?

33 replies

fortyplus · 25/08/2013 23:15

18yo ds2 passed his test in May and has just bought a 51 plate Peugeot 106. Quoted £2300 for insurance with Co-op which is the cheapest he's found. Any ideas for a better deal? 19yo ds1 pays £900 for a Fiesta 1.2 with Monarch so it seems that a year makes a huge difference.

OP posts:

Graceparkhill · 25/08/2013 23:19

I would try Tesco. They were the "cheapest" by a long way and very helpful call centre staff.

JumpingJackSprat · 25/08/2013 23:38

Try a broker, adrian flux used to be good for young drivers.

SleepyPanda · 26/08/2013 00:02

Add yourself or DP (?) to his insurance too.

I don't mean as the main driver because 'fronting' is illegal (as I'm sure you know) but adding a name driver who is older, has more driver experience and no claims can sometimes bring the premium down.

It's also useful for the rare occasion you might want/need to drive his car!

SleepyPanda · 26/08/2013 00:08

To add to my previous post:

I found Direct Line quite good for new drivers; they're not on comparison sites so sometimes get overlooked.

You could also consider going third party, fire and theft only for his first year? Makes it quite a bit cheaper IIRC, and then once he's got a year of experience/no claims behind him the price for fully comp might be more affordable.
Of course, this has risks though. If he does have a prang in the car he won't be covered for the damage.

Original poster

fortyplus · 26/08/2013 01:43

Gosh - thanks everyone! My own car is insured with Direct Line so I suggested that to him - he hadn't tried them yet. Yes we've told him to put both of us on as named drivers. It seems to bring quotes down by about £100 or so.
Most insurance companies won't insure young drivers third party fire and theft - he's tried that. He only paid £450 for the car so it's worth less than the excess on most policies!

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Original poster

fortyplus · 26/08/2013 08:22

Any other suggestions from anyone this morning, please?

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AgentProvocateur · 26/08/2013 08:27

No suggestions - just empathy. I've got two taking lessons - 17 and 18 - and I've not got round to adding them to our insurance yet, probably because I can't face up to how much it will cost.

SmallBee · 26/08/2013 08:30

A good suggestion already been made it to add yourself & any other responsible adults with a good few years NCD to the policy as secondary drivers.
Make sure you look at comparison sites but also be aware that some companies like Direct Line & HSBC are not in them. Try at least a couple of comparison sites (ie Go Compare, Money Supermarket)
Many instance companies offer an option called Telematics, which is to essentially have a black box installed in your car to monitor your driving & discounts good behaviour & increases your premium if you drive poorly (breaking to late, speeding etc) this is really bringing down the price for drivers who are initially deemed a higher risk. I think the AA & Aviva both offer this but can't quite remember. Aviva definitely have an app available.

marriednotdead · 26/08/2013 08:30

I'm going back a few years but DD was initially insured with Endsleigh. When she went to uni, they advertised on site so definitely marketed at young drivers.

Chopchopbusybusy · 26/08/2013 08:42

If he does ask direct line for a quote remember to ask for the multi car discount (assuming he lives at your address).

ISingSoprano · 26/08/2013 08:49

Could you change to a multi car policy? Admiral are worth a try.

saintmerryweather · 26/08/2013 08:54

some insurers run an accelerator policy so its only for 10 months but you earn a full year NCD in that time. am not sure how it works if you then want to transfer that ncd to another company. oh and TPFT cover is often hardly any cheaper than going fully comp

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/08/2013 09:02

Could he have one of those black boxes added to the car to monitor his driving? Or agree to a curfew with the insurance company?.

JumpingJackSprat · 26/08/2013 09:05

Go third party only if the cars only worth 450. another broker you could try is the AA they have a young driver section for under 30's. or budget insurance. price comparison sites wont give you the best deals as they have to pay to be on these sites and add it to the cost of the insurance (i think).

specialsubject · 26/08/2013 10:50

third party only is not necessarily cheaper than fully comp. The risk with young drivers is what they do to other vehicles and objects around them, not the value of their car.

1 in 4 odds of a BIG crash in their first year.

secretscwirrels · 26/08/2013 13:18

I changed to Direct line when DS was a learner. he passed his test and is now an additional driver on my car. Not fronting as he only uses it occasionally.
They will "credit" additional drivers with no claim bonus if they were on a direct line policy, so if your son was previously named on your insurance he should tell Direct Line when he asks for a quote.

Slipshodsibyl · 26/08/2013 20:42

Admiral insurance seems good for young people

clopper · 26/08/2013 20:50

admiral and aviva have been good for my two. I am also a named driver on my sons although have my own car so have never driven it yet. I don't think aviva are on comparison sites.

Original poster

fortyplus · 26/08/2013 22:32

Hi - been out all day so thank you for all the replies

Yes - the cheapest quotes he's had so far have required the black box and no driving between 11pm and 6am.

Loads of good advice. I don't know what's changed since ds1 took out his policy just after Christmas! His premium of £800 seems fair. £2300 for someone a year younger doesn't!

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SquidgyMummy · 26/08/2013 22:35

DSD's boyfried (18) suggested buying a scooter and insuring that (much cheaper than a car.) Build up the NCB and then transfer it to a car. Not all insurers will accept a transfer but worth looking into if he is not in desperate need of a car.

Original poster

fortyplus · 26/08/2013 22:57

SquidgyMummy he's already bought the car!

His girlfriend will be at University 3 hours' drive away so he thinks he needs a car

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SquidgyMummy · 26/08/2013 23:08

Whatever happened to the Bus?!

Blush12 · 26/08/2013 23:16

My 19 year old DS is insured with Asda.

Original poster

fortyplus · 27/08/2013 08:13

SquidgyMummy - Bus? If only! Infrequent and unreliable in these parts - oh and small matter of they don't go anywhere you need to!

Did you see that his girlfriend is going to university in Cardiff? That's a 4 hour drive but he'd have to travel into London first to get on a bus. He'd have to set aside a whole day for travel - not very practical if he wants to go for the weekend.

He's paying for everything himself, by the way, I'm not some doting parent buying the car and insurance for him.

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tilligan · 30/08/2013 18:49

Other companies also use "black box" or "telematics including:

Direct Line and Bell Admiral-part of Admiral I think. I am also trying to resolve same type of problem-am just about tearing my hair out now!

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