WOW - AIBU to think Car Insurance is crazy for teenagers!

[hellsbellsmelons]

I can't believe it.
Just checking things out now and for a £500 V-Reg Clio for my 17 YO DD they want nearly £2500 per year!
WTF is going on?

Do any of you know of cheaper car insurance companies for teenage drivers?
Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

This is crazy.

[19lottie82]

yeah that seems about the going rate, i'm afraid. tbh the value of the car doesn't have that much impact on the price of insurance (to a certain extent) as the insurance is mainly to cover a lot more than just a replacement car, such as medical costs and legal fees.

they say 50% of all teen drivers will have some sort of accident in their first year driving, so it kind of makes sense.

certain companies will reduce quotes if you install a "black box" in the car which monitors their driving (speeds, how fast they accelerate, take corners etc). "Safe" driving equals a cheaper renewal next year, "unsafe" means no renewal.

Also look for 10 month policies that give you 1 years NCD at the end.

[nunkspugget]

I think about this, and my eldest isn't yet two! I think by the time they pass, those driving black box thingies will be law, hoprfully meaning safe drivers get cheaper insurance??? Pass plus can reduce it too can't it??

[hellsbellsmelons]

That price is with the black box fitted at 25% discount!
We used to be able to be named drivers on our parents insurance, can we do it that way now?

[19lottie82]

pass plus........ it claims so, but not really in my experience. try a few dummy quotes and check, but I don't really think it's worth a lot.

Honestly, 2.5k isn't actually that bad for a 17 year old. My DH's friends son was quoted 8k for a 1.4 petrol golf!!!

[TheLovelyBoots]

I've had 2 accidents in my life, both when I was a teenager. It wouldn't make sense for their insurance to be anything less than that, I'm afraid.

[foreverdepressed]

Prices have gone mad, when I passed my test about 11 years ago it was less than half that and the car had a 1.8 engine.

But they are charging so much to cover the cost of a big payout (medical damages, etc), rather than cover the cost of replacing the car.

Sometimes adding an older experienced driver as a named driver to a teenager's policy will reduce the price. "black box" policy can be cheaper too, albeit a bit creepy if you ask me.

[19lottie82]

hells...... of course you can put your DD on as a named driver (as long as you are still the main driver, otherwise this is known as "fronting" and is illegal / will invalidate your insurance), BUT you may still gasp at the price, and your DD won't earn a NCD.

[19lottie82]

oh yes, foreverdepressed is correct, add an older, experienced driver with a clean license on as a second driver. this often brings down the quote by a fair bit.

[sparechange]

The value of the car is irrelevant. If someone causes an accident which leaves a person with injuries that need compensating, the payout will be the same whether their Clio is 10 years or 10 months old.
And teenage boys cause a hugely disproportionate number of serious accidents, so the insurance companies charge accordingly.

[foreverdepressed]

But if you per her as a named driver on your policy the insurance company will coming sniffing about in the event of a claim. They may try to suggest you have "fronted" even if you haven't. And of course if she has an accident you lose your NCD!

Getting mobile really is a luxury for teens/young adults these days.

[hellsbellsmelons]

So it's illegal now? That's a shame. I certainly wouldn't be the main driver.
And no point if she can't get NCD.

[LurkingHusband]

When a single claim can top £10,000,000 (yes that's million) all of a sudden car insurance looks like a snip at any price.

Oh, and that claim was a teenage driver .

[19lottie82]

So it's illegal now? That's a shame. I certainly wouldn't be the main driver.

It's always been illegal.

Whoever drives the vehicle in question the most, MUST be named as the main driver. Attempting to lower insurance premiums by putting someone who is "more insurable" as the main driver, when the "actual" main driver is added as an additional driver, is know as "fronting". It is illegal and if you are caught this will invalidate your insurance, which could lead to all sorts of problems (civil claims and more) in the event of an accident.

[somewheresomehow]

have you trued Aviva ?
both my kids and me are with them atm

[mrssnodge]

Its simply a case of having to do it Im afraid if they want to drive and own a car-- my ds learnt at 18, and was payng extornaite amounts, but 3 yrs down the line with no claims he has 3 yrs ncd and its coming down- better to do this when theyre living at home with no bills etc, rather than if/when they move out and may have lots of bills etc.

[kinkyfuckery]

You can add some responsible drivers as 'named drivers', that may bring the cost down a little.
I'm glad I waited until 30 to sit my test. My first year is £450 w/ £70 cashback :D

[grovel]

Try Elephant.com

[Groovee]

My niece is 20 and got hers for £900. She went through one of those comparison sites and they fitted a black box.

[grovel]

Sorry, Elephant.co.uk.

[FlowerFairy2014]

Our older 3 who passed tests at 17 certainly never had their own car. However they were on our car insurance and that is much much cheaper. That is what most parents do. Very few children of 17 - 25 can afford to buy and run a car. most just share a parent's.

I will have two 17 year old learner drivers to add to my insurance next year . I bet that will not be cheap.

[ruby1234]

My DS 19 has a 1.4 Fiesta Zetec, this insurance policy is with Aviva. I am a named driver on the policy with him as the main driver. Including business use for him (he's a trainee legal) it costs around £650 for fully comprehensive. No black box.
When we were looking for him a first car, we looked at little Toyota Aygos and similar small, less than 1L engine cars, all of which cost well over £1500 to insure. I filled in the online Aviva form and it came back around £800 or so. The Aviva rep rang me later and we discussed the policy needs and he managed to reduce it to the £650. Apparently one of the criteria they use is the 'official' first car types like the Aygo are generally expensive to insure because that is what teens tend to drive but people think the insurance will be cheaper. Because the Fiesta was not a regular first car type, the insurance was much cheaper.
It does tend to reduce the policy if you have an adult/parent as a named driver. Also gives me a spare car to use if I need to drive it.
(No, I don't work for Aviva).

[19lottie82]

sometimes cars with larger engines are actually cheaper to drive. people think 1L corsas are cheap to insure, but not always so as they are associated with teenagers and boy racers. try running another couple of quotes with some "uncool" cars, like a Honda jazz, old Volvo or rover (for example)

[SquinkiesRule]

We got Ds a Fiat Panda, one of the cheapest to insure, he's the named main driver and has me on as a second driver he pays £100 a month and no black box. He got his by checking on Compare the market (and gave his little sister the baby Oleg toy for Chrstmas as a bonus) The company he ended up with was

[hellsbellsmelons]

Squinky Was...... what!
Oh the suspense!

Ruby your last comment made me

Right, I'm going to try all your suggestions.

Thank you very much. I'd make you all a nice if I could!