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Original poster

Extortionate increase in insurance after passing test

132 replies

Daisyhoney · 02/10/2021 09:06

My son aged 19 passed his driving test recently - first time so really proud of him. But then came the kick in the teeth. He rang his insurance company to update them and (he had the phone on loud speaker) the man said and I quote ' it'll just be a little bit extra ' . How much extra ? my son asked only to be told £3002!!!
I thought I must have misheard but no that figure was correct and the monthly payments would go up by £350 per month 🥴
I feel so bad for him, he's done so well buying his first car and passing first time. I know he's now deemed as a higher risk but surely this just isn't fair on the youngsters. Why can't there be a cap on how much insurance companies can charge?

OP posts:
JasonMomoasgirlfriend · 02/10/2021 09:09

Are you on the insurance too? usually adding someone with a long drivers history and no claims helps bring the cost down.
And can't you shop around?

Londonnight · 02/10/2021 09:10

It's because they don't want to insure new drivers. You need to shop around to find the best price. But expect it to be a lot.
My son passed his test 3 years ago when he was 17. He had an 11 yr old clio 1 litre, it cost him £1600 to insure it with a black box.
As long as your son doesn't have any accidents in the first year, the cost will go down. Three years on my son's recent insurance was around £600 without a black box.

LakieLady · 02/10/2021 09:14

He could go for a "black box" policy, where you have a thing fitted to your car that monitors how he's driving.

My DNiece did this for the first year after passing her test, as it was significantly cheaper, and her insurance went down significantly the following year.

It was good, because it made her drive really sensibly, too, and she still does.

Premiums are high for young, new drivers because they're more likely to have crashes. If the premiums were capped, they'd effectively be subsidised by older drivers who tend to have fewer crashes,

MissJeanBrodiesprime · 02/10/2021 09:15

Yes it’s extortionate, even when you shop around. My dd passed her test at 17 a year and a half ago and hasn’t driven since as the insurance is so high.

daisypond · 02/10/2021 09:15

It’s best to wait before he gets his car, although I see he already has it. Surely he investigated the cost of insurance beforehand before getting the car. It’s very unusual for a 19-year-old to own their own car in my world. I actually don’t know any. Can he add you to the insurance?

Original poster
Daisyhoney · 02/10/2021 09:15

No I don't drive so not on the insurance but he could look into putting dh on.
He is going to shop around but he accepted the increase because he wanted to drive straight away and didn't think he had any choice although I'm not sure if that means he's stuck with it now or whether there's a cooling off period. They didn't ask him to make an extra payment, just said his payments will go up from the next one.

OP posts:
CointreauVersial · 02/10/2021 09:16

I agree, it makes no sense to me that insurance rockets AFTER they past their test, but that's how it is.

It wasn't quite so bad for us, as the teens didn't have their own cars at first, and drove mine, so i was still considered the "main" driver (but don't claim this unless it's true, or you will land in hot water). Then DS bought his own car at 19, so the costs had reduced a little. We had a multicar policy with Admiral, which also helped.

Agree, you need to shop around to bring the cost down, and definitely add yourself as an additional driver.

CointreauVersial · 02/10/2021 09:17

We didn't go for a black box, because DS had a job at the time which required him to drive late at night, and a lot of the black boxes penalise you for that. Worth bearing in mind.

MintyGreenDream · 02/10/2021 09:18

I only passed 3 months ago and my annual insurance is 850 a year with Admiral.

AgentJohnson · 02/10/2021 09:18

Why can't there be a cap on how much insurance companies can charge?

And who do you think should pay for the cap?

Original poster
Daisyhoney · 02/10/2021 09:19

Daisypond ( love the name btw ) he only bought a cheap second hand car so he could get in practise before his test but he didn't check out what the insurance might go up to after he passed. We were both a bit shocked tbh.

OP posts:
Dilbertian · 02/10/2021 09:19

Of course it makes sense - they're driving on their own without the starting influence of an older, more experienced driver beside them. Or, worse, with a car-full of fellow youngsters distracting them or egging them on to take risks.

Dc1 added me as a named driver, and that reduced his premiums substantially.

SudokuWillNotSaveYou · 02/10/2021 09:20

A 19-year-old male is about the worst thing you can be, according to a vehicle insurance company. The second worst thing is a 19-year-old male in car that’s newer than 10 years old with more than a 1L engine.

Cantgetausername87 · 02/10/2021 09:20

Theres a 14 day cooling off period as long as no claims made if you do find a better deal - its a legal requirement Smile

Hankunamatata · 02/10/2021 09:21

I think statistically males under 24 are something like 7x more likely to have an accident. Of course it will go up as he is driving unsupervised. He needs a black box insurance

Abouttoblow · 02/10/2021 09:21

The amount they charge young people is absolutely ridiculous but the reason it goes up after they pass their test is because they are no longer required to have someone in the car with them at all times.

SudokuWillNotSaveYou · 02/10/2021 09:21

@MintyGreenDream

I only passed 3 months ago and my annual insurance is 850 a year with Admiral.
Presumably, you’re not a 19-year-old male.
JasonMomoasgirlfriend · 02/10/2021 09:21

There hopefully is a cooling off period. I can't believe he went forward with that quote!

WhoWearsShortShorts · 02/10/2021 09:22

Since he can now legally drive on his own and isn't guaranteed to have a qualified driver with him then the risk will have increased hence the massive hike in premium. Put your DH on as a named driver and it should bring the cost down.

When is his policy due for renewal? You could shop around but you'll have to pay the cancellation fee if its not due yet which is usually about 50 quid. A drop in the ocean compared to the potential savings.

Whatever you do don't put your DH down as the main user or insure it in his name with your DS as the named driver. I know nobody at all in this thread has suggested it but its called fronting and is fraud (just in case someone suggests it in real life) Adding your DH as a named driver to your sons policy is completely fine

Original poster
Daisyhoney · 02/10/2021 09:22

@AgentJohnson

Why can't there be a cap on how much insurance companies can charge?

And who do you think should pay for the cap?

What do you mean 'who should pay?' surely insurance companies just shouldn't charge so much in the first place especially as these are their future business.
OP posts:
BluebellsGreenbells · 02/10/2021 09:23

He will also get a refund pro-rata if he moves companies - however this may affect his no claims bonus depending how far through the year he is.

What car is it? Engine size? That will make a difference

LagneyandCasey · 02/10/2021 09:28

What is the car and engine size?

My ds had a black box for one year in a 10 year old one litre Fiesta. The first year was £1300 with me as named driver. After the first year it dropped to £800 with the black box removed. 3 years in it's around £450.

So it does drop quite dramatically once they've done a couple of years with no incidents.

Original poster
Daisyhoney · 02/10/2021 09:29

It's a Vauxhall Corsa not sure of the engine size and it's old so not worth a lot. We both knew that the cost would go up after all like pps have said he's now a much higher risk driving on his own - I'm not disputing that - but it's the sheer amount of the increase that I really can't believe. It really was a shock to hear that figure.

OP posts:
Parky04 · 02/10/2021 09:29

You need to shop around. My DS19 bought a Toyota Aygo and premium was £750 without a black box. Will go up this year as he crashed it!

Parky04 · 02/10/2021 09:30

Forgot to add that put you and any partner as named drivers as this also reduces the premium.