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Teenagers

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

Original poster

£4,400 quoted for car insurance once dd has passed her test. Advice and recommendations please.

258 replies

LimitIsUp · 18/07/2019 10:30

Posting here since as parents of teens you may have had the car insurance problem.

Okay, we weren't expecting a cheap insurance given dd has a 2018 VW Polo Beats, so the replacement cost of the car is quite high. Also, whilst it is a 1 litre engine it is turbo. However dh has been given a quote of £4,400 from the brokers. We had been anticipating (a still eye watering) £2K perhaps, but £4,400 Shock? If she had previously driven and been banned for drink driving her insurance would probably have been less!

Fortunately she has only just started to learn to drive so we have time to work on this. Any advice please re getting a better deal?

OP posts:
Original poster
LimitIsUp · 18/07/2019 11:58

I'll not be going the insurance fraud route, don't worry. Pleased to have received the clarification on this to avoid unwittingly going down this route

OP posts:
Original poster
LimitIsUp · 18/07/2019 11:59

Oh and yes, on the current insurance dh and I are added as additional named drivers (and we both have full no claims)

OP posts:
notacooldad · 18/07/2019 12:00

LimitIsUp
Realistically the only option I think you have is to suck it up with a black box. We searched for weeks and eleven considered Ds2 going residential at his college as the insurance dropped by 2/3rds!!!!

Original poster
LimitIsUp · 18/07/2019 12:01

Blimey, £12K notacooldad? I am speechless

OP posts:
Herocomplex · 18/07/2019 12:02

Limitisup yes I understand about the drive🙂. My DS just rang around and kept challenging until he got a good quote (better than we’d managed) but he’s over 20 and a brilliant negotiator! It was my car but he’s the main driver now, so insured in his name with me as the additional. Good luck!

notacooldad · 18/07/2019 12:02

What was galling when Ds1 passed at 17 was that it was a struggle to insure him but he could use any of his works vans and come home in them!

Original poster
LimitIsUp · 18/07/2019 12:02

X posts - yes, sucking it up with a black box is going to be the outcome.

OP posts:
Theimpossiblegirl · 18/07/2019 12:03

It's worth ringing round and talking to real people. We found the quotes vary quite considerably with small tweaks, but you can't really do that easily online. It worked out cheaper just to have the one named driver rather than both DH and me, for example.

notacooldad · 18/07/2019 12:03

Blimey, £12K notacooldad? I am speechless
Dp wasn't! I seem to remember a lot of expletives!!!!

Original poster
LimitIsUp · 18/07/2019 12:03

But also shopping around and using an insurance company that specialises in new drivers.

I am hoping to get a grand off - right now that would seem a victory

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 18/07/2019 12:03

Have you tried insurance specifically for women both of mine have had insurance from shelias wheels and Diamond

Theimpossiblegirl · 18/07/2019 12:03

Forgot to say, we insured her with Admiral, firsty on a provisional licence and then when she passed.

Fibbke · 18/07/2019 12:04

There is no insurance specifically for women.

Original poster
LimitIsUp · 18/07/2019 12:04

That's a good idea Mrsjayy - will give them a whirl

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 18/07/2019 12:05

Insurance companies aimed at women I should have said!

hsegfiugseskufh · 18/07/2019 12:06

if you go down the comparison website route (which is a good idea)

remember to check direct line and admiral as well.

martins money tips is useful for stuff like this too

googlegoals · 18/07/2019 12:06

Have you tried Excess Direct? hefty excess but may bring the premium down significantly.

chzarind · 18/07/2019 12:07

Honestly the specialist companies for new drivers and women only drivers couldn't touch Direct Line. Definitely worth a call.

Original poster
LimitIsUp · 18/07/2019 12:08

Thank you all

Tonnes of advice and various leads on different insurers in the end. Got a bit of work to do now - will post in a week or two if we get a good outcome

OP posts:
lovelyupnorth · 18/07/2019 12:14

Op you sound lovely not.

But to the point Polos & Cora’s tend to attract a certain type of younger driver and have higher premiums due to this.

My DD 18 has a Mini Cooper and only costs £1k per year for her insurance from Tesco with a black box. Was with Adrian Flux whilst learning but they wanted over 2k for insurance.

You need to shop around or change the car.

And I’d choose a punto everyday over a polo. It did have a Euro Ncap 5* rating.

HappyDinosaur · 18/07/2019 12:15

I don't disagree or think you did anything wrong by wanting to buy a safe car for your daughter. However, I do feel the turbo element would give me other safety concerns if I'm honest, which I suspect may partly be why the insurance is so high - more risk of being involved in an accident at speed. You can do the black box, or you can do pass plus. We found previously that asking direct for quotes was better than going through comparison sites. Have you looked as some NFL Mutual, they used to be good for teenagers. Also, could you look at having a temporary speed limiter fitted? That could reduce insurance and also give you peace of mind.

lovelyupnorth · 18/07/2019 12:16

Should add based on 6000 miles per year.

Original poster
LimitIsUp · 18/07/2019 12:23

Can't say I am charmed by you either lovelyupnorth

Btw, the Punto does not get 5 stars it got 0 stars, here: www.whatcar.com/news/fiat-punto-axed-following-zero-star-safety-rating/n17717

OP posts:
Original poster
LimitIsUp · 18/07/2019 12:25

HappyDinosaur - speed limiter is something I hadn't thought of....

The turbo - I've driven the car, its really not very quick and would be pretty sluggish and under powered without I think.

OP posts:
Anothertempusername · 18/07/2019 12:28

@LimitIsUp you are very aggressive.