Compare Cheap Car Insurance For 18 Year Olds

Cheap Car Insurance For 18 Year Old Drivers

18 can be an exciting age and for many young drivers it is when they get their first car. However simply having a car doesn’t mean your set to hit the road right away. You’ll need to be sorted with an insurance policy before you get behind the wheel.

As a young driver it’s critical that you compare car insurance quotes from a wide range of providers before deciding on which one to go with. It can be tempting to choose the first option on a google search for convenience but doing so isn’t likely to result in a cheap quote. By using an independent comparison tool you can increase your chances of finding a more competitive price on your car insurance.

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How much is car insurance for a 18 year old per month UK

The price of your premiums are determined by factors that are unique to your own requirements and situation. Whilst this may seem vague on the surface there is a valid reason why it is unrealistic to provide an average quote value for an 18 year old driver. As an 18-year-old driver you will be classed as a younger driver so you will be viewed as a greater risk by insurers. This is simply because you lack the driving history of an older driver so it is more difficult for the insurer to evaluate your driving abilities. This unfortunately means younger drivers can typically expect to pay more on their premiums.

Here are some of the common factors that will influence your premiums as an 18 year old.

• The fact you are a young driver
• The type of car you drive, make and model
• Any modifications
• The level of coverage you’ve opted for
• The condition of the car you’re driving, mileage, repair work etc..

Of course, your age will play a major factor. In fact, data from Brake, the road safety charity, has revealed that drivers under the age of 20 are 33% more likely to be killed in a car accident than someone in their 40s or 50s. The best way of getting an accurate understanding of how much you can expect to pay on your car insurance is to compare multiple quotes from differing insurers. This will provide you will a solid understanding of what you will likely need to pay for your car insurance.

How to get cheaper car insurance as an 18 year old?

As we’ve previously mentioned, a young driver with little to no driving experience will represent a significant risk to car insurance companies, which means your insurance premiums are likely to be painfully high.

With that bad news however there are some positive steps you can take to reduce the cost of your car insurance. These practical steps can be implemented immediately and can significantly keep your car premiums as low as possible whilst you are still a young driver:

• Ask a family member to add you to their policy as a named driver: The main driver on an insurance policy has a greater influence on the cost of that insurance than additional named drivers. In many cases that means it is cheaper to insure you to drive a family member’s car than it would be to take out a standalone policy for your own vehicle.
• Opt for a higher voluntary excess: Volunteering to pay more on excess should you need to make a claim can be a great way of reducing your premium. However you should be cautious that you can actually pay for it in the event of an accident. For more information on how excess works check out the following guide.

• Opt for a car that’s cheaper to insure: If it’s not practical to be added as a named driver to a family member’s car then it’s important to bear in mind that it’s not just your personal details that will affect the overall cost of your insurance. Details about the car itself, such as its age, make and model, and insurance group, will play a significant role in the insurance premium calculation. With that in mind, it would be advisable to compare insurance quotes for cars before you buy one of those vehicles – that way you can opt for a car that’s cheaper to insure.
• Paying annually instead of monthly: While you may have the option to pay for your insurance on an ongoing monthly basis, opting to pay for the full year upfront could reduce the cost a little.
• Opting for more comprehensive cover: Quotezone.co.uk has revealed that drivers aged 21 or younger could save an average of 11% by opting for a fully comprehensive policy. This is due to more risky drivers opting for third-party only so Insurers reflect this in their pricing.
• Don’t mod you car: modifications such as tinted windows, neon lights, exhaust modifiers and even stickers can increase insurance premiums Quotezone.co.uk has found. Some modifications can even void your insurance policy so check that any modifications made are compliant. A shocking 15% of policy holders are also not aware that their insurance can be made void by violating the terms of their policy.

You should expect to pay more on your car insurance if you live in a city as opposed to a rural area

Can I earn a No Claims Bonus if I’m added to a family members policy?

Whilst this would be nice, unfortunately you cannot build a no claims bonus whilst you are on another persons policy. This is because insurers will offer a No Claims Bonus to the main driver of an insurance policy, meaning named drivers will have the benefit of driving the vehicle but usually won’t be able to carry that insurance history forward to their own policy. The good news is some insurers may be willing to factor in the time you spend driving as a named driver if the insurance policy is with them. 

This is technically not a No Claims Discount, because it isn’t transferable to or recognised by other insurance providers, but it can work in much the same way and is worth exploring if your current provider offers this option.

Can a higher excess amount reduce my premium?

Yes, by agreeing to a higher excess you will usually be offered a lower premium on your car insurance, so it is an option for young drivers that need to reduce their upfront costs.

However, it’s important to take into account the fact that the higher excess will mean you’ll have to cover a larger share of the costs if you’re ever involved in a road traffic accident. So be sure to only volunteer a realistic amount that you could afford.

Should I take out Third Party insurance to save?

Whilst Third Party car insurance is often the cheapest level of coverage on offer by insurers, it is also the minimum level of cover required by UK law. This means you’ll want to consider if you are happy having your insurance only cover you for damage you cause to a third party in an at fault accident. By having  Fully comprehensive insurance, or ‘fully comp’, you’ll have the highest level of cover however this is usually the most expensive type of coverage. 

An interesting point to be aware of is that third party only insurance can in some cases be the same or near to the cost of a fully comprehensive policy. How is this possible? It’s all to do with the risk associated with the drivers taking out these policies. Whilst you can typically expect to pay more on more comprehensive levels of coverage there are instances where this is not the case. Since more risky drivers tend to opt for the cheapest policy available, they can actually end up driving the price up on third party insurance when these drivers get into accidents. As a result comprehensive insurance can in some instances be a cheaper alternative and also better value for money.

Should I take out telematics insurance?

Telematics insurance can help reduce the risk that insurers face when insuring a younger driver without much experience. This is done by sending data to your insurer via a black box which informs the insurer over your driving habits. Such data includes your breaking, acceleration speed, and turning. This will let the insurer build an idea over your risk as a driver and so if you are young and a responsible driver, then a black box insurance policy could be a great option for you. In fact some drivers can save up to 25% on their premium through this premium. However it is important to remember that if your driving behaviour is risky your premiums will be increased to reflect this.

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