Car insurance down by £30 – except for young drivers
09/10/2026
Reviewed by: Greg Wilson
Founder & Insurance Expert
Written by: Katie Gawley
Insurance Content Writer
Fact-checked by: Quotezone Editorial Team
This content follows our Editorial Guidelines
Last Updated: October 2026
Read time: 4 min
Car insurance premiums in the UK have dropped by over £30 in the past three months, but young drivers are being left behind, with costs for the youngest motorists rising.
According to the latest data from car insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk, the average annual premium fell from £619 in the second quarter of 2026 to £587 in Q3 – a drop of £31 (5.1%).
However, drivers aged 17–24 have moved in the opposite direction. Their average annual premium rose to £1,150, up £50 (4.6%) from Q2. Every other age group saw a decline.
| Car Insurance | Q2 | Q3 | ||
| AGE GROUP | PREMIUMS | PREMIUMS | % Difference | £ Difference |
| 17-24 | £1,099.57 | £1,150.34 | +4.62 | +£50.77 |
| 25-34 | £844.83 | £812.55 | -3.82 | -£32.28 |
| 35-44 | £656.12 | £625.77 | -4.63 | -£30.35 |
| 45-64 | £477.45 | £470.31 | -1.50 | -£7.14 |
| 65+ | £431.48 | £427.45 | -0.93 | -£4.03 |
The youngest drivers in London continue to face the steepest bills. A 17-year-old in the capital now pays an average of £2,997 a year. That’s over £1,690 more than a 21-year-old in the same region (£1,306).
In contrast, 17-year-olds in the South West pay the lowest average premium in the UK at £1,873 – over £1,120 less than 17-year-olds in London.
| UK_REGION | AGE 17 | AGE 18 | AGE 19 | AGE 20 | AGE 21 |
| London | £2,997.04 | £2,682.03 | £2,316.79 | £1,526.89 | £1,305.93 |
| North West England | £2,410.17 | £2,132.38 | £1,408.95 | £980.79 | £943.83 |
| Yorkshire | £2,402.30 | £2,074.34 | £1,585.72 | £982.99 | £906.34 |
| West Midlands | £2,301.02 | £2,238.60 | £1,579.95 | £1,088.12 | £1,035.67 |
| North East England | £2,201.07 | £1,880.51 | £1,202.64 | £786.22 | £848.93 |
| Northern Ireland | £2,158.07 | £2,009.47 | £1,703.76 | £1,421.73 | £1,238.15 |
| Scotland | £1,968.57 | £1,780.56 | £1,243.89 | £909.32 | £873.96 |
| East of England | £1,962.03 | £1,673.50 | £1,226.06 | £799.13 | £792.91 |
| South East England | £1,949.74 | £1,675.65 | £1,236.03 | £805.61 | £789.99 |
| East Midlands | £1,942.15 | £1,824.77 | £1,270.81 | £897.27 | £835.92 |
| Wales | £1,930.39 | £1,426.37 | £982.51 | £730.52 | £730.69 |
| South West England | £1,873.41 | £1,630.02 | £1,019.19 | £743.92 | £723.17 |
Young drivers have long paid the most for cover, largely because insurers see them as a higher risk. Limited time behind the wheel and a greater likelihood of being involved in a collision both push premiums up.
Around a fifth of all people killed or seriously injured in collisions involving cars in Great Britain in 2025 involved a young driver.*
In response, the Government put forward proposals in January this year that would require learner drivers to wait up to six months between passing their theory test and taking their practical.**
Northern Ireland is the first part of the UK to get approval for the changes, starting in October.
Newly qualified drivers in this region normally display ‘R’ plates for 12 months, this will double to 24 months and there will be new limits on night-time driving, including the number of passengers they can carry and the time they can travel.
A recent survey from Quotezone revealed that 85% of Brits would like to see similar measures introduced across the rest of the UK as well.
Northern Ireland was also the only region to see premiums rise over the quarter, up 0.7% to £669 on average.
Every other region saw a fall. The North West recorded the biggest drop (7.8%), followed by London (7.3%) and Yorkshire (7.3%), while the South West saw the smallest decrease at 1.9%.
London remains the most expensive region at £772 a year – around £301 more than the South West (£471), which continues to be the cheapest place to insure a car.
Greg Wilson, CEO and car insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk, said: “It’s good news for most motorists to see car insurance premiums heading in the right direction, with the average premium falling by over £30 in three months.
“But the picture isn’t as positive for young drivers, who are already paying the most. This high-risk group has seen premiums climb by another £50 on average.
“Young drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in a collision, which is why the new rules in Northern Ireland are so significant. Our recent survey found that 85% of people would like to see these changes applied across the rest of the UK, so it will be interesting to see whether other regions follow suit and what effect these changes will have on premium prices.
“There are still savings to be had for young drivers. Shopping around, avoiding automatic renewals, being accurate about annual mileage and paying annually where possible can all help.
“Young drivers should also consider a telematics policy, which lets them prove they’re a safe driver, often reducing premiums. Checking the insurance group of a car before buying it is also important, as choosing a lower group can make a big difference.”
As a price comparison site, Quotezone helps young drivers compare and find savings on their insurance – helping over 4 million customers every year.
References:
Car insurance index, with costs per age and per region throughout the UK available here – https://www.quotezone.co.uk/car-insurance/average-car-insurance-premium-by-region
*https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-older-and-younger-driver-factsheets/reported-road-casualties-in-great-britain-younger-and-older-car-drivers-factsheet-2025
**https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/695e2cff8832ab3a48513809/road-safety-strategy.pdf
Photo credit – iStock.com megaflopp
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