Young drivers hit hardest by insurance despite premium fall

Last Updated: 28 April 2026
Read time: 4 min

Expert: Greg Wilson
Founder, CEO & Insurance Expert

Author: Stephen Gamble
Insurance PR Writer

Fact-checked by: QuoteZone Editorial Team

Written in line with our Editorial Guidelines

Many teenage drivers across the UK continue to face car insurance premiums of more than £2,000 despite average costs dropping overall.

The insights are based on the latest data from car insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk who analysed the most recent quarter of statistics to find exactly how much the UK’s youngest drivers are paying for their premiums.

Young drivers aged 17–24 have seen a small reduction in car insurance costs with the average premium now standing at £1,121 – £20 less than in Q4 2025.

These reductions are also reflected in the average premium costs across the UK – now at £579 in Q1 2026 compared to £651 in Q1 2025.

But when delving into the data for premium costs for each individual age, it’s unsurprisingly 17-year-olds who are faced with the highest premiums.

Drivers aged 17 are hit hardest in London, where average annual costs are £2,555 in their first year behind the wheel.

Those in Yorkshire, West Midlands, and Northern Ireland are all having to pay over £2,000 to get on the road, while 17-year-olds in the South West and South East of England have the lowest insurance prices but still have to pay more than £1,600 on average.

Average car insurance for young drivers, Q1 2026, data gathered from approximately 100,000 quoted premiums across the UK.

Despite such high costs for young drivers, there is small consolation in the fact that prices have continued to decrease. Drivers aged 17 in the capital are paying over £200 less this quarter compared to the previous quarter.

There are many reasons why the price of insurance tends to be higher for young drivers, with lack of experience and an increased risk of accidents being major risk factors for insurers.

According to official figures, a fifth of all deaths or serious injuries from crashes involved a young car driver in 2024, prompting government proposals in January 2026 for learner drivers to face a minimum period of up to six months between sitting their theory and practical tests.*

The Government believes a minimum period between sitting the theory test and the practical test would help learner drivers develop their skills – including driving in different conditions – and evidence from other countries suggests minimum learning periods could reduce collisions by up to 32%.**

Northern Ireland is the first UK region to get the green light on the new driver safety measures, due to come into effect in October this year. Including a six-month wait for learner drivers before taking a practical test, an extended ‘R’ plate period from 12 months to 24 months, as well as restrictions on night-time driving and passenger numbers.

Greg Wilson, CEO and car insurance expert at Quotezone said: “Young drivers are paying a staggering cost to simply get on the road and insurance premiums for young motorists are the highest of all age ranges in the UK.

“Driving lessons, tests, and road tax are increasingly expensive and with fluctuating fuel prices – the cost of driving is likely to climb.

“Given their lack of experience on the road, teen drivers are unlikely to see insurance costs drop too dramatically, but the Government is looking at measures to increase support for these drivers to help lower insurance premiums and improve road safety.

“One of the costliest factors affecting young drivers is their zero no-claims history, meaning they miss out on discounts more readily available to other age groups.

“The good news for younger motorists is that with time, experience and responsible driving, they should see their premiums start to reduce as they build their no claims bonus and clean driving history.

“There are things young drivers can do to help reduce costs, such as adding a more experienced driver to the policy, opting for a smaller, less powerful vehicle and avoiding modifications – all of which could help reduce premiums.”  

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-2024/reported-road-casualties-in-great-britain-younger-driver-factsheet-2024#main-findings
**https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clym5jvgdepo