Car insurance for young drivers in the UK is expensive. According to the ABI, 17-year-olds pay an average of £1,932 a year, and the average across all 17-24 year olds is £1,121 (Quotezone, Q4 2025). The good news is that premiums have fallen significantly since their peak in early 2024, and there are practical steps you can take to bring costs down further.
Looking to compare quotes? Compare young driver car insurance quotes via Brumble to see prices from 130+ insurers.
Insurance premiums are based on risk, and the statistics show that younger drivers present a higher risk to insurers. According to Department for Transport data, drivers aged 17-24 represent just 7% of UK licence holders but are involved in 22% of fatal collisions. Male drivers in this age group have a killed or seriously injured rate four times higher than drivers aged 25 and over.
On top of the accident statistics, new young drivers start with zero no claims bonus. This discount can be worth up to 60% off your premium after five or more years of claim-free driving, so starting without it has a big impact on what you pay. Learn more in our no claims bonus protection guide.
The good news is that insurance for young drivers has fallen significantly since the peaks of early 2024. According to the ABI, the average premium for 17-year-olds dropped by 25% (£635) year on year to £1,932 in Q3 2025. Across all 17-24 year olds, Quotezone's Q4 2025 data puts the average at £1,121.
The ABI does not publish a full age-by-age breakdown, but premiums generally fall with each year of driving experience. By your early twenties, if you have built up a no claims bonus and stayed claim-free, your premium will be significantly lower than it was at 17. By your mid-twenties, you are approaching the UK average of £560 (ABI, Q1 2026).
London remains the most expensive area for young driver insurance - premiums can be almost double those in the South West of England. Your postcode is one of the biggest factors you cannot easily change, which makes comparing quotes even more important.
You cannot change your age, but there are practical steps that can bring the cost of young driver car insurance down significantly. Here are the most effective, in order of impact.
Black box insurance, also called telematics, is one of the most effective ways for new drivers to bring costs down. A small device fitted to your car, plugged into the OBD port, or an app on your phone monitors how you drive and rewards safe behaviour with lower premiums.
The technology tracks things like your speed, braking, cornering and the times you drive. Good scores lead to lower premiums at renewal, while consistently poor scores may push costs up. Most modern telematics policies do not impose strict curfews, though late-night driving may affect your score.
Not everyone wants a black box, and that is fine - see the next section for alternatives. But if you are a safe, careful driver, telematics gives you a way to prove it and be rewarded for it. Our full black box car insurance guide explains how the different types work and what to expect.
UK data protection laws prevent insurers from selling your telematics information to other companies. Your driving data is only shared with police if required by law. Many drivers find the savings outweigh the privacy trade-off, and the data can actually help in accident disputes by providing objective evidence of what happened.
If you prefer car insurance for young drivers without a black box, you can still get cover - you just need to work harder on the other factors that affect your premium. Many insurers offer standard policies to young drivers without any telematics requirement.
Without a black box, your quotes are likely to be higher because the insurer cannot see evidence of how safely you drive. To keep costs as low as possible without telematics, focus on choosing a car in a low insurance group, building your no claims bonus year on year, and comparing quotes from multiple providers at every renewal.
It is worth comparing both options - get quotes with and without telematics to see the actual difference for your circumstances. You can compare young driver insurance quotes via Brumble to see what is available with and without a black box.
Even if you decide against a black box now, consider fitting a dash cam. While it will not reduce your premium as much as telematics, it can provide evidence in the event of an accident and help protect your no claims bonus.
There are three levels of car insurance cover in the UK. What many new drivers do not realise is that comprehensive cover is often the same price or even cheaper than third-party only.
| Cover type | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Third-party only | Damage to other people, vehicles and property. Not your own car. | The legal minimum, but often more expensive for young drivers |
| Third-party, fire and theft | Third-party cover plus protection if your car is stolen or damaged by fire | A middle ground, though not always cheaper than comprehensive |
| Comprehensive | Full cover for you, your car and others, regardless of fault | Often the best value for young drivers because it attracts lower-risk customers |
When comparing car insurance quotes, always check the price of comprehensive cover. For young drivers, it is frequently cheaper than third-party only because insurers view drivers who choose comprehensive as statistically lower risk. Read our guide on third party vs fully comprehensive insurance for more detail.
Putting a parent or experienced driver as the main driver when you actually drive the car most of the time is called fronting. It is insurance fraud. If discovered, your policy will be cancelled, claims will not be paid, and you could face prosecution. Insurers are experienced at spotting this.
Other common mistakes include not declaring modifications to your car (even cosmetic ones like alloy wheels or tinted windows), choosing the cheapest policy without checking what is actually covered, and not keeping your insurer updated when your circumstances change. Any of these can cause serious problems if you need to make a claim.
Your insurance needs change over time. Always compare car insurance quotes at renewal rather than auto-renewing, as loyalty rarely gets you the best price. Key moments to review include after a birthday (premiums typically drop after turning 21 and 25), after building up a year of no claims, when you move to a different area, and if your telematics score has improved. Our guide on how to lower your car insurance premium covers more strategies in detail.
Safe driving keeps you protected and directly reduces your insurance costs over time. Building a clean driving record and accumulating no claims years is the most effective long-term strategy for bringing premiums down. Keep practising after passing your test, limit night driving during your first year where possible, avoid having too many passengers initially, and stay off your phone. Points on your licence significantly increase your insurance costs, and the two-year new driver probationary period means six points results in licence revocation, not just a fine.
If you are still learning, our guide on whether your parents can teach you to drive and our cost of learning to drive breakdown are worth a read.
What is the cheapest car insurance for young drivers?
There is no single cheapest option because every driver's circumstances are different. The most effective way to find affordable car insurance for young drivers is to compare quotes from multiple insurers, choose a car in a low insurance group, and consider a black box policy. Compare young driver quotes via Brumble to see what is available.
Can I get young driver insurance without a black box?
Yes. Many insurers offer standard policies to young drivers without any telematics requirement. Your quotes will typically be higher than with a black box, but you can still reduce costs by choosing a low insurance group car, building your no claims bonus, and comparing quotes at every renewal.
Is black box insurance worth it for young drivers?
For most new drivers who drive carefully, yes. Telematics policies reward safe driving with lower premiums at renewal. However, if a black box does not suit you, insurance for young drivers without a black box is still available - it just tends to cost more. Compare both options to see the actual difference for your circumstances.
Can I get insurance as a young learner driver?
Yes. Learner drivers can get their own insurance policy, which can be useful if you are practising in a family car and do not want to affect the main driver's no claims bonus. Some insurers offer short-term learner policies. Our guide on the cost of learning to drive covers this in more detail.
Is comprehensive cover more expensive for young drivers?
Usually not. Comprehensive car insurance is often the same price or cheaper than third-party only for young drivers. This is because insurers view drivers who choose comprehensive as statistically lower risk. Always compare both options when getting quotes.
Does adding a named driver reduce young driver insurance?
It can, because an experienced driver's history helps balance the risk in the insurer's calculations. But the named driver must genuinely use the car. Listing someone who never drives it just to lower the price is called fronting, which is illegal and can void your policy.
How can young drivers with points get insurance?
Having points on your licence will increase your premium, but you can still get cover. Be honest about any convictions when getting quotes - failing to declare them could invalidate your policy. Comparing quotes is especially important with points, as some insurers are more lenient than others. Remember that under the new driver probationary period, six points within two years of passing your test means losing your licence.
What is the best car for a young driver to insure?
Cars in insurance groups 1 to 5 are the cheapest to insure. The Hyundai i10 (group 1), Volkswagen Polo (group 2), and Kia Picanto (group 4) are among the best options. Our cheapest cars to insure guide lists the top 10 models with the lowest insurance costs.
Association of British Insurers - Motor Insurance Premium Tracker, Q1 2026
Association of British Insurers - Motor Insurance Premium Tracker, Q3 2025
Department for Transport - Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain, Young Driver Factsheet 2024
Quotezone - Q4 2025 Car Insurance Index
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