Car insurance: Young drivers squeezed out by high costs

Monday, 26 June 2006

Young drivers are being urged to carry on searching for cheap car insurance, as the number of drivers under 20 is continuing to fall due to high costs.

Many teenagers are not able to start driving when they turn 17, even if they manage to pay for their lessons, test – including theory test – and even buy their own car, as many car insurance firms will not insure them.

Only 26 per cent of 17 to 20-year-olds have full licences in the UK – down from 48 per cent in 1994.

This is because not only has the price of lessons gone up, with some costing £25 an hour, but there are so many extra costs as well.

Driving tests cost £48.50 each time you try, or £58 if you need to take it on a weekday evening or weekend. The theory test will also set you back another £21.50.

And insurance is extremely hard to get cheaply for young drivers – but not impossible.

Even for a young female, the average cost of driving a Ford Focus 1.4-litre will be around £1,811 a year.

But by shopping around and checking the internet for a car insurance quote online many drivers will find there are some bargains to be had.

Buying the right car and taking out the correct policy are all important and some drivers will find they can dramatically save on their car insurance premiums.

© Adfero Ltd

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