There is no doubt that, for a young driver, passing your driving test is one of the most exciting times in your life. Your imagination begins to run riot when you envisage yourself in your own vehicle, driving along the motorways, highways and byways, with possibly your friends or your new girlfriend in the passenger seat. First stop is to buy your new car. You have paid out a small fortune in driving lesson fees, but still managed, perhaps with your parents help, to buy a cheap run-around. This is where it all begins to grind to a halt. Phoning around the car insurance companies, or even just spending a few moments online, will soon bring you down to Earth, as you discover that your car insurance premium as a new driver will be almost the same cost as the vehicle you have saved up to buy.
Young Drivers Insurance - Are You Doing Something Illegal?
The temptation has been around for many years to put yourself on your parents' car insurance as a named driver. This, in theory, would allow you to reduce the cost of your car insurance. The problem with this approach, which is referred to as 'fronting' is that it is now illegal. Car insurance companies may, if they suspect that this is the case, refuse to pay out following an accident. If, for instance, you have an accident whilst driving to work, the car insurance company will want to know how regularly you did that journey. Insurance companies have been subjected to a range of claims on many fronts, and many of them are looking only to pay out on their terms, which usually means that everything must be legal and above board, and not open to interpretation.
Young Drivers Insurance Options
One option is to add an older named driver to your car insurance policy. This could have the effect of reducing your policy by as much as five per cent. You could take the extra Pass Plus course, which would further demonstrate your high standard of driving. Some car insurers will look favourably on this and some offer discounts of up to ten per cent. Check out the insurers who offer rapid bonus schemes, which allow you to build up no claims bonuses much more quickly. One car insurance company, More Than, have introduced a policy whereby if the young driver agrees to abide by a driving 'curfew' between the hours of 11pm and 6am, which is when the vast majority of accidents occur involving young drivers, then drivers will be entitled to cheaper car insurance.
Don't forget that car insurers are businesses, and they will accept your business if you decide to try 'fronting'. What looks fine on paper, and allows you to drive for a period of time, may not feel so good if you have an accident in the car you have been dreaming about but cannot get it repaired or replaced, because the car insurance company have found a loophole to avoid paying out. There is also a possibility that you could end up with points on your licence and prosecuted for having no car insurance. Having your first car is a great dream, but it may well be worth considering including insurance costs when you start making plans for your future on the road.
Visit www.car-insuranceuk.com regularly for the latest and best car insurance news and links to the best car insurance providers. Please follow the links on this page to obtain your own personalised young drivers insurance quote and make your own comparison.
© May 2009
