If you pass your test in your late teens and then want to buy a car, you may find that the insurance would be prohibitively expensive. So, when can you expect the price to fall?
Car insurance by age
Under 25
Between the ages of 17 and 25, your car insurance will be at its most expensive, but there are actions you can take to reduce the cost.
25 plus
Once you are 25, you may well find that the price of your car insurance will start to drop. All else being equal, it should fall gradually between the ages of 25 and your 50s, with those aged between 50 and 60 generally benefiting from the cheapest rates.
60 plus
Over 60s tend to find that their car insurance price rises a little. Not by a huge margin, but to a premium that costs around what those in their 40s pay.
Why does age matter?
Risk
The price of car insurance is calculated according to risk. Statistics show that younger drivers have more accidents, therefore they are higher risk and their premiums reflect this.
No claims bonus
The fact that younger drivers have had little or no chance to build up a no claims bonus is important too. A newly qualified 17-year-old driver will not have any no claims bonus, so they will not get any discount. Insurance companies do not yet know how much of a risk they are, so they have to ensure they cover their projected costs.
How can I reduce the price?
There are a number of things you can do to ensure you pay as little as possible for your car insurance, whatever your age:
Insurance groups
Buying a car in a lower insurance group is one of the best things you can do to lower the cost of your premiums. All cars are placed into one of 50 groups, with 1 being the lowest priced and 50 the highest. Insuring a car in a low group will cost significantly less, as the car is seen as less risky. This is an important factor to bear in mind when shopping for a car.
Black box or telematics
Insurers now offer special rates to those who use black box or telematics technology. This can either be installed in the car, or used as a smartphone app. It records your driving habits, which will be fed back to the insurance company. As long as you are a careful driver, this should lower your premium and help you to get cheaper insurance in the future. It can work against you, however, if you drive carelessly or too fast.
Add a named driver
If someone such as a parent is likely to use your car, then your car insurance can actually cost less if you add them to your policy as a named driver. If you are the one who uses the car most, then you must ensure you are the policyholder, however. Adding a driver to your insurance just to obtain a cheaper price is known as ‘fronting’ and is fraudulent.
Compare prices
Some financial experts advise people never to accept their renewal quote. Insurance companies rely on the fact that people may be too busy or tired to shop around, so the renewal price may not be very competitive. Using price comparison sites can speed things up, but remember they do not cover all insurers.
Pay annually
If you can, pay annually for your car insurance as it’s cheaper. Insurers charge extra for the privilege of paying monthly, so you will shell out more over the year.
