Becoming a new driver can happen at any age, as it’s not just younger people who are passing their test for the first time. Getting a car for the first time can be just as much of a challenge as gaining your license too. However, there are now ways for anyone to get their dream car thanks to bad credit car loans. These help all drivers, no matter their situation, and they can be especially useful for new drivers who may not have built up the best credit score. Insurance is another expense to add on top of all your other ones when you start driving, and typically as a new driver it will be more expensive. But there are ways you can try and make it just that little bit cheaper. So, keep reading for the best tips on cheap car insurance for new drivers!
Be Smart about Your Choice of Car
Did you know that cars are actually ranked, and their ranking can impact your insurance? Typically, the more expensive and unique a car is, the higher your insurance premiums will be. This is because a replica of James Bond’s Aston Martin is going to be way more expensive to fix than an old Vauxhall Corsa. So, always make sure you check out where your chosen car ranks before committing to the purchase and you may be able to save a lot of money on your insurance.
Get a Black Box
While you may think that a black box is just for brand new young drivers, this isn’t the case at all. The black box will monitor how you drive, and it forces you to be more careful. This essentially makes you less of a risk on the road and your insurance premiums can be a lot cheaper. So, if you’re a super careful driver, why should you pay more just because you’re new on the road? Get a black box to prove just how smart you are when driving, and you’ll definitely see a decrease in your insurance.
Shop Around
While it may seem obvious, you always need to shop around. We’ve all seen the meerkat adverts telling you to always compare your car insurance as well. but just because they’re cute, doesn’t mean their message isn’t important. You may be able to find much better deals when you shop around rather than just going with the first insurance broker that pops up on Google. It’s also a good idea to check out the reviews before committing too, as you can find a lot of valuable insight on websites like Trustpilot, so get reading!
Buy Before You Pass
You can actually buy your insurance before you even pass your test, which could potentially make it cheaper for you. In fact, you can buy it while you’re learning and still on your provisional license. You should be able to buy an annual policy and start earning a No Claims bonus before you even hit the road as a freshly passed learner. You will need to check each broker beforehand though, as not all will accept provisional licenses.
Add An Older Driver to Your Policy
Typically, when a new driver is a young person, they get added to their parent’s insurance policy. However, this can drive the prices right up and it’s actually better to do it the other way around. Instead, add an older driver to your insurance and the price should come right down. This is because if the broker knows that an experienced driver is also using your car, then it poses less of a risk on the road. You do need to make sure that they are actually intending on using the car though, as this could cause your insurance to become invalid if not.
Don’t Go Changing Your Car
While car modifications can be exciting and make your vehicle look more interesting, they could be pushing your insurance through the roof. This is because car modifications cost a lot of money, therefore making your car more expensive, and giving it an increased risk of being targeted by thieves. So, while you may be wanting to add cool door handles or hub caps, these can make your insurance a lot more expensive, making it best to avoid them.
Higher Excess
Whenever you look for an insurance quote, you’ll be asked to choose an excess. This is the amount that you’ll pay upfront in order to use your insurance to cover the rest. Choosing a higher excess has the potential to lower your overall premium and let you pay a lot less month to month. However, when choosing a higher excess, you need to be sure that you can actually afford it. Otherwise, you’ll land yourself in financial trouble when you need to utilise your insurance.
Try Pay as You Go Insurance
Pay As You Go (PAYG) insurance can be a brilliant way of keeping your costs low if you aren’t planning on driving all that much. Say you’re only going to use your car for short trips, when necessary, then it only makes sense that your insurance be cheaper, as you’re on the road a lot less. PAYG insurance works by asking you to pay a “parked premium” which is a set amount of money that covers the time you’re not using your car. Then you let them know your mileage each month and can pay as little as 4p per mile! So, if you don’t use your car all that much, even as a new driver, you might want to consider the PAYG method as it could help you make some big savings.
Being a new driver is a fun time, but the sting of insurance can definitely take some of the excitement away. But there are ways that you can make it a bit cheaper and help keep your money in the bank. Little things like paying a higher excess or adding an older driver to your vehicle can really help you cut the cost of things like a black box and PAYG insurance could help you make massive savings, so you don’t have to settle for the first expensive insurance broker you find online. So, if you’re a new driver, try making use of some of these tips, and you should see your insurance costs come right down.
Damien Troy is an experienced and notable author, who loves taking on new challenges and writing across a huge range of topics -channelling his personal experience and expertise. When Troy isn’t tapping away at his keyboard, creating his latest masterpiece, he can be found exploring new countries and cultures or burying his head in a good book.
