How to Get the Cheapest Car Insurance for Young Drivers
Updated 16 October 2026 · 7 min read
Young driver? Learn the proven ways to cut your car insurance cost — from black boxes and car choice to named drivers and excess.
Key takeaways
- Compare widely — prices for the same driver can vary hugely between insurers.
- A low insurance group car and a black box policy are the biggest levers.
- Never 'front' a policy — it's fraud and can void your cover.
This guide is part of our full guide to car insurance for young and new drivers. You may also find these useful: cheapest cars to insure for an 18 year old male and how does black box insurance calculate your score?.
Why young drivers pay more
Insurers price on risk, and statistically drivers aged 17–24 are involved in more claims than older drivers. With no driving history to prove otherwise, you start in the highest-risk bracket.
The good news: premiums usually fall sharply after your first couple of claim-free years, and there's plenty you can do in year one.
The biggest money-savers
Focus on the factors that move the price most:
- Choose a car in a low insurance group (groups 1–5 are cheapest).
- Consider a black box (telematics) policy that rewards safe driving.
- Add an experienced named driver — genuinely, as an occasional user.
- Increase your voluntary excess, but only to an amount you could afford.
- Pay annually if you can — monthly payments often include interest.
- Park off-road or in a garage overnight if available.
Take an extra driving course
Some insurers offer discounts for qualifications such as Pass Plus. It won't always lower the price, so get quotes with and without it before paying for a course.
Avoid fronting
Fronting is when a parent insures a car as the main driver when the young driver actually uses it most. It may look cheaper, but it's insurance fraud — claims can be refused, and the policy cancelled.
Compare every renewal
Loyalty rarely pays. Run fresh comparisons each year — your growing no-claims bonus means your price should be coming down.
This guide is general information, not financial advice.