UK New Driver Car Insurance Quotes
New Driver Insurance
Compare new driver car insurance from FCA-authorised UK brokers who cover people who have recently passed their test. Cover for your first policy in your own name, with third party, third party fire and theft and comprehensive to compare side by side.
Why Compare New Driver Car Insurance?
- ✓ Compare TPO, TPFT & Comprehensive
- ✓ Comprehensive Often Costs the Same or Less
What is new driver car insurance?
New driver car insurance is cover for people who have recently passed their driving test, often taking out a policy in their own name for the first time. New drivers usually pay more because they have no driving history and no no-claims record yet, not because of their age, so someone who passes at 40 can face new-driver loadings too. You can compare third-party only, third-party fire and theft and comprehensive, and for new drivers comprehensive is often priced the same as or lower than third-party only, so it is worth comparing all three. Telematics or black box policies let you prove careful driving from day one and bring the price down at renewal.
New driver car insurance suits anyone who has just passed, whether they are 17, 30 or 55. It is built around drivers with no track record yet rather than around a particular age, so a mature driver who passed later in life is a new driver too. The first policy in your own name sets the starting point for the no-claims record you will build over the years ahead.
You can hold the policy in your own name as the main driver, and honestly add an experienced named driver if they genuinely share the car. Listing an experienced driver as the main driver when they are not is called fronting, it is fraud and can void the policy, so keep the details accurate. Compare car insurance costs across cover levels to see what fits your budget.
Insurers price a new driver against their experience and lack of no-claims history, the car's insurance group and value, annual mileage, where the car is kept and the postcode, whether a telematics policy is chosen, and the cover level and voluntary excess. Choosing a lower insurance group car, taking Pass Plus and driving carefully in the first two years all help bring the cost down.
Related car cover
How new driver car insurance works
Tell us about you and the car
When you passed your test, the make and model, your annual mileage, where the car is kept, any named drivers and whether you want a telematics policy. The more accurately you declare these details, the tighter the quotes insurers can send back.
Compare new driver quotes
Your details go to FCA-authorised brokers who price each cover level, mileage and any telematics option, so you can compare third-party only, TPFT and comprehensive side by side.
Choose your cover and build no-claims
Pick the policy that fits your budget and start your first no-claims record, with each claim-free year helping to lower the price at renewal.
What a new driver policy covers
There are three levels of car insurance in the UK. Each one builds on the level below it, so the cover adds up as you move along. Here is what each level gives you as a new driver.
Third Party Only
The legal minimum. Covers injury and damage you cause to other people, not your own car.
Third Party, Fire and Theft
Everything in third party only, plus cover if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.
Comprehensive
The full level. Adds accidental damage to your own car whoever is at fault. For new drivers it is often priced the same as or lower than third party only, so compare all three.
What a first policy usually includes or offers
Alongside your chosen level, new driver policies often add options that help you build a record and keep costs sensible from day one.
MyMoneyComparison introduces users to FCA-authorised brokers. We do not advise on or sell insurance.
What new driver car insurance does not cover
A new driver policy is built around the details you declare: who the main driver is, how the car is used, any named drivers and any telematics condition. Once the car is used beyond those declared limits, the policy can stop paying out. Knowing where the cover ends matters as much as knowing what it includes, because fronting, undeclared details and breaking a black box condition are among the biggest reasons a claim is reduced or declined.
Wear, tear and mechanical breakdown
Loss caused by ageing, general wear, corrosion and mechanical or electrical breakdown falls outside the cover. You are expected to keep the car maintained. Insurance covers sudden and unforeseen events, not the slow results of use or a breakdown.
Breaching a telematics condition
A black box or app policy can set rules on things like a driving score, annual mileage or certain hours. Break the agreed condition and the insurer can charge a fee, add a curfew or cancel the policy. Read the telematics terms and drive within them.
Business use unless declared
A standard policy usually covers social and commuting use only. Using the car for work such as visiting clients or making deliveries is not covered unless business use is declared and added. Tell the broker how you use the car so the right class of use is on the policy.
Undeclared modifications
Modifications you have not declared and had agreed are not covered, and can affect the whole policy. Engine, bodywork, wheel and audio changes all count. New drivers often inherit a modified car without realising, so declare any change before you take out cover so it can be recorded and priced.
Fronting and undisclosed drivers
Only drivers named on the policy are covered, and the main driver must be the person who really drives the car most. Listing an experienced driver as the main driver when they are not, known as fronting, is fraud and can void the policy. Name every driver and answer each question honestly.
Driving other cars without cover
New drivers often assume they can drive any car, but driving other cars cover is rarely included on a new policy and only ever gives third-party cover when it is. Check your certificate before driving a car that is not yours, and never rely on someone else's policy to cover you.
How much is excluded differs from one insurer to the next and from one car to another. Always check the policy wording carefully on class of use, any telematics condition, modifications and named drivers before buying. For a closer look at how the cover is priced, see our new driver car insurance guide.
Your first two years as a driver
Passing your test is the start of a short but important stretch. Here is what the first two years look like, and the rule every new driver needs to know before anything else.
Just passed
Your first policy in your own name
You are starting with no driving history and no no-claims discount yet. That is normal for every new driver, and it is the point from which your record starts to build.
Probationary period
The 2-year probationary period
Under the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995, if you build up 6 or more penalty points within 2 years of passing your first practical test, your licence is revoked. You then have to apply for a provisional licence again and pass both the theory and practical tests again. The first two years are the time to drive carefully.
Build no-claims
Your first claim-free years
Each year you drive without a claim lowers the price over time. A clean first two years builds your no-claims discount and pays off at each renewal that follows.
Renewal
Prove yourself early
Pass Plus or another approved course soon after passing can help, and a telematics or black box policy that records careful driving may bring the price down at renewal. Both show insurers the kind of driver you are.
MyMoneyComparison introduces you to FCA-authorised insurance brokers. We do not advise on or sell policies.
What affects the cost of new driver insurance
Most of it comes back to one thing. A new driver pays more because there is no driving history to price on yet, whatever their age. The good news is that several of the factors sit in your hands.
It is about experience, not age
With no track record and no no-claims record yet, an insurer has little to go on, so the starting price is higher for a new driver of any age. Everything below feeds into that central point.
Driving experience and history
Having no track record yet is the main reason the price is higher, and this holds for a new driver of any age.
The car's group and value
A car in a low insurance group is much cheaper to cover than a fast or high-value one, so the car you choose matters a lot.
Telematics or black box
Choosing a telematics policy can lower the price, as the insurer prices on how the car is really driven rather than assumptions.
Annual mileage
Lower, realistic mileage usually helps. Give an honest figure for the miles you expect to drive across the year.
Where the car is kept
Secure overnight parking, such as a driveway or garage, and your postcode area both count towards the price.
Modifications
Any change from standard must be declared, and it can raise the price. Keep the car as the maker built it where you can.
Cover level and excess
Comprehensive is often the same or cheaper for new drivers, and a sensible voluntary excess can lower the premium.
Pass Plus and named driver
Extra training such as Pass Plus and an honestly-added experienced named driver can both help the price.
Your biggest levers
- The car you choose
- A telematics policy
- Pass Plus
- Building a clean record
These are the changes with the most weight for a new driver, and comparing brokers on top of them helps you find a fair price.
MyMoneyComparison introduces users to FCA-authorised brokers. We do not advise on or sell insurance.
How much does new driver car insurance cost in the UK?
New driver premiums vary a lot because your lack of driving history, the car's insurance group, whether you choose a telematics policy, your mileage and your postcode each pull the price in different directions. The figures below are indicative annual ranges only, showing how the approach you take can move the price rather than a quote for any one driver.
There is no fixed price for new driver car insurance, and premiums run higher than for experienced drivers because you have no driving history and no no-claims record yet. Your experience, the car's insurance group and value, whether you pick a telematics policy, your mileage and your postcode move the price most. Compare comprehensive, third-party fire and theft and third-party only together, because for new drivers comprehensive is often priced the same as or lower than third-party only.
Telematics, lower group car
indicative annual range
A new driver in a low insurance group car who takes a telematics or black box policy and drives carefully from day one. Proving your driving and keeping mileage modest helps hold the premium down at the lower end.
Price moves with- The car's insurance group
- Choosing a telematics policy
- Annual mileage
Typical first policy
indicative annual range
A first policy in your own name on a mid-group car, comparing all three cover levels. Comprehensive is often the same price as or lower than third-party only, so it is worth quoting each level side by side.
Price moves with- Your driving experience so far
- The car and cover level
- Any honest named drivers
Higher group car, no telematics
indicative annual range per policy
A new driver in a higher insurance group car who does not take a telematics policy, or who has higher mileage or a city postcode. These factors push a first premium towards the top of the range.
Price moves with- A higher insurance group car
- Mileage and postcode
- No telematics on the policy
Ranges shown are indicative annual figures for a new driver comparing cover levels through an FCA-authorised broker. Insurance Premium Tax is included. Premiums sit at the top end for higher insurance group cars, higher mileage, city postcodes and policies without telematics. Every new driver is priced against their own details rather than a standard table.
Important: The figures on this page are indicative annual ranges only and do not constitute a quotation or offer of insurance. New driver car insurance is quoted individually by FCA-authorised brokers against your own details. Actual premiums vary significantly by your driving experience, the car's insurance group and value, annual mileage, postcode, whether a telematics policy is chosen, modifications and insurer. Always compare quotes before purchasing. MyMoneyComparison.com Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FCA registration number 916241.
New driver premiums are individually quoted by FCA-authorised brokers. Get a New Driver Quote to see what your car, cover level and any telematics option price at across the panel.
New driver cover in four steps
From your first quote to your first renewal, here is how to compare new-driver car insurance and start building a record that brings the price down.
Step 1
Tell us about you and the car
Let us know when you passed, the car you drive and how you use it, and whether you would consider a telematics or black box policy.
Step 2
Compare new-driver quotes
MyMoneyComparison introduces you to FCA-authorised brokers, including telematics and new-driver-friendly options, so you can see the price across the panel in one place.
Step 3
Choose your cover
Pick third party only, third party fire and theft or comprehensive, and remember comprehensive is often the same price or cheaper. Then add a black box, breakdown or a courtesy car if you want them.
Step 4
Drive well and build your record
Keep to any telematics conditions, mind the first two years, and each claim-free year helps bring the price down at renewal.
MyMoneyComparison introduces you to FCA-authorised brokers. We do not advise on or sell insurance, and we do not recommend one policy over another.
The new driver rules and how to cut the cost
New driver cover rests on two ideas: you have no driving history yet, and the first two years after passing carry extra rules. Open any section below to see how the probationary period, building no-claims, telematics, Pass Plus and honest named drivers work across the eight points new drivers ask about most often.
The 2-year probationary period
Under the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995, your first two years after passing your first practical test are a probationary period. If you build up 6 or more penalty points within those two years, your licence is revoked.
If that happens you have to apply for a provisional licence again and pass both the theory and practical tests again to get your full licence back. It is a strong reason to drive carefully from day one. Compare cover and get a new driver quote to start out right.
Why new drivers pay more
New drivers pay more because they have no driving history and no no-claims record yet, so insurers have less to judge the risk on. This is about experience rather than age, so a driver who passes at 40 can face the same loadings as one who passes at 17.
The good news is that the price is not fixed. Choosing a lower group car, taking a telematics policy, adding Pass Plus and driving claim-free all bring the cost down over time.
Building your first no-claims record
New drivers start with no no-claims record at all. Each full year you drive without making a claim earns a year of no-claims discount, which lowers your premium at renewal and builds up year after year.
The policy in your own name is where that record starts, which is why holding your own cover matters more than being a named driver on someone else's. Drive carefully, avoid small claims where you can, and the discount grows.
Telematics and black box policies
A telematics or black box policy uses a small device or a phone app to record how the car is driven, looking at things like speed, braking and the time of day. It lets a new driver prove careful driving from day one rather than being judged only on a lack of history.
Drive well and the price can come down at renewal, and some policies give feedback so you can improve. Check any conditions such as mileage or curfews before you buy. Compare options and get a new driver quote to see telematics prices.
Pass Plus and post-test courses
Pass Plus is a structured training course you can take soon after passing, covering motorway, night and all-weather driving. Some insurers recognise it and may reduce the premium, though not all do, so check before you rely on it.
Other approved post-test courses can build confidence and experience in the months after your test. Extra training is worth having on its own merits, and any premium reduction is a bonus.
Choosing a lower insurance group car
Every car sits in an insurance group from 1 to 50, based on things like value, power and repair costs. A new driver in a group 1 to 10 car usually pays far less than one in a high-group car, so the car you choose is one of the biggest levers on the price.
A small, lower-powered first car keeps the premium down and is easier to build no-claims on. Check the group before you buy so there are no surprises at quote stage.
Adding a named driver the honest way
Adding an experienced driver, such as a parent or partner, as a named driver can sometimes lower a new driver's premium, as long as they genuinely share the car. You must stay the main driver if you are the one who drives it most.
Listing an experienced driver as the main driver when they are not is called fronting. It is fraud, it can void the policy and leave a claim unpaid, so always keep who really drives the car accurate on the policy.
Comparing all three cover levels
New drivers should compare all three cover levels: third party only, third party fire and theft, and comprehensive. It is a myth that third party only is always cheapest, and for new drivers comprehensive is often priced the same as or lower than third party only.
Answer every question honestly on your experience, the car and any named drivers. Full disclosure at quote stage is essential, since the Insurance Act 2015 makes undisclosed material facts grounds for avoidance.
Every new driver is priced on their own details and car. Get a New Driver Quote to see how your details and cover level are rated across the MyMoneyComparison.com panel.
Who needs new driver car insurance?
You need new driver car insurance if you have recently passed your test and are taking out cover, often for the first time in your own name. It is about experience rather than age, so anyone who has just passed is a new driver, whether they are 17, 30 or 55.
Recently passed your test
Drivers who have just passed and are arranging cover for the first time. With no driving history yet, comparing quotes and cover levels is the way to find a workable first premium.
First policy in your own name
Drivers moving off a parent's policy or a provisional to hold cover in their own name for the first time. This is where your own no-claims record starts to build.
Mature new drivers
People who passed later in life and are insuring in their own name for the first time. They still count as new drivers because it is the lack of driving history, not age, that shapes the price.
Drivers wanting a black box
New drivers happy to take a telematics or black box policy to prove careful driving from day one. Good driving can bring the price down at renewal and help build a track record faster.
Adding an experienced driver
New drivers who honestly add an experienced named driver who genuinely shares the car. This can sometimes lower the premium, as long as the person who really drives most stays the main driver.
Building a no-claims record
New drivers focused on the long game, where each claim-free year earns no-claims discount and lowers the price over time. The first policy in your own name is where that record begins.
Whatever your age, if you have just passed, cover should reflect your experience and the car you drive. Get a New Driver Quote to match a policy to you, your car and your chosen cover level.
New driver vs experienced driver insurance
The cover is the same, but the price is not. An experienced driver has years of history and a built-up no-claims discount, so they usually pay less for the same car. A new driver pays more because they have no track record yet, whatever their age, so telematics, Pass Plus, choosing a low-group car and building no-claims matter most. MyMoneyComparison compares specialist and mainstream brokers so a new driver can find a fair price while that record builds.
| Comparison | New driver Just passed | Experienced driver Years of history |
|---|---|---|
| Driving history | No record yet, whatever their age, so the insurer has nothing to price against and treats it as a higher risk | Years on the road, so the insurer can price against a proven track record behind the wheel |
| No-claims discount | Starts at zero and builds one claim-free year at a time, lowering the price as the record grows | Built up over the years, which already brings the premium down at renewal |
| Typical premium | Higher for the same car, because there is no history to reward yet rather than because of age alone | Lower for the same car, reflecting experience and a built-up no-claims discount |
| Proving careful driving | A telematics or black box policy records how the car is driven from day one, which can bring the price down at renewal | Less need for telematics, as the driving record already shows on the policy |
| Post-test training | Pass Plus and approved courses taken soon after passing can help, and some insurers take them into account | Training matters less once experience is established and the record speaks for itself |
| Car choice | A low insurance group, small-engine first car makes the biggest difference to the price | More flexibility on the car, though the insurance group still affects the premium |
| Two-year probationary period | 6 or more penalty points within two years of passing your first test revokes the licence, so early points are a real risk | The probationary period no longer applies once the first two years after passing have gone by |
Important: The detail shown is indicative of how UK car policies are typically priced for new and experienced drivers. It is illustrative only and does not constitute a quotation or offer of insurance. Specific policy wording, premiums, telematics conditions and exclusions vary by insurer and individual circumstances. MyMoneyComparison.com Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FCA registration number 916241.
A new driver pays more only because there is no history yet, not because of age. Compare across specialist and mainstream brokers and see how much a telematics option and a low-group car change your car insurance price.
New Driver Car Insurance
New driver car insurance comparison since 2013
Since 2013, MyMoneyComparison.com has helped UK drivers who have recently passed their test find cover, often for the first time in their own name. Whether you passed at 17 or later in life, want a telematics policy or are comparing third party against comprehensive, our FCA-authorised broker panel quotes new drivers every day. Compare car insurance costs from a panel that understands new drivers, telematics, Pass Plus and building your first no-claims record. MyMoneyComparison does not advise or sell; it introduces you to FCA-authorised brokers who underwrite the cover.
Compare new driver car insurance quotes with some of the UK's top specialist providers, including:
Everything You Need to Know
Detailed answers to help you understand more about new driver car insurance.
What is new driver car insurance?
New driver car insurance is cover for people who have recently passed their driving test and are taking out a policy, often for the first time in their own name. It works like any UK car policy but is priced for someone with no driving history or no-claims record yet, whatever their age. FCA-authorised brokers on the panel look at the car, how it is used and options like telematics to build cover that suits a new driver.
Why is new driver insurance expensive even if I am not young?
New drivers pay more because they have no track record behind the wheel yet, not because of their age. An insurer has no claims history or no-claims discount to price against, so a driver who has just passed is treated as a higher risk until they build experience. This is why a 40-year-old who has just passed can face new-driver loadings in the same way as a teenager who has.
What is the two-year probationary period for new drivers?
Under the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995, the first two years after passing your first practical test are a probationary period. If you build up 6 or more penalty points within those two years, your licence is revoked. You then have to reapply for a provisional licence and pass both the theory and practical tests again, so driving carefully in the first two years really matters.
What does new driver car insurance cover?
A new driver policy covers you to drive on UK roads and, depending on the level you choose, covers damage to your own car as well as injury or damage you cause to others. Comprehensive policies can include fire and theft, windscreen cover and personal belongings. Many new drivers add a telematics option or breakdown cover, and brokers set the detail around how you use the car.
What levels of cover are available?
You can choose comprehensive, third-party fire and theft, or third-party only. Comprehensive is the widest, covering damage to your own car as well as to others, while third-party only is the legal minimum. Car insurance is a legal requirement in the UK, so at least third-party cover must be in place for any car used on the road.
How do I build my first no-claims discount?
Every new driver starts with no no-claims discount, and you build it by holding a policy in your own name and going a full year without a fault claim. Each claim-free year adds to your discount, which lowers the price over time. Driving carefully, choosing a sensible first car and sticking to any telematics conditions all help protect the record you are building.
Is comprehensive really cheaper than third party only?
Often yes. It sounds odd, but comprehensive cover can be priced the same as or lower than third party only for a new driver, because insurers sometimes see drivers who pick the lowest level of cover as a higher risk. Because of that, it is worth comparing all three levels rather than assuming third-party only is the cheapest.
Does a black box or telematics policy help a new driver?
A telematics or black box policy uses a small device or a phone app to record how the car is driven, such as speed, braking and the time of day. For a new driver with no history, it is a way to prove careful driving from day one, which can bring the price down at renewal. You do need to stick to the policy conditions, as breaching them can affect the cover.
What affects the price of new driver car insurance?
The main factor is your lack of driving experience and no-claims record, followed by the car’s insurance group and value, your annual mileage, and where the car is kept along with the postcode. Whether you choose a telematics policy, your cover level and voluntary excess all feed in too. Age plays a part, but for a new driver experience is the headline.
Does Pass Plus help a new driver?
It can. Pass Plus is a recognised post-test training course covering skills such as motorway and night driving. Not every insurer offers a reduction for it, but some do take it into account, so it is worth asking. Any approved extra training taken soon after passing can help show you are building experience.
Can I be a new driver if I passed later in life?
Yes. A new driver is defined by experience, not age, so anyone who has just passed their test is a new driver whether they are 17, 30 or 55. A mature driver who passed later in life still has no driving history or no-claims record, so brokers look at the same things: the car, the mileage, telematics options and building a claim-free record.
How does adding an experienced named driver work?
Adding an experienced driver as a named driver can sometimes lower the price, as long as it reflects how the car is really used. The person who drives the car most must always be shown as the main driver. Naming a parent or partner who genuinely shares the driving is fine, but every detail has to be honest.
What is fronting and why is it illegal?
Fronting is when an experienced driver is listed as the main driver of a car that is really driven mainly by a new driver, to make the premium look lower. It is a form of insurance fraud. It can void the policy, leave a claim unpaid and cause serious problems, so the person who drives the car most must always be shown as the main driver.
New driver vs experienced driver insurance
An experienced driver has years of history and a built-up no-claims discount, so they usually pay less than a new driver for the same car. A new driver has no track record yet, so telematics, Pass Plus, choosing a low-group first car and building no-claims matter most. Comparing car insurance across specialist and mainstream brokers helps a new driver find a fair price.
Do modifications affect new driver insurance?
Yes. Modifications, from alloy wheels to engine changes, can raise the price and must be declared, as they affect the risk and the car’s value. Undeclared modifications can lead to a claim being reduced or refused, so tell the insurer about any changes from standard. For a first car, keeping it standard usually helps keep new-driver premiums lower.
What is the best first car for a new driver?
A sensible first car sits in a low insurance group, has a smaller engine and is cheaper to repair, all of which help keep a new driver’s premium down. Cars are rated from group 1 to 50, and choosing something near the lower end makes a real difference. It is worth checking the insurance group before you buy.
How does voluntary excess affect my premium?
Voluntary excess is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim on top of the compulsory excess. Choosing a higher voluntary excess can lower your premium, but you must be able to afford it if you need to claim. For a new driver, it is a balance between a lower price now and what you could pay after an accident.
Can I add breakdown and European cover?
Yes. Breakdown cover and European cover are common add-ons that can be included with a new driver policy. Breakdown cover helps if the car will not start or stops on a journey, while European cover extends your insurance for driving abroad. Brokers can add these when you compare, so you only pay for what you need.
How can a new driver reduce the cost of insurance?
Choose a car in a low insurance group, consider a telematics policy, and keep your mileage realistic. Building a claim-free record, taking Pass Plus, adding an experienced named driver honestly and paying annually rather than monthly can all help. Comparing quotes rather than letting a policy roll over is another simple way to keep the premium fair.
What should I have ready for a new driver quote?
It helps to know the car’s make, model and registration, its estimated value and where it is kept overnight. Have the date you passed your test, your estimated annual mileage and details of any named drivers to hand. Accurate information means the quote reflects your situation and the cover responds properly if you claim.
Why use a specialist new driver broker?
A broker who works with new drivers understands telematics, post-test training and the loadings that come with having no history yet. They can place your cover with insurers who price fairly for someone who has just passed, rather than treating you as an ordinary risk. This usually means better-matched cover at a fairer price than guessing on your own.
Why compare new driver car insurance with MyMoneyComparison?
Comparing connects you with FCA-authorised brokers in one place, including specialists who understand new drivers. It helps you match the cover level, telematics option and excess to your situation rather than simply chasing the cheapest option. MyMoneyComparison.com does not advise on or sell policies, it puts you in touch with brokers who can.
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