Tips for how younger drivers can beat the car insurance trap

Car insurance costs are on the up, after it emerged that following a steady period of declining prices, premiums have now gone up for the first time since June 2011.

Drivers can expect to fork out a hefty £582 a year for cover, according to car insurance provider Confused.com

But for the under 25s, that is a drop in the ocean – on average youngsters now pay about £1,911 for car insurance - although this is down by £792 since this time last year.

Despite that high cost, many younger drivers still want the freedom of being behind the wheel. We explain how they can try to beat the high insurance cost trap and we also reveal how it can be possible to drive something more fancy than a tiny-engined hatchback and still keep costs down. 

Men vs women and car insurance costs

Until fairly recently, female drivers have been offered some respite from high costs, as they are seen as much safer - this is especially true for younger drivers. Firms have even set up with the specific purpose of offering cover to women, with the likes of insurance firm Sheila’s Wheels making the most of their better claims history.

But the days of cheaper premiums for women are numbered, thanks to a European Court of Justice ruling, which says insurers cannot charge men and women different premiums because it constitutes discrimination.

The change came into effect on December 21 2012 and the younger you are, the bigger the impact.

So, with both men and women under 25 in the same boat for the first time, here are some tips to secure your cheapest car insurance option.

Tricks and traps: How to get better car insurance offers

- Compare prices Use an online comparison service to do the hard work for you. Put in your details and check the prices that come up. You can alter the excess that you are willing to pay and the mileage you will drive and get new quotes. Also check the insurers that don't feature in comparison sites, the big two are Direct Line and Aviva. This is Money's car insurance search is powered by MoneySupermarket and will search more than 130 insurers for you.

- Haggle! The car insurance market is notoriously competitive. Once you've been on This Is Money's comparison and found your cheapest price (below), get on the phone and start bargaining!

- Avoid paying monthly charges - direct debit installments generally come hand-in-hand with high interest rates. An alternative is to borrow the money on a 0 per cent purchase credit card and then clear it within a year.

- Think outside the box: An accelerated no-claims bonus, such as Admiral's Bonus Accelerator, could give you a year's no claims bonus after just 10 months.

- Or, if you've previously been insured as an additional driver on another policy, see if you can transfer a no claims bonus to your own insurance coverage. Some insurers do this, including Direct Line.

- Try for a discount by insuring two or more vehicles between friends or family members with the same firm.

- Try for a discount by insuring two or more vehicles between friends or family members with the same firm.

BLACK BOX: SOME OF THE BEST

AA drivesafe - Anti-theft tracker installed in your car for free - Online drivesafe dashboard 24/7 to check your score - Courtesy car while yours is repaired - Dedicated UK claim line available 24/7 Autosaint - Free telematics device and free installation - Curfew and non-curfew policies available - Locate your car if it's stolen

Co-op Young Driver Insurance

- Free box and installation

- Online dashboard to check your driving

Hastings smartmiles - Telematics box to measure your driving style - Comprehensive insurance policy including windscreen repair - Theft tracking - Courtesy car while yours is being repaired Bell from Admiral - Free tracker with 24/7 theft hotline - Access to personalised online driver dashboard - 24/7 accident and glass repair helpline - Courtesy car while yours is at an approved garage Insurethebox - Premium fixed for the year with no curfews and no fines - Acts as theft tracking device - Dedicated UK claims line available 24/7 - Courtesy car while yours is being repaired Coverbox - Free telematics box/theft tracker installed - Driving profile saved on your personal online portal - Comprehensive policies

Blackboxes - Pay how you drive

If you are a good driver, and are happy to prove it, you could get money off by installing a telematics device, or ‘black box’, which monitors how you drive. 

As an example, The Co-op's young driver insurance policy includes fitting a box into 17-25-year-olds' cars to monitor acceleration, braking, cornering and time of driving.

It then charges for insurance every 90 days, taking into account any discounts or loadings.

Although bad driving could see your insurance cancelled, research carried out on behalf of the Co-op claims the service benefits young drivers who drive well, with 82 per cent of young drivers saving claiming a safer driver discount.

Pay when you drive

The system is simple: A tracking device is fitted to your car and the less you drive, the less you pay - another option for young drivers looking at ways to keep costs to a minimum.

iKube is aimed specifically at 17-25 year-olds, who don't often drive between 11pm and 5am, with fees charged for driving outside of hours.

Those that choose Insure The Box pick either a 6,000 or 8,000 mile per year policy, but earn extra miles by driving safely - or buy more online.

Coverbox also offers a 'pay as you drive' scheme. Although not specifically aimed at young drivers, it does offer some under 30s £50 cashback.

For low mileage drivers these schemes can cut costs, especially if you don’t drive at night (11pm - 5am), when the price per mile is bumped up.

Dos and Don'ts

DO compare prices for third party and fully comp. Although third party insurance should be cheapest for young drivers as it offers a lower level of cover, this isn't always the rule.

Check BOTH using our comparison table (below).

DO think about adding a second or even third driver to your insurance, especially an older more experienced one. This can even out the average risk - which could mean cheaper insurance of up to £1,000.

Although the obvious people to add are those with a long track record of good driving, you may be surprised - anyone that's in a lower risk category than you can help. Younger drivers with a job perceived by insurance firms to be lower-risk can shave off pounds from your premium - strangely, some claim adding younger siblings, on a provisional license, helped to cut costs.

DON'T confuse this with 'fronting', which is illegal - see below.

DO see if you can get cashback via a cashback website to reduce the cost.

DO, once you’ve tried our comparison site, check specialist young driver policies to see if they undercut them. And:

DO try a specific young driver broker. Swinton's Young Driver Insurance is worth checking out, as are A Plan, Thames City, Only Young Drivers, Adrian Flux and Endsleigh.

DO check your occupation. When you are asked to give your job title in the application process, there may be a number of options that apply to you so try them all to see if it makes a difference. But bear in mind that if you choose an occupation that couldn’t reasonably apply to you and is likely to be considered fraudulent, your cover could be invalidated.

Can I pimp my ride or drive a fast car?

The more powerful your engine, and the more changes you make to your car (unless they are for security), the more you'll be charged.

But, if you are under 25 and you just can’t imagine life without your high-powered SUV, or a sporty little number,here are some suggestions to avoid insurance premiums high enough to make Donald Trump weep.

•    Shop around - comparison sites can be good for standard risks, but a young driver with a powerful car will not tend to do as well on these sites, compared to a specialist broker who has negotiated a scheme specifically for this market (examples below).

•    Will you only drive a few thousand miles a year? Try a limited mileage policy.

•    If you've passed your test recently, get yourself a PassPlus, IAM or Max Driver qualification and then insurance firms, such as Adrian Flux could knock off up to 25% - which means hundreds of pounds for teenage drivers. Many councils offer discounts of up to 50 per cent on the price of the course. Visit Direct Gov for more information.

•    Got mods? Make sure you tell your insurance firm about all modifications to your vehicle, and check how they would affect your price before you do them, even if they don't enhance performance. If you don't, your insurance could be invalidated. Some mods might even reduce your premium.

•    If you've been riding a moped, scooter or other motorcycle, ask if you can transfer your no claims bonus to your car policy.

•    Are you in an owners club or online forum? If not, think about joining one. From an insurer's perspective, people who are enthusiastic about their car and learn all they can about it will take better care of it. Even better, discounts can be as much as 15 per cent.

•    Keep your car garaged if you can. Fitting a security device such as an alarm or an immobiliser will also lower your insurance bill, sometimes substantially.

•    Don't be a teen racer The more points you have on your license, the higher the cost of your insurance. One speeding conviction could bump up your premium by around 10 per cent, but two may cost you up to 25 per cent more. If you have a conviction for using a mobile phone while driving, it can increase your premium by a whopping 50 per cent.

•    Don't go for a modern car if you want something a bit less ordinary Insurance premiums for 'classic cars' are often discounted, although running costs may be higher.

For example, managing director at insurance consultants Osborne & Sons David Button, recently charged £677 for a young driver's two-litre Westfield sports car.

The driver, a 23-year-old from Norfolk, was prepared to drive no more than 3,000 miles a year. He could also have been entitled to a 10 per cent discount for being an owners club member.

However, Button was keen to make clear all circumstances are different.

Classic car insurer Footman James has recently launched its young enthusiasts policy. If you can prove you are not just looking for a cheap policy and you have a genuine interest, those as young as 17 can get a cheap insurance policy on their classic.

So, despite the challenges, reasonable prices for modified or powerful vehicles are achievable; quotes provided to this Is Money by specialist car insurer Adrian Flux also demonstrate that investing in your street cred doesn't have to decimate your bank balance.

Parents and fronting:  Remember the small print

- Unsuspecting mums and dads looking for cheap deals could find themselves facing court proceedings for ‘fronting’ –  WHICH IS ILLEGAL - if they falsely declare to insurance companies that they drive their car more than their son or daughter.

The consequences can be serious as fronting invalidates insurance and can lead to prosecution.

Insurance companies may even refuse point blank to add a youngster to a policy if they believe he or she is intended as the main driver. It could also cause huge headaches if a claim is made - with some firms refusing to pay out.

- One option for parents looking to cut costs is to add under 25s to insurance policies on a temporary basis - from one day to a few months - if they are visiting or at home from university. Short Term Car Insurance Under 25, offer tailored policies for young drivers, but the AA and eCar Insurance also offer good short-term options.

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Know how you could get a cheaper car insurance premium

If you're trying to find cheap car insurance it really does pay to shop around. Because while the cost of accident repairs and personal injury claims can push car insurance premiums up, competition for your premium keeps price rises in check.
But beware, some insurers may trim policy benefits to produce a 'cheap' premium. However, there are things that you can do which could help reduce the cost of your current car insurance premium.

Look at the policy benefits rather than price alone

Check whether a policy provides a courtesy car while yours is being repaired, or offers the cover you need for driving in Europe. Help with the recovery of uninsured losses, which could include your out of pocket expenses following an accident, is another useful benefit. Once you've considered the benefits a policy offers, always check the compulsory excesses before accepting a quote.

Think about your driving

If you're looking for a reduction on your next car insurance premium, then the way you drive can help. Stay within the speed limit – a speeding ticket is likely to increase your premium. And if you reduce the annual mileage on your vehicle, perhaps by cutting back on journeys or using other forms of transport, you are likely to cut your premium as well.

A secure car can reduce insurance costs

Avoid parking your car on the street at night. Keeping it on a drive is preferable, but use the garage if you have one and lock it at night – the extra security could bring a discount on your premium.
Improving the security of your motor vehicle can also help reduce your car insurance premium. Insurance companies can tell you which security devices will bring a discount. Tracking devices and immobilisers are likely to attract the best discounts.

Cheap car insurance for young drivers

If you're a young or newly qualified driver, it's worth considering the Driving Standards Agency's Pass Plus initiative. The course helps you improve your driving experience in key areas like driving at night and on motorways, and could get you a discount on your car insurance.
Learn more about cheap car insurance for young drivers

Cheap car insurance for older drivers

If you're approaching retirement and looking forward to putting the daily commute behind you, there's more good news. Once you retire, tell your insurer about the reduction in your annual mileage, which could reduce your premium.
Or for parents with teenage children who are learning to drive, it's worth encouraging them to buy their own car and insure it themselves. This will help them gain their own no-claims discount and cheaper car insurance in the long run. But if you're thinking about getting your son or daughter insured as an additional driver of your car, then if they have an accident your no-claims bonus will be affected.

Paying a voluntary excess for cover

Finally, consider how much you'd be prepared to pay out if you have to make a claim. If you can afford to pay another £100 or £200 as a voluntary excess your annual premium costs may come down.

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Do you need another Income protection insurance policy?

Income protection insurance is a type of life insurance that provides an income if you're unable to work. It's often overlooked, because being out of work is not the cheeriest thing to think about. The insurance payment kicks in after a certain period and covers a portion of your income. And, like many things in life, it's not as simple as it sounds.

There are two main types:

Agreed-value insurance, the most expensive option pays out a benefit agreed to reflect your income at the start of the policy. This type's not affected by any fluctuations in income - kind of like 'agreed value' car insurance cover, rather than market value.

Indemnity value policies are cheaper and more common. These verify your income at the time of making a claim and may adjust your benefit accordingly. So your payout salary can depend on things like maternity leave, working part time or becoming unemployed.

Indemnity value policies provided by super funds are the cheapest, with fewer features and less flexibility. They may also be limited to a shorter time period.

How long does it last?

This depends on how much you want to cough up for better contract terms. The more you pay for the insurance, the longer they'll pay you in the case of illness or injury. Policy terms range widely, from two to five years, or up to age 60 or 65.

Do I need income insurance?

It depends. Income protection policies are designed to meet the costs of 'living', rather than ensuring family members receive a payout after your death. If you're young and single with no dependents and limited fixed expenses, income insurance is useful. If you're a family type who needs to look after loved ones, life insurance may be a better bet.

So how much cover do I need?

Here you'll need to do some homework. Income protection covers roughly 75% of your income if you're sick, injured or unable to work. To get the best cover you'll need to budget your standard costs - like monthly mortgage or car loan payments – along with any dependents you want to provide for, plus the cost of managing any investment assets. This will help you decide what level of cover you need.

How much will it cost me?

Shop around and compare cover and prices - they differ greatly. Premiums are set depending on:

• age (premiums may increase or cover may decrease as you get older)
• gender
• health and pre-existing conditions
• whether or not you smoke
• occupation (for example, a manual laborer pays different premiums to an office worker)
• the time you choose to wait before receiving payment

Stepped or level income protection insurance premium… say what!?

The fun doesn't end there. Now we'll talk about different types of premiums.

• A stepped premium starts out cheaper, but increases over time.
• Level premiums are constant but vary depending on age at entry. They start out more expensive, but after 10 to 12 years of cover they're the cheaper option.
• If you plan on sticking with the same provider, a level premium is better in the long term.
• If you like to shop around, a stepped premium is wiser.

The tips and traps of income protection insurance

This isn't an exhaustive list. Before committing to a policy you should compare product disclosure statements. You might also consider getting professional financial advice.

• When taking out a policy, ask these key questions: What's covered? What's not covered? How much will I be paid after a claim? What will the insurance premiums cost now and later?
• Consider getting a policy with index-linked premiums and cover so you know it will keep up with inflation.
• Consider a non-cancellable policy, otherwise companies may reassess your health or other factors on each renewal, possibly raising your premiums or refusing to continue cover.
• Look for a policy with Guaranteed Future Insurability, a benefit that allows you to increase your level of cover without further underwriting. This is important if your circumstances change due to things like buying a home or having a child.
• Offset clauses allow insurers to reduce payouts if you have other income (for example, sick pay or Centrelink benefits). Check the relevant section of the policy for details.
• With group insurance provided through super: the agreement is between the fund trustee and insurer. This may make the claim and payout less straightforward. Check the waiting period (how long before you receive payment, often 30 or 90 days) and the benefit period (for how long payments will be made — typically two years or sometimes until your normally expected retirement age).
• Some policies pay out if you're unable to perform your normal occupation. Others only pay if you can't perform any occupation for which you're suited by education, training or experience. Look out for policies that pay if you're unable to perform your regular occupation.

Watch those terms

When taking out any insurance policy, you should check carefully the terms and conditions. You should also check the way the key terms of the policy are defined.

Nick, a farmer from Gloucester, found this out the hard way:

Nick had an income insurance policy with a large insurer. The policy was fine, but Nick had a not-so-typical income situation, because the money he made varied depending upon the success of the farm each year.

When Nick had an incident, the company refused his claim because they had defined his assessable income as being based on his taxable income. Sadly for the year in question, Nick had no taxable income. Instead, his income that year came from a legitimate repayment of money he'd lent to the family company in previous years.

Nick had seen no mention of 'taxable income' being the basis of assessing the insured's income. Luckily he was able to use an independent claims assessor to help negotiate with the insurer and eventually reach a compromise.

• Our tip: It's important to read all the terms to make sure you're not caught out at a tough time.

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