Supporting you as a new or young driver

Here’s how to make sure you’re properly insured, so you can stay safe and legal on the road from day one.

Understanding motor insurance

Getting on the road for the first time is a big step, and having the right insurance is important for doing it properly. It’s not just a box to tick, it protects you, your car, and everyone else around you if something goes wrong.

We’re here to help you understand how insurance works and how to avoid common mistakes so you can drive with confidence, knowing you’re covered and doing things the right way.

Two people sitting in a car talking, with the person in the passenger seat holding a football.

25%

of young drivers don’t realise that motor insurance is compulsory

47%

of young drivers aren’t aware that they can receive an unlimited fine for driving uninsured

52%

of young drivers don’t know that insurance policies are not always set up to auto-renew

54%

of young drivers don’t realise that declaring a more experienced driver as the main driver on their vehicle is actually a type of fraud

79%

of young drivers don’t realise that their vehicle could be seized or crushed if they are found driving uninsured

Your guide to getting properly insured

Getting your insurance right from the start makes everything else easier. Follow these key steps to make sure you’re properly covered as a new driver.

Key step

Start with the right type of insurance

While you’re learning, you’ll need specific learner driver insurance, either on your own vehicle or on someone else’s. Once you pass your test, this must be updated or replaced with a full policy straight away. Driving without updating your cover will leave you as driving uninsured.

Key step

Be accurate with your details

Make sure all the information you supply is correct, including your address, where the vehicle is kept overnight, and how far you think you’ll drive it throughout the year. If you’re the main driver, say so. Getting these details wrong, even by accident, can invalidate your insurance.

Key step

Choose the correct usage

Think about how you’ll actually use your vehicle. Social use is different from commuting to work or college. And if you’ll use it for anything more than just commuting to a single place of work, even just for occasional meetings, you’ll need business insurance.

Key step

Declare any modifications

If your car has been changed from its original specification, you must declare it. This includes things like alloy wheels, upgraded stereos, tinted windows or performance changes. Even small modifications can affect your cover.

Key step

Update your policy as things change

Whether you’ve just passed your driving test, you’re moving to university, starting a new job or simply driving more often, all changes affect your insurance. Keep your policy up to date so it always reflects your situation.

The four different usage types to choose from

Usage

Social, domestic and pleasure

Social, domestic and pleasure use is for personal errands like visiting friends or popping to the shops.

Usage

Commuting

Commuting adds in the ability to drive to and from a fixed place of work, school, college or university.

Usage

Business

Business is for anything work-related beyond your standard commute. Transporting equipment, visiting another site, attending a meeting, however occasional.

Usage

Hire-and-reward

Hire-and-reward is for certain types of work such as food or parcel deliveries, or for using your vehicle as a taxi.

Three young men standing beside a parked car in a car park, one holding a football
Three young men standing beside a parked car in a car park, one holding a football

Common mistakes to avoid as a young driver

It’s easy to get caught out by small details, but these are the things that most often lead to invalid insurance or serious consequences.

Driving other people’s cars

Don’t assume you’re covered to drive another car – not even for a quick trip round the corner. Most policies don’t include Driving Other Cars (DOC) cover for young drivers. If you need to regularly drive another car, get yourself put on that vehicle’s insurance as a named driver. If it’s just an occasional thing, you can take out a temporary insurance policy for the length of time you need.

Fronting

This is when you list someone else, such as a parent or older sibling, as the main driver of your car. It might seem like a quick win to reduce the premium, but if you are actually the one using the car most, it’s fraud and is illegal. Consequences can result in your policy being cancelled, being added to the Insurance Fraud Register and future insurance becoming much more expensive.

Underestimating your mileage

Setting your annual mileage low to get a cheaper quote can backfire. If your actual mileage is significantly higher than declared, it could affect a claim. Always give a realistic estimate based on how you plan to use the car and increase your estimation throughout the year if you are driving more than you thought.

Ghost broking

Be careful of anyone offering cheap motor insurance for new drivers via messaging apps or social media. Ghost brokers sell fake or invalid policies, often using stolen details.

Always buy insurance directly from a trusted insurer or regulated broker to make sure your cover is genuine. If you’re worried, you can check if an insurance company is genuine by going to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) or British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) website.

Choosing the wrong usage type

Make sure your policy reflects your reason for driving. If your usage isn’t declared correctly, your policy may not cover you when you need it most.

There are four different types to choose from: social, domestic and pleasure, commuting, business, and hire-and-reward.

Understand the different motor insurance usage types

Undeclared modifications

Any changes from the car’s original specification must be declared, even if they seem minor. This includes cosmetic upgrades, tech additions, or performance changes. Forgetting to declare them can invalidate your insurance.

Find out about other common insurance slip ups that catch out even the most experienced drivers

Frequently asked questions from new or young drivers

Insurance premiums are calculated based on risk. Typical insurance quotes for young drivers are usually higher, but the more you can reduce your risk on the road, the lower your premium will be.

If you haven’t bought a vehicle yet, start by choosing one that sits in a lower insurance group. The engine will be smaller and less powerful, so your risk will be automatically lower.

Other ways you may be able to legally reduce your premium include:

  • Taking out a telematics (black box) policy, which rewards safe driving

  • Buying your policy at least 26 days before you need the cover to start

  • Increasing your voluntary excess

  • Adding an experienced named driver

  • Avoiding modifications

  • Registering on the electoral roll

Over time, building a no claims discount and maintaining a clean driving record will help bring costs down further.

Declaring someone else as the main driver of your car when it’s mainly being used by you is called fronting, which is illegal. If you’re caught fronting, you could face the same consequences as any other uninsured driver. This can include your car being seized or crushed, a driving ban and an unlimited fine. Confirmed cases of fronting may also be added to the Insurance Fraud Register (IFR) which can make it very difficult for the person listed to take out any type of insurance in the future. 

You’ll need to put yourself down as the main driver, and add any other people as named drivers. Some insurers may bring down the price of your premium if you have your parents or other experienced adults additionally named on your policy.

You can modify your car as you wish, but you must declare every change to your insurer before it’s made. This includes cosmetic, performance, and technical upgrades. While safety improvements such as parking sensors probably won’t increase your premium, it’s worth knowing that some modifications may impact the price, and other changes might not be accepted at all. The key is transparency. If a modification isn’t declared, your insurance could be invalid, even if it seems minor. 

Yes, in most cases you should. If your term-time address is different from your home address, or the car will be kept somewhere else overnight, your insurer needs to know. Even if you’re only using the car occasionally, your circumstances have changed. Keeping your policy up to date ensures you stay properly covered and avoids issues if you have an accident or need to make a claim. 

Most car insurance policies won’t let anyone under the age of 25 drive another person’s car. You’d need to check your individual policy to see whether or not you’re allowed to Drive Other Cars (DOC) once you’ve passed your 25th birthday. 

If you need to drive a vehicle belonging to a family member or friend living under the same roof, you must be declared as a named driver. This applies no matter what age you are.  

DOC cover is intended for emergency or one-off situations and usually only covers the vehicle on a third-party basis. Third-party generally only covers the cost of damage to a vehicle or any property hit by you and won’t cover the car you’re driving. It’s safer, and often cheaper, to get yourself insured properly on any vehicle you may need or want to drive regularly, whether it’s by being a named driver or taking out a temporary policy.