First Time Insurance

[ilsonchick]

Im 24 and taking my test monday, hoping to pass! Whats he cheapest best insurance for a new female driver anyone? I put in compare the market and confused all my details on a 1.2 fiesta basic spec and it came back over £1,000!!! cant afford that! Thought it would be less since im older. I know im a new driver but SURELY for a 1.2 i can get insurance lower than a grand!

Useful advice please no sarcy comments

Thank u xx

[ilsonchick]

PS thats for third party F&T

[hc4361]

That's about right, I think. You are still under 25, so your insurance will be high.
You can legally lower your premiums by having an older driver with a good no claims bonus and driving history as a named driver on your policy.

[boxtops]

Insurance is not cheap, £1000 doesn't seem over the top for a first time driver, and you have no track record so no No Claims Bonus - you need to shop around, and don't forget that not all the insurance companies subscribe to go compare and the other comparison websites. What do you mean, you confused your details? go back in and try again! But seriously, also try sites like Sheila's Wheels which offer good rates for female drivers, I insured with them for a couple of years and found them fair rates.

[hc4361]

boxtops, she means she put all her details in to Compare the Market and Confused.com.
The details she entered were correct.

[boxtops]

Ah hc - I see now, no commas confused me too then!

[Buenchico]

Radio 4 recently gave the average insurance premium for a new 17-year-old driver as £4000 p.a., so £1000+ for a 24-year-old does sound quite reasonable.

However you might find that you can get a significant discount by adding an older, more experienced driver (such as a parent) onto your policy as a 'named driver'. There have been several posts here on AB from people who've found that they've got much lower quotes by doing that. (Unlike 'fronting', where you get a parent to insure your car in their name with you as a 'named driver', my suggestion is completely legal).

Chris

PS: While insurance premiums can sound ridiculously expensive, you need to remember that a driving error by you might leave another person requiring life-long medical care, forcing your insurer to pay out several million pounds. Insurers take on a big risk, so it's hardly surprising that they charge high premiums to novice drivers (particularly when you consider that the vast majority of drivers have at least one accident in their first two years of driving).

[Buenchico]

PPS:
While it might well be worth trying some companies who aren't on web comparison sites, you need to remember that 'specialist' insurers (such as Sheila's Wheels, as suggested by Boxtops) are nearly always just 'bog standard' insurers simply using different names. (Sheila's Wheels is actually eSure).

Chris

[Hopkirk]

Oddly, comprehensive cover can be cheaper than TPFT or TP.
Strange but true.

Try adding an older low risk driver as a named driver. This can actually lower the premium.

[sophie_1003]

When I passed my test (2 years a go when I was 21) my insurance (TPFT) on a Rover Knighstbridge was around £860, why has it gone up for new drivers so much recently?

[boxtops]

all the rates have gone up sophie, it's not just for new drivers - insurance companies are covering themselves against the hike in claims for personal injuries and garage repair costs. I have a good NCB yet my quote this year from the existing insurer was the same cost as it was last year, discount made no difference as the rates have all increased - we all need to shop around in the current climate.

[sophie_1003]

Oh right, mine still went down this year, although not by an awful lot so just stuck with them. Hopefully getting a new (to me) car next year though so should think it will change one way or the other!

[michael9]

Its difficult to find cheap insurance. I would recommend you to try all comparison websites and compare insurers. Try sites like http://theycompare.co.uk , http://gocompare.com , http://moneysupermarket.com etc