Adding young learner to my car insurance

eamonn321

My 18 year old son is having driving lessons and I thought I'd enquire about adding him on to my own insurance just so that I could take him out for some practice. Was a bit stunned to be told it would cost me an aditional £970. Has anyone got any advice/experience about this?

morg_monster

Blimey. When I was a learner, my parents added me to their Frizzell insurance. It cost very little extra (don't know the exact amount, but definitely less than £100), as their theory was that you are a safe bet when you're supervised. Once I passed the extra shot up. (But, we have recently discovered that Frizzell is not exactly the cheapest provider, so that may have 'cushioned' the extra!)

Our car was a 1.4 litre, so not the cheapest insurance class, but if you have a high powered car then I guess the extra to add your learning son will subsequently go up.

For £970 you could buy an old 1litre hatchback, and insure both of you on that for his practice. (With you as the main driver and him as a named - I assume you cannot be a main insured driver if you haven't got a full driving licence but could be wrong). Then when he passes make him the main driver to avoid fraud, protect your no claims, and help him build up his own no claims period - vital for young men! Probably cheaper than adding him to your insurance and definitely cheaper in the long run.

Astaroth

When I was younger I added £500 or so to my mothers insurance on a 1.1 fiesta - no one would touch me being aded to the 2.2 sierra

Depending on how far through you are through your policy year and on how many years NCD you have it may be better to cancel your existing policy and take a new one out with an insurer that doesnt load so heavily against young/ inexperienced drivers.... you can always do quotes to see how much it will cost with no obligation to accept.

eamonn321

Thanks. My insurance company did say that they weren't really one that looks for business from younger customers and that's why they are quite cheap for oldies. My car is a "sensible" 1.6 so no issues about the type of car.

I'd still be interested to hear from anyone that has found a way of insuring their kids' driving for a good price.

Astaroth

To be honest a 1.6 really is an upper end engine size for a new driver... anything above 1.1 is heavily loaded and many insurers wont touch a new driver over 1.6/1.8

ArchieB_2

When you consider that he is odds on to have an accident in the first couple of years, if you could self insure your car would you let hime drive it? I know I wouldn't. Doesn't help you I know so I do appologise.

eamonn321

I just needed cover for when I was teaching him to drive - he'd be supervised all the time. I suppose though that the cover offered was also for when he drives independantly and that would explain the high charge.