Young Drivers Car Insurance (2004-2005)

cobhamscot

I am trying to find most economical means of getting my two sons (aged 17 years,11 months & 21) insured to drive. Current insurance for self & wife just over 50 years (comp., protected bonus, full no claims) for Ford Fiesta 1.4 Zetec (52 reg) is £230 pa with Direct Line. Their quote to put sons on policy up to July '04 is £659.
Also sample quote through Auto Trader website for a Rover 214, 1.6 litre, 1994 model, third party, fire & theft was over £2,000.
Both sons are currently learners.
Any constructive ideas please, as the rates are outrageous!
As one possibility do deals with free insurance on new cars include learners? Any other restrictions? What are the best value free insurance deals on small, economical cars?
Constructive advice from two sons champing at the bit to drive would be appreciated.
Cobhamscot.

aussielle

I'm not too sure about provisional drivers but..

When your son's have passed.  Directline give 30% discount for young drivers who take 'pass plus' lessons.  These are usually 6 extra lessons taken after passing the driving test, with the normal driving instructor, should be at same cost as normal lessons.

For more advice on car insurance read Martin's article

You may find you get more replies if you post this on the Insurance board.  :)

alison6692

My first car insurance at the age of 21 was about £70 a month - my cheapest was direct line and they were very good.

Its a nightmare I know, the first year is a killer and I am sure when I joined they said they would give me 2 years no claims after the first year if I stayed with them as I had been driving on my mums insurance since the age of 17 - however I never did stay with them after as they weren't the cheapest.

oh yeah - and its worth pointing out - Diamond gave me a lower total than the rest and I thought wow bargain, however once you have added the APR for paying monthly plus the initial payment you make it actually came to a higher total than alot of my other quotes,

System

At age 24, on a 1.1 rover metro, provisional, for ME alone, was over £900, so I think those quotes are not actually that bad.

Pass plus would only cover you on your own insurance I believe, and only for the first year. It's equal to a first years no claim. So even if they did pass plus, being insured on your car wouldn't make a difference.

If you look at 2pass.co.uk, there is an insurance bit on there. Also a good forum, which give advice to learner/new drivers.

crana9

if the nearly 18-year old is planning on going away to uni consider Endsleigh insurance - you can "pause" it while the student is at college (and not using the car so doesnt need insurance) so the one year's premuium lasts longer

emcee

As Mum of three ~ ages 24, 21 and 19 ~ how much do I understand your problem! My two youngest recently found Norwich Union Direct by far most reasonable for fully comp insurance. Eldest bought new Ford KA when she was 21 purely on strength of year's free insurance deal. Doing 'Pass Plus' after passing driving test gave youngest extra discount with Norwich Union Direct. Good luck!

Sue7

Tesco insurance offer discounts for named drivers if they have done pass plus, we also found them cheaper whilst i was learning to drive (aged 29). You could try confused.com they say that they search all insurance companies for the best deal.

juno

My daddy found that Tesco were best for me and my sister, although we are girls!

Savvy_Sue

Another place to look for advice on this topic would be The Back Room of http://honestjohn.co.uk - and do come back and let us know what you find!

Mind you, at least you can get quotes: we have a Saab, elderly and probably minimal sale or write-off value, but son can't be insured to drive it until he is 18 and has had a full licence for at least 1 year! Which means we may end up buying a small cheap second car, or trading down to similar, just so he can get some practice outside lessons. Would buying a 3rd car work out cheaper for you?

And another suggestion, have you asked about putting just the eldest on? Unfair, maybe, but life is tough! The cost of adding youngest to the insurance WILL go down the older he gets!

scheming_gypsy

As well as the pass plus there's the Max Driver course. http://www.max-driver.com

royalsteve

you could try

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/

doesnt list all insurance companies but may give a good guide.

actually the quote you have had is quite reasonable...my niece is pay £700 for her 1.1 L reg fiesta! - some quotes were over £2000!

you may try considering get them their own small engined car...its when they start wanting sports cars that it gets ridiculous