First time insurance

studentguy

Hi folks,

I'm tearing my hair out, i'm a recent graduate, in my first job and I commute every day. Currently I do so on the train, but i'm learning to drive with the intention i'll drive to work soon. (It's about 60 miles each way)

I've been checking out insurance, and was shocked to see my average quote is between £2000 and £3000! I've checked with several diesels such as 2000W Peugeot 206 L Diesel, 2002 Citroen Xsara Hdi 110 Lx, 1997CC Diesel, 5DR, Manual etc, and the prices they return are all through the roof. How am I supposed to get on the road with prices like that?! I was expecting something high, perhaps around £1000, but £2000+ is ridiculous! I'm not a multi-millionaire.

Any advice on what I can do to reduce this? I've toyed with the idea of pass plus, but that doesn't seem to make any serious dent in the insurance premiums. Any advice?

Thanks in advance

luci

Can you add someone else, such as a parent, to the policy as that should bring it down?

mickbhall

I found admiral cheap but every one is different. Pass plus knocked 50% of for me but that was 6 yr ago. 106 1.5 diesel aren't tobad to insure. If possible take the advise about adding a parent. It will be expensive if you are trying to insure a 110bhp 2ltr.

bouncydog1

There are lots of threads on here regarding this very topic - insurance costs have risen for the majority of people but particularly for young male drivers because of the high incidents of claims. Factors affecting quotes include age, experience, postcode and who else will drive the car. An older parent (particularly female) with clean licence etc should help bring down the cost. You also need to be looking at entry level cars not high c.c.'s as these have lower groups. Try looking on Parkers as I think they provide an indication of vehicle ratings. Low groups are usually 1000cc or less but check because Smart cars for instance although low cc are not that low group. Something like a vauxhall corsa 1lt may be quite low.

The main cost of the quote is third party cover due to the cost of claims involving personal injury. Recent award for a cyclist knocked off his bike by a young male driver, and left needing 24 hour care was £14m. In comparison £2k to protect you should you have an accident (and I sincerely hope you don't) is cheap!

Search the threads for further info, but remember once you pass your insurers may put the price up as you are a greater risk as you will be driving unaccompanied. If you get a cheaper quote ask this question - also suggest you contact a good local insurance broker as they will know their market and probably come up with something better than a comparison site.

studentguy

Hi all, thanks for all the advice.

When you mean put your parent on your insurance, how do you mean? As an additional driver? I just did a quick quote with my dad on the insurance (my parents are divorced) and my premiums went up, not down, unless you mean also mark them as the main driver?

Another issue I had is I was looking for a diesel car, but on autotrader, they don't seem to sell diesels below 1.7L, now I might sound really thick (i'm no car expert) but can you get low powered diesels or is this just coincidence that none are going on autotrader?

Thanks.

dogbot

Hello op,

Try adding your mum as a named driver or/and a grand parent if there is one arround still driving.

Avoid diesel cars at the moment - they will be much more expensive to insure as they tend to have larger engines and power. You can find a few smaller ones - the old NON turbo VW group 1.9 cars (e.g. SDI Polo/golf) which are slow, or some more recent corsa's and 1.4tdi Ford Fiestas.

Corsa's get loaded because they are often bought by boy racers - puntos, ibizas and saxo's too to varying degrees.

Sick to small capacityish petrols rather than diesel - they will be cheaper to insure and service and won't use that much more fuel than the deisels you are looking at, even with your mileage! Some will even be better than the cars you have listed if you drive with an ecological right foot. The previous generation 1.4 Fiesta petrol is good and to be honest the 1.0 is not bad either - i had one as a courtesy car for 7 weeks and it handled my long motorway commute fine. Yaris is also worth a look though they are more expensive. Fabia is the VW group car to look at if you want something with more of a quality feel as they are the cheapest to buy and insure.

Also, try the non price comparison website people - Direct Line, Aviva, a local broker etc, as you might find a deal there. Try the black box insurers too - Coverbox, Icube, Insurethebox... even with higher miles some of them are good if you don't intend to drive later at night, just commute.

DO NOT put someone down as the main driver unless they are - if you do, then it will almost certainly become clear to the insurer (in some cases now with more checks at new business, just after you have purchased) that you have lied and your policy will be voided for fraudulent misrepresenation. It is also a crime, although you are unlikley to get into criminal trouble in truth other than then getting done for driving without insurance after the policy is cancelled!

mikey72

Try Bell insurance for a quote as well.
I don't think it's only the young that knock cyclists over though.
If you want a low group car look here
http://www.parkers.co.uk/insurance/Groups/by-group.aspx?ig=1#ig=0

lisyloo

When you mean put your parent on your insurance, how do you mean? As an additional driver? I just did a quick quote with my dad on the insurance (my parents are divorced) and my premiums went up

Yes as a named driver.
You cannot put them down as main driver if you are the main driver.
Suggest trying a female.

Well done for working it out before you buy a car.

We get so many people on here that buy a car first and then find they have a problem.

I would also consider NOT getting a car.
Cars are expensive as you are finding out.
You have to pay for tax, MOT, servicing, repairs, insurance, breakdown cover, parking, fuel and depreciation.
Remember that cheaper forms of transport most of the time can subsidise taxis (olr hire cars, or car shares) for when you can't get around so easily.

bouncydog1

I don't think it's only the young that knock cyclists over though.


No it probably isn't - but this was a high profile case and demonstrates the level that third party claims can reach (and the driver was a young male)!

mikey72

bouncyd!!! wrote: »

I don't think it's only the young that knock cyclists over though.


No it probably isn't - but this was a high profile case and demonstrates the level that third party claims can reach (and the driver was a young male)!

I can't find the age of the driver, but it was from an accident 12 years ago. So if anything, young male drivers must always have been the same, so why is the cost of insurance increasing now, with the reason that they're a bad risk?
And I don't believe the "long overdue" arguement, insurance companies will have done it long ago if young males where always such a high risk compared to middle aged drivers.