Young Drivers' Car Insurance Discussion

Anastasiapink

My son passed his test in January aged 17. Carrot were the cheapest if he took their 'black box' with penalties if he goes over 8000 miles and/or drives between the hours of 11pm and 5am. Cost was around £2000.00 for the year.

Immediately the box was fitted we had problems because he can login and see his score out of 10 per journey. When traveling from his place of work to his girlfriend's house he kept getting a speeding warning and we couldn't work out why because he made sure to stick to the limits and I even drove the journey specifically to try and work out what could be wrong and got a speeding warning.

We eventually worked out that maybe they hadn't updated the speed limit on a certain stretch of road that used to be 40mph but years ago was changed to 60mph when the layout changed. We called them and they checked whilst on the phone and confirmed that their information was out of date, would be changed and his scores updated. However, the problem continued so as he's under 18 I emailed them and got a reply to say their IT staff had been busy but it would be done. The problem still continued so I emailed again and it was confirmed that it had been updated.

By this time his 'black box' had also registered 2 journeys during the restricted time even though he was most definitely in bed sleeping as was I and his dad (we're both on his insurance). The car was most definitely parked in our driveway and no-one else has access.

As he still gets speeding warnings on the problem route and because of these 2 journeys we contacted Carrot again and asked if the box could be faulty. The reply said they'd pass the information to their IT department and maybe the box needed a service (it seemed strange seeing as it was only fitted mid January).

We've heard nothing since and he's obviously getting concerned because he receives regular emails saying if he continues to speed they'll cancel his insurance! Both me and my husband have driven the route being very conscious of the speed limits just to see if there might be another road that they haven't updated the speed limit on but we get a speeding alert too and can't tell where/why.

Obviously, this will affect his insurance premiums when he comes to renewal if they don't cancel it first and completely goes against the reasoning for having the 'black box' fitted in the first place!

Has anyone else experienced similar? Any suggestions on what we can do next as Carrot don't seem bothered and haven't replied to say whether the box could be faulty/need a service (their suggestion about a service).

Lolly1968

Hope someone can advise.

My daughter turns 17 next month and I signed her up for an intensive driving course for 5 full days, it's £900 and they guarantee a pass as they will keep teaching her, putting her in for tests until she passes.

My thinking was I would add her onto my insurance and she would drive my car occasionally. Ha ha!! That was until I found out how much the insurance would cost. The cheapest quote I have found is about £3000 which is way more than I can afford (my insurance is currently £300).

So, I am considering cancelling the driving course and losing my £200 deposit, because I will never afford to insure her. However, a friend has suggested she still does the driving course, she will have her full licence for life, and one day when she has a job, gets her own car she will not have the hassle of learning to drive from scratch etc and my friend also suggested that if she gets her first insurance when she's 25 the fact that she's had a licence for 8 years may bring the premium down.
Any thoughts?

forgotmyname

I say take their test ASAP. Its not going to get cheaper or easier so pass now and its there for the future.

It will get cheaper as she gets older but without no claims discount it wont be that cheap.

Think of your £300 policy is that with 70% discount? So a £1000 premium?
Im guessing your a bit older than 25 also.

The cheapest car i found recently was a Daewoo Matiz.

Lolly1968

OK, did some research, her premium will be the same at age 25 whether she has just passed or whether she has had a licence for 8 years.
So should I bother paying for the course now? Are there any benefits to passing now but not being able to afford to drive?

busiscoming2

Lolly On the face of it £900 seems a lot of money, surely her just having the weekly or bi weekly lessons and normal tests would cost less?

I am all in favour of youngsters learning as soon as possible, it is expensive to learn but then they have their licence for life and never have to worry about incurring the cost when they also have to pay out for rent, mortgage etc

Hjpkj

Hi - just recently joined forum as was looking to insure my 17 yr old learner driver son. Have found hugely varied (and ridiculous!) quotes for adding his as a named driver to my policy. Took :money:advice to compare and shop around, also Which? magazine online subscription -good advice on Best Buy insurance.

Heard horror stories of his friends only finding insurance for £2000 to £3000, but then they have their own cars once passed test and just driving to and from college or part-time jobs they hold in order to pay for car. He won't need a car for now - and may not at Uni, depending where he ends up. Made me wonder if it's the fact they have a part-time job as well as main occupation college student that hikes the rates sky-high?

Highest price quoted, from my existing insurer (Endsleigh - who specialise in student cover!!) was £6,417 they looked at Highway Insurance (no pun intended), Saga, Aegeas, Royal Sun Alliance - they obviously didn't want our business in future. Best price quoted £1,013 with John Lewis insurance, online discount of 15%. For him as named driver and me with over 9yrs no claims. Took a hit of £90 or so to cancel the remainder of the existing policy. Reader - I purchased it. :TWith a much better list of extras like courtesy car, breakdown cover, business use for me the main driver and low excesses for me. Check around again when it gets to him passing his test but they said they have a list of sensible-sounding questions about how often and when he'll use the car - which will mainly be in Uni vacations or weekends. Also they have the best customer service and help when applying.
Lesson learnt: really shop around and then go on the phone once you've found a better deal to ask all the questions.

Simon_Paul

I'm a bit confused by all of this

I'm not a "young" driver (I'm 37) but I will be a "new" driver (once I pass my test)

Will my age be taken into account at all when applying for insurance (or when being added to my OH's insurance while I learn to drive?)

Quentin

Yes (as far as the compulsory excesses for younger drivers are concerned)

Though you will still be subject to any inexperienced driver excesses.

Do dummy quotes online to get a good idea on premiums

GwylimT

So my son had his car written off last October, he is looking at quotes at the moment and it hasn't really effected his premium, it was decided as other driver being at fault. Anyway, when his car was declared a write off his policy was cancelled until he bought a new car and his policy was then reinstated. When buying a new policy will be need to declare that he has had a previous policy cancelled if asked?

rs65

GwylimT wrote: »

So my son had his car written off last October, he is looking at quotes at the moment and it hasn't really effected his premium, it was decided as other driver being at fault. Anyway, when his car was declared a write off his policy was cancelled until he bought a new car and his policy was then reinstated. When buying a new policy will be need to declare that he has had a previous policy cancelled if asked?

I would say his policy was suspended until he replaced the car.