Worrying statistics push up the cost of insurance for all young drivers

Drivers under the age of 25 years will be assessed as high risk customers whether they are responsible and capable drivers or not, as insurance companies have no way of distinguishing between the good motorists and the reckless ones.

The only information insurers have to go on are the statistics about the number of young people involved in accidents on the roads; and the figures do not make for good reading for novice drivers.

One in four people killed in car accidents are aged between 17 and 24 years old, a staggering figure that is made all the more disturbing when compared to the figure of one in ten drivers on the roads actually being under the age of 25 years old.

Because of figures like these, motorists in this age group have to endure the same high premiums for young driver car insurance no matter how careful a driver they are.

A few younger drivers may be tempted to break the law and take to the roads without the necessary insurance in place instead of paying the expensive costs for a policy however; there are ways to reduce the price of being adequately covered.

Young drivers will pay significantly less for their insurance if they opt for buying a vehicle with a low engine capacity. These smaller cars are generally assessed as being low risk vehicles, making them much cheaper to insure.

People who live with their parents may be able to get cheaper premiums by simply staying with the insurer that they use, with some discounts on offer for insuring a second car. It is always advisable to shop around for quotes to get value for money, as having separate insurers may work out cheaper, depending on individual circumstances.

Anything that increases the value, desirability and performance of a vehicle to thieves is likely to increase an insurance premium. Modifications will be judged differently by insurers so looking around for the best deals is important if a car has already been altered compared to the factory specification.

As with all insurance policies, premiums for young drivers will be affected by the area of the country the car is registered in and whereabouts the car is parked. Installing an alarm system or keeping a car in a secure garage or behind gates can have a dramatic impact on insurance costs.

24/04/2009 16:49:39