Car Insurance for 17 and 18 year olds

Here’s our guide to help drivers aged 17 and 18 find insurance that works for them.

Girl holding car keys
semi-circlesemi-circle

How to find the best car insurance for 17 year olds and 18 year olds

Let’s not beat around the bush, car insurance for 17 and 18 year olds can be expensive, but it’s not all bad. We’ve answered some commonly asked questions to help you find the best price!

Why is car insurance more expensive for 17 and 18 year olds?

So, you’re finally old enough to drive, you’ve started looking into insurance and you’re thinking “jeez, that’s pricey” – let us explain why that’s the case. All insurance quotes and premiums are based on risk. Your insurer assesses the chance of paying out for a claim and prices your premium with this risk in mind.

At the start of your driving career, you have very little driving experience which is deemed as more risk for insurers, meaning premiums will be priced based on the likelihood they will need to cover the cost of more claims than if the driver was more experienced.

Find cover that suits you

Try our Insurance Finder tool to discover options for getting cover as a 17 or 18 year old in your own car or a friend or family member’s.
semi-circlesemi-circle

How can 17 and 18 year olds keep their car insurance down?

Pound sign

Choose a car in a low insurance group

A small, less powerful car, with modern safety features, in a low insurance group, makes a sensible choice for new drivers as they tend to be cheaper to insure.
Round tick

Add a parent or experienced driver

Having a parent or experienced driver named on your policy helps to lower the risk as it shows a more experienced driver will be using the car some of the time.
Pound sign

Add a voluntary excess

By choosing a higher excess, insurers will sometimes offer a lower premium. Just make sure the excess is affordable in the event you need to make claim.
Car with black box

Choose a black box policy

By installing a black box, you can show the insurer you are a more responsible driver and you could look forward to earning a safe driving discount at renewal.

Why is black box insurance good option for young drivers?

On your own car
On a parent's car

    • Comprehensive cover that allows you to earn your own No Claims Discount
    • There’s no curfews or night-time driving restrictions with Marmalade
    • Smart app helps you review your driving and develop your driving skills
    • Cover before and after your driving test and the price won’t go up when you pass
    DID YOU KNOW

    Our black box technology will improve your driving skills & reduces the likelihood of you being involved in an accident by nearly 3 times†

DID YOU KNOW

Our black box technology will improve your driving skills & reduces the likelihood of you being involved in an accident by nearly 3 times†
semi-circlesemi-circle

Can you get temporary car insurance for 17 and 18 year olds?

The simple answer is yes. At 17 and 18 years old, young drivers may need more flexibility to share a family car as and when they need, rather than committing to a full year. We offer 3 flexible short term car insurance options for 17 and 18 year olds.

Pay As You Go Insurance

Top up as you go

  • dotPay just for the miles you drive
  • dotComprehensive cover on a parent's car
  • dotMiles are valid for 12 months
  • dotNo risk to the car owner’s No Claims Discount

Student Car Insurance

Cover from 7 - 42 days

  • dotComprehensive cover for 18 - 27 year olds
  • dotExclusively for university and boarding school students
  • dotEasy to extend cover
  • dotOnly for full licence holders

Learner Driver Insurance

Flexible cover for extra practice

  • dotPractise in a family car or friend’s car
  • dotComprehensive cover from 30 - 240 days
  • dotNo risk to the car owner's No Claims Discount
  • dotCovers you during the driving test
semi-circlesemi-circle
Man holding up keys

Temporary Car Insurance

Looking for short term cover? Find out more about our temporary cover options.

Man hugging car

How much is a first car?

Buying your first car? Read our guide on buying your first car – and how much you might need to get on the road.

Woman leaning on car door

Best first cars

Choosing the right car can be tricky even for experienced drivers! Read our guide to help you decide

ICS member logo
Customer Service Excellence Awards
BIBA scheme provider logo
First car award 2019 winner logo