Cars for young drivers FAQs

How does the car and insurance scheme work?

Cars for Young Drivers is our unique (and rather clever) scheme to help young drivers like you, to get their own car and insurance and start building up a No Claims Bonus. Although the majority of applicants will receive free or discounted insurance, in some circumstances we will provide a contribution towards your deposit.

What is the difference between HP and PCP?

All these letters can be tricky to get your head around, so this is what they mean... PCP stands for Personal Contract Purchase and you can take this out for 2, 3 or 4 years. You'll pay a deposit and then make monthly payments. At the end of the agreement, if you have chosen a Personal Contract Purchase you have the option to simply hand the car back and pay no more (subject to the mileage and condition of the car), or you can make the final payment to own and keep the car. If you have chosen Hire Purchase there are no further payments due – you’ll own the car after you’ve paid your last instalment.
See, it all makes sense now!

Will my new car be taxed and MOT'd?

All our cars will be taxed for 12 months' and because they're all lovely and new, they won't need an MOT until they are three years old.

What warranty is on the car?

Again, because our cars are all shiny and new, they'll all come with a standard warranty offered by the manufacturer.

Can I use Cars for Young Drivers before I have passed my test?

Yes you can, the insurance can be used if you're a full or provisional licence holder and the premium won't even change when you pass your test.

Is the car delivered to me?

We can arrange delivery to you straight from the supplier at a cost of around £1 per mile. Or you're welcome to collect it yourself from the dealership.

Can I pay the car off early?

If you want to, yes. The first thing you need to do is get in touch with your finance company and get what's called a settlement figure. Then once you've paid off all the outstanding finance of the car your monthly payments will stop and the car will be all yours.

How long do I have to have the black box for?

As long as you're insured with us, the black box will be active in your car. If you stop having your insurance with us, the box will stay in the car (because you've bought it and it's yours), but we'll simply turn it off.

Is there an age limit for buying a Marmalade car?

Cars for Young Drivers is only available to young drivers aged between 17 and 24.

Why can't I get Free Insurance with Marmalade?

Now, you know us, we're always trying to make things as easy and fair as possible for young drivers. And even though we're always working hard with insurance companies to make sure we can cover as many young people as we possibly can, there are certain postcodes and types of jobs (like professional sportsperson or musician) that we just can't cover. In these circumstances, we will offer discounted insurance or a contribution towards your deposit.

How likely am I to be approved for finance?

If you're aged under 21, you're unlikely to have built up much credit history, so approval will be based on your personal circumstances. Having a guarantor increases your chance of being approved - thus allowing you to start building up your credit score.

Is there any benefit to adding a guarantor to my finance application?

Adding a guarantor increases your chance of being approved - allowing you start building up your credit score with finance in your own name. This is very helpful if you're aged under 21 and have had little time to build up your credit history.

How does the insurance work?

The policy uses clever black box technology to monitor how you're driving and encourage you to be a safe and responsible driver. There's lots more information about our insurance here.

What happens with my insurance after the first year?

We'll send you a renewal which we hope you think is a fair offer, but you don't have to take it and if you can find a more suitable policy somewhere else you can move your insurance (we'll miss you though!)

Who covers maintenance costs on my car?

You'll have to cover all the service and maintenance costs on the car yourself.

How much deposit do I have to pay?

You can choose to pay a deposit from as low as £500. Remember that the higher the deposit the lower your monthly repayments will be and the more likely it will be that your finance application will be approved.

Where do the new cars come from?

We get our new cars from a manufacturer's main dealer. We work with a lot of selected manufacturers that may not always be on your doorstep. But don't worry, we can always arrange for a car to be delivered from the dealer to your home, with a cost of around £1 per mile. Of course, if you wanted to, you can always collect the car from the dealer yourself, it's up to you!

How long will it take to get my car?

It varies depending on how easy it is to get hold of your car. If your car is a fairly standard make and model, and in a popular colour (like black, blue or silver) then we'll probably have something in stock and it can be ready in 3-6 weeks.
If we haven't got the car in stock that you're after (for example if you wanted extras above the normal specifications, or you wanted it in a less popular colour) we'd have to get the car built for you and this means it should be with you in up to 12 weeks.
The waiting time for the cars is because we need to either source your car or get it built. Then, we get it shipped, do all the necessary paperwork and make sure it's in tip top condition before we let you have it.
So, it really is worth the wait!

Do I have to have a black box fitted?

Yes, but it is a good thing, honestly! You see, our insurance policy uses the black box technology to monitor how you're driving. We know that this helps encourage you to drive more safely and reduces the risk of you having an accident. This all means that we can offer really good deals on the insurance too.

What if I can no longer afford the car or I don't need it or want it anymore?

You'd need to pay off all the outstanding finance and your finance company will give you a settlement figure. Once you've paid this off the car becomes yours and you're free to sell it.

What level of cover is provided by the insurance?

The insurance is a comprehensive policy, which means you are covered for damage caused to your vehicle, theft of your vehicle, windscreen damage and other things such as medical expenses following an accident.

How many miles can I drive each year in my new car?

From an insurance point of view, Marmalade do not limit the number of miles you are able to drive; however when you apply for car finance, the quote from the finance provider is based on an annual mileage of 8,000 miles. This can be altered once you have applied, and if you need to speak to us about your mileage options, then you can call our New Car team on 0333 358 3441.
Any additional miles that you have driven by the end of your contract, will be charged between 5 – 15p per mile depending on the lender.

What is the definition of a guarantor?

A guarantor is someone who formally promises to pay the finance if the young driver is unable to make the repayments.
Before agreeing to become a guarantor for a young driver, it is important you check that you are able to afford the repayments (if they fail to pay the finance instalments), as non-payment pay could affect both your, and their, credit score and result in repossession of the car.

What is a joint hirer?

If you are purchasing a Fiat through Marmalade, and you are aged under 21, you may opt to apply for finance with a joint hirer. A Joint Hirer is someone who is jointly responsible with you to pay the finance agreement. If you do stop paying, or are unable to afford the repayments, we may call upon the Joint Hirer to make those payments. Failure to pay may affect the credit rating of both Joint Hirers, and may result in the repossession of the car.