PAY AS YOU GO CAR INSURANCE – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

A complete guide to Pay As You Go Insurance for new drivers.

Give me a quote for PAYG insurance:

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Young people are increasingly looking for more flexible ways to get on the road - hence the growth of Pay As You Go Car Insurance.

Confused by the options? Here’s our complete guide to Pay As You Go Insurance for new drivers in the UK.

What is Pay As You Go Car Insurance?

In short, it’s a way to pay for your car insurance that’s based on your use of a car. If you’ve recently passed your test, and your mileage is going to be low, the idea of forking out over the odds for insurance may not seem worth it.

Pay As You Go Insurance allows you to only pay for miles you drive, rather than commit to an annual price, and allows you to top up your miles as and when you need to. Marmalade’s Pay As You Go policy will cover you to drive a parent’s car and uses a smart black box and Marmalade Insurance App to measure the miles driven.

Looking for Pay As You Go Insurance on your own car?

We’re not offering this type of policy to new customers right now. Our Annual Black Box insurance covers you on your own car:

Pay As You Go Car Insurance

Pay As You Go on a parent’s car

Start with 500 miles

  • dotComprehensive cover and no curfews
  • dotNo risk to car owner’s No Claims Discount
  • dotMiles remain valid for 12 months
  • dotEarn No Claims Discount for every claim free year
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How does Pay As You Go Insurance work?

It’s quite simple really. This is how Marmalade’s Pay As You Go Insurance works:
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Step 1

You buy the first 500 and will be asked to select the number of miles you want to top-up by when you’re close to running out. Purchased miles expire if not used within 12 months.
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Step 2

We’ll send you a black box tag to fit to your car and pair with our Pay As You Go driving app to measure the miles you’re driving and your driving style.
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Step 3

Your miles will top up to your chosen amount when you have 50 miles left. As long as you have a valid payment card on file with funds to cover your top up, you'll never run out of miles mid-journey. Our top-up prices are reviewed every 3 months.
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Step 4

When you no longer need cover, you can cancel the policy and receive a refund for unused miles since your last top-top, simple! Remember that miles expire after 12 months, so we’d only refund you for the number of valid miles you have remaining.

Is Pay As You Go Insurance for young drivers only?

As Marmalade are young driver insurance specialists, our Pay As You Go Car Insurance is designed exclusively for younger drivers who hold a full or provisional licence driving a parent’s car. It is available for drivers aged 17-27 to allow them to share a family car.

It’s a popular option for young drivers as it’s handy for people who are only doing short trips or who are only likely to use the car from time to time (if they’re away at uni for example).

    Is pay as you go for young drivers only

    Should 17 and 18 year olds consider Pay As You Go Insurance?

    If you are 17 or 18 years old, don’t drive regularly, and wouldn’t expect to rack up loads of miles, it could be worth considering this policy to see if it’s suitable for you. Getting behind the wheel is handy for popping out on short trips to a part-time job, visiting friends or for freedom during the holidays. We offer Pay As You Go Cover to share a parent’s car - the smart black box tag and smartphone app also helps the young driver develop and maintain their safe driving skills.

    It’s also a nifty option for learners who have their driving test coming up and want cover to continue seamlessly when they pass!

    Would Pay As You Go Insurance be the best option for students?

    Depending on their individual requirements, students may find a Pay As You Go policy suitable, as it offers the freedom of the road without the need for an annual policy. If you were to only use the car for school holidays or occasional weekends, a pay as you go policy could be worth considering. As Marmalade’s pay as you go insurance has an auto-top up facility for your chosen amount when you are down to 50 miles, you can be safe in the knowledge you won’t run out of miles mid-trip. Just remember to make sure you always have the funds to cover an unexpected top up.

    Pay As You Go Insurance, it’s not the only option! If you’re just looking to borrow a car for a week or so Temporary Student Car Insurance allows you to arrange cover by the week, on a family car or friend’s car. This short-term car insurance allows you arrange cover for anything from one week to six weeks at a time.

    What types of Pay As You Go Car Insurance are there?

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    Pay As You Go Insurance on a parent’s car

    Pay As You Go Insurance is an option for young drivers sharing a family car but driving fewer than 3,500 miles per year.
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    Weekly or Monthly Pay As You Go Car Insurance

    Weekly Student Car Insurance is handy for students looking to drive a car they borrow for a week or so at a time, every now and then.
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    Pay As You Go Learner Insurance

    Pay As You Go Learner Insurance offers seamless cover from provisional to full licence on a parent’s car.

    What is the best type of Pay As You Go Insurance?

    The best type of policy for you will depend on your circumstances. Our Pay As You Go Insurance could be a good option for young drivers who don’t drive too frequently and are looking for cover on a family member’s car. It protects the car owner’s No Claims Discount, while giving you the chance to build your own.
    What level of cover do you get with pay as you go insurance?
    What level of cover do you get with pay as you go insurance?
    What level of cover do you get with pay as you go insurance?

    What level of cover do you get with Pay As You Go Insurance?

    Cover is comprehensive and includes the following:

    You can read more about the level of cover on our policy details pages for Pay As You Go Insurance on your own car and Pay As You Go Insurance on a parent’s car.

    Legal liability for death or injury

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    Damage to the car owner’s vehicle

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    Personal accident

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    Medical expenses

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    Personal belongings

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    No risk to the car owner's No Claims Discount

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    Bear in mind, we’re not offering Pay As You Go Insurance on a young driver’s own car to new customers right now – existing customers’ policies remain valid though so there’s no need to worry.

    Is Pay As You Go Insurance cheaper than annual insurance?

    As pay as you go car insurance is based on mileage, this will all depend on how many miles you drive! If you think you're going to be driving frequently, our annual insurance may be the better option.

    Find out more in our guide to Pay As You Go Insurance and get a quote in just a couple of minutes by entering just a few details to compare the options.

    How much does Pay As You Go Insurance cost?

    The price you pay will depend on your personal details, you'll be offered a fixed price for the first 500 and will select your preferred top up for when you reach 50 miles remaining. You will receive updated driving scores and prices for miles every three months. The great news is that miles are valid for 12 months, and you will start earning a No Claims Discount for every claim free year.

    Sound interesting? Discover more in our guide to Pay As You Go Insurance you can get a quote in seconds by entering just a few details!

    How often do you need to drive before it’s worth getting annual insurance?

    Good question. We can’t speak on behalf of all insurers, as pricing will vary from insurer to insurer.

    If you choose a policy with Marmalade, Pay As You Go Insurance could be useful if you are only driving occasionally.

    We’re not currently offering Pay As You Go Insurance on a young driver’s own car to new customers, so if you’re looking for this type of cover our Annual Black Box Insurance could be worth exploring.

    You can get a quote in just a couple of minutes so you’ll be able to compare prices for different types of policies. The team are also on hand to answer any questions you have on 0330 343 8814.

    Should I choose a pay per mile insurance policy?

    If you’re looking for flexibility and to ensure you’re only paying for the miles you drive, then we think this is a great option. If you’re still not sure, we can help guide you choose your cover with our handy insurance finder, or you can read our 8 reasons to choose pay per mile car insurance article.
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