Reply to: Good News / Bad news

[Cyberman]

Consider pay-as-you-drive which means you have a 'black box' satellite tracker (installation 39 pounds) in the car. Insurers doing this are Allianz, Co-op, Equity Red Star and Groupama. I read about this in the Mail on Sunday this weekend.

A rate is paid for every mile driven, but big discounts are given for off-peak.

A 22-year-old man living in Preston driving a Vauxhall Astra pays 5.57p off-peak. 8.16p peak, and 10.97p super-peak via the Co-op.

An initial premium is taken of 20 per cent based on estimated annual usage, driver car, age, history and location and times likely to drive. The rest is taken over the year based on monthly payments for actual usage.

[realityhack]

Probably not suitable for first-time drivers, but this will knock pounds off your premium too.

[DaveB]

having shopped around we've got it down to £1500 with Admiral as I'm already insured with them so we get a discount. Oddly enough they wern't the cheapest to insure the Clio *without* Son on the policy.

Pass plus gives up to a 35% discount depending on who you insure with. Most give 5%, only the really expensive insurers give the 35%. Gits.

[Zippy]

Indeed. You're not allowed on a motorway as a learner driver IIRC so you can't drive on one until you've passed your test. I think dual-carriageway is required on a driving test but I can't recall, night-time driving and things like rain/snow driving are definitely not.

A good instructor may of course be happy to take you for a lesson at night-time, but I've heard pass-plus recommended and not just as a way to reduce premiums.

No you can't drive on a motorway until you've passed, but you can drive on most dual carriageways.

[d000hg]

This is not part of a normal driving "school" education?

This explains a lot.

Indeed. You're not allowed on a motorway as a learner driver IIRC so you can't drive on one until you've passed your test. I think dual-carriageway is required on a driving test but I can't recall, night-time driving and things like rain/snow driving are definitely not.

A good instructor may of course be happy to take you for a lesson at night-time, but I've heard pass-plus recommended and not just as a way to reduce premiums.

[ThomasSoerensen]

CAn you still do that "addon" to the driving test where they test you on motorways and at night? I heard it used to get you a cheaper premium as a 1st time driver. Ah, Google says: http://www.passplus.org.uk/

This is not part of a normal driving "school" education?

This explains a lot.

[Platypus]

Get him a car less than 1L capacity.

I hear it's the only way to make insurance even vaguely affordable.

[d000hg]

CAn you still do that "addon" to the driving test where they test you on motorways and at night? I heard it used to get you a cheaper premium as a 1st time driver. Ah, Google says: http://www.passplus.org.uk/

[zamzummim]

My son passed his driving license around October, he was insured on a very old 2nd hand car bought especially for him to learn how to drive. We just purchased a new car for him, and the insurance on that cost £1500 .. it all depends on the car etc. Also if he has been driving for a year (including learning time), the insurance will go down a lot more.

[lilelvis2000]

There are some specialist insurers for young drivers I think...don't know if that translates into lower rates.

I would repeat what other have said...Direct line ain't cheap. I usually go to the comparison websites , every year we flip onto the lowest price deal there.
QuinnDirect are usually cheap.

[RichardCranium]

Buy him a 2nd hand moped.

Sorted.

[DimPrawn]

Good news : Son finally passed his driving test.

Bad news : Direct Line quoted us £2800 to add him to the insuarance on his Mums 1.2l Renault Clio...

Tell him to go by taxi everywhere and you'll pick up the tab. Cheaper, safer and he can have a drink.

[expat]

Good news : Son finally passed his driving test.

Bad news : Direct Line quoted us £2800 to add him to the insuarance on his Mums 1.2l Renault Clio...

Worse news : there's a reason why young male drivers pay hefty premiums.

Help him to be safe rather than cool. Always wear a seatbelt, and never drive for the excitement. Never drink (or whatever) anything, no matter how little, and drive. Pay attention to the road, not your friends in the car. Drive much more slowly at night. The speed limit is not an aim. Boring but safe.

I don't drive like that, but I'm 58 so I must have learned slowly how to do it (hence my premiums are peanuts).

[Svalbaard]

Despite their repeated claims and adverts I've never found Direct Line to be particularly cheap.

Have you tried Hastings Direct? They do a "just the basics" policy. They usually come out near the top for cheapness on all the comparison websites.

[wobbegong]

Good news : Son finally passed his driving test.

Bad news : Direct Line quoted us £2800 to add him to the insuarance on his Mums 1.2l Renault Clio...

Try LV (online).