Jeffrey Wade
In the UK, learner drivers with a provisional licence must have car insurance to drive on public roads. While driving schools include insurance in their lesson fees, learners need separate insurance to practise outside of lessons. This insurance can be taken out on a learner's own car or on someone else's car. It is also possible to add a learner driver to an existing car insurance policy, but this can be expensive. Learner driver insurance is flexible and can be taken out for as little as an hour or up to a year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can get insured with a provisional licence? | Anyone can get insured with a provisional licence, as long as they are 15 years and 9 months old or older and have lived in the UK for at least half of the last year. |
| How to get insured with a provisional licence? | There are two main options: 1) Get added as a named driver on a friend or family member's existing policy; 2) Take out specialised learner driver insurance |
| What to consider when choosing insurance? | The insurance costs for provisional drivers can vary depending on factors such as age, vehicle type, driving history, the car's make and model, where you live, and how often you'll be driving. |
| Benefits of getting insured as a provisional driver | It allows you to gain practice and experience on the road, which is the first step towards becoming a safe and confident driver. |
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What You'll Learn
Learner driver insurance requirements
Learner drivers need insurance like all other drivers. The best option is often to be added to a parent's or spouse's policy, which is usually cheaper than separate insurance. This option is generally available to those living at the same address as the policyholder.
If you are a learner driver living alone, you may find it difficult to find insurance until you get a license. Many national companies do not offer insurance to first-time learner drivers. Instead, you may need to contact smaller, local insurance providers and explain your situation. You'll likely pay more for separate insurance, but it is not unheard of.
If you are practising in your own car, you will need provisional or learner driving insurance. If you are using a friend or family member's car, you need to ensure their insurance policy covers you as a learner driver. If not, you will need to take out your own separate learner insurance. This can be done alongside the owner's existing policy.
Learner driver insurance lets you get extra practice outside of lessons with an approved driving instructor, which can help you pass your test earlier. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to drive in a variety of weather conditions, on different types of roads, and when it's dark (although some policies will restrict the times you can drive).
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How to get insured to drive someone else's car
In the UK, anyone driving on public roads, including those with a provisional licence, must legally have valid car insurance. Most driving schools include insurance in their lesson fees, meaning learners are covered during lessons with an instructor. However, if you want to practise driving outside of lessons, in your own car or someone else's, you'll need to get separate learner driver insurance.
If you're practising in someone else's car, you'll need to either be covered by the car owner's insurance policy as a learner driver or take out your own insurance policy that covers you as a learner driver in someone else's car. This can be done alongside the owner's existing car insurance. For example, RAC Learner Driver Insurance can be taken out for a duration of one day up to five months, depending on your needs. It's important to note that learner driver insurance is only valid while the driver has a provisional licence; once they've passed their test, they'll need to switch to a standard car insurance policy.
Some insurance companies require the person supervising the learner driver to be over 25 years old. Additionally, the supervisor must have held a full driving licence for at least three years and be qualified to drive the type of car the learner is using (i.e., they must have a manual licence if supervising in a manual car). It's also important to note that the supervisor should not use a mobile phone while supervising a learner driver.
The cost of learner insurance will vary depending on your situation and vehicle. For example, Veygo offers learner driver insurance for as little as one hour or as long as you need. It's important to carefully read the terms and conditions of your insurance policy to ensure you don't invalidate it.
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How to get insured to drive your own car
In the UK, anyone driving on public roads, including those with a provisional licence, must legally have valid car insurance. If you already have a car and want to insure yourself to drive it, you have a couple of options. You can either be added as a named driver on a parent or friend's existing policy or take out specialised learner driver insurance.
Named driver on an existing policy
Adding yourself as a named driver on someone else's policy is often cheaper than taking out a new policy on your own. However, you should only do this if you are learning in someone else's car. If you are the main owner or driver of the car, being insured as a named driver is called ''fronting', which is illegal and could result in prosecution.
Learner driver insurance
Many insurance companies offer temporary or short-term policies specifically designed for learner drivers. These can be a flexible and cost-effective option, especially if you're practising in someone else's car. If you take out cover while you’re driving with a provisional licence, you’ll start to build up your no-claims discount, which could reduce your car insurance premium in the future. RAC Learner Driver Insurance can be taken out for as little as a day up to five months, so you only have to pay for what you need.
Tips for reducing the cost of provisional insurance cover
- Choose your car wisely: Large cars with powerful engines cost more to insure, especially when they're being driven by young drivers. Opting for a smaller, slower model could help to push costs down.
- Increase your voluntary excess: In some cases, increasing your voluntary excess can lower your premium. Just make sure you'd be able to pay it if you had to claim.
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The cost of insuring a provisional driver
In the UK, anyone driving on public roads, including those with a provisional licence, must legally have valid car insurance.
There are a few options for insuring a provisional driver. One option is to add the learner driver to the car owner's existing insurance policy. While this may be convenient, it is important to note that if the learner driver needs to make a claim, it could affect the car owner's No Claims Discount (NCD). Additionally, adding a learner driver to an existing policy can be quite expensive.
Another option is for the learner driver to take out their own provisional or learner driver insurance policy. This type of insurance is designed specifically for drivers with provisional licenses and can be purchased from specialized providers like RAC, Veygo, and Cuvva. These policies can offer flexible coverage options, from as little as an hour to 28 days, and they sit alongside the car owner's insurance without affecting their NCD. The cost of these policies can vary, with some starting from as little as 59p to 64p per day.
It is worth noting that once a learner driver passes their test, their provisional insurance will no longer be valid, and they will need to arrange alternative insurance to drive home from the test centre.
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What to do once you've passed your test
Once you've passed your driving test, there are a few things you'll need to do and keep in mind before hitting the road on your own. Firstly, you'll need to apply for your official driving licence. The driving school or test centre will usually provide you with a sealed envelope containing your test results, which serves as evidence of your eligibility for a driving licence. Take this envelope to the relevant authority, such as the Department of Public Safety (DPS), to complete the application process. They will ask for the sealed envelope and your permit, and then take your new licence photo.
You will be issued a temporary licence, which allows you to drive while you wait for your permanent plastic copy to arrive by mail. This process can take a few weeks. It's important to note that during this waiting period, you are not yet considered a licensed driver. You may only drive if you have a parent or another licensed individual who is 21 years of age or older in the car with you.
Another important step is to review your insurance options. Your learner's driver insurance will no longer be valid once you've passed your test, so you'll need to get a new auto insurance policy. Contact your insurance company to discuss your options and acquire the necessary coverage.
When you're finally behind the wheel on your own, it's normal to feel a bit nervous. Most newly qualified drivers do! It's a good idea to take someone you trust with you on your first few journeys to help you build confidence. Start with rural, country roads to get comfortable before venturing onto busier routes or highways. You might also consider opting for a black box or 'telematics' policy, which encourages safer driving and can make insurance more affordable.
Remember, passing your test is a great achievement, and you've demonstrated that you can drive safely and responsibly. So, take that confidence, keep practising, and gain experience as an independent driver!
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Frequently asked questions
Learner driver insurance, also known as provisional insurance, is a type of cover specially designed for people learning to drive. It gives learners the opportunity to get extra practice outside of lessons with an approved instructor. This can help them pass their test earlier and become more confident drivers.
Anyone driving on public roads in the UK, including those with a provisional licence, must legally have valid car insurance. Most driving schools include insurance in their lesson fees, so learners are covered during lessons. However, if you want to practice outside of lessons, you will need separate learner driver insurance.
Learner driver insurance sits alongside the car owner's existing policy. This means that if a learner driver needs to make a claim, it won't affect the owner's no-claims discount (NCD). Learner driver insurance can be purchased for a flexible duration, from an hour to a year.
The cost of learner insurance varies depending on the driver's situation and vehicle. For example, Collingwood offers learner driver insurance starting from 59p per day, while Veygo offers comprehensive cover from £1.71 per day. RAC and Marmalade also provide competitive rates for learner driver insurance.
Once you have passed your test, your learner insurance will no longer be valid, as it is only available to provisional licence holders. You will need to arrange alternative transportation from the test centre. You can then explore insurance options for new drivers, such as RAC Black Box Car Insurance or Veygo's temporary cover.
