Young drivers are almost always penalised by insurance companies, as they are seen as a higher risk than older drivers. Add penalty points, a penchant for high-performance vehicles and car body modifications, and finding a competitive quote for a young driver becomes more difficult than finding a needle in a haystack.
This is not without reason. Statistically, young drivers are up to 8 times more likely to make a claim, and therefore insurance companies deem them a safety hazard. Sounds unfair to penalise all drivers under 25 because of the mistakes of a few, right?
Well, there is now a new scheme being trialled in England by volunteers which may deter speeding amongst younger drivers, and cut their insurance costs into the bargain. The scheme involves fitting a speed detection device to the car they usually drive, and this will monitor the driver’s average speed and warn them if they exceed the limit.
Allowances are made for overtaking but if the limit is exceeded persistently then the insurance companies are informed, and the driver will lose the right to claim
cheap car insurance. If this scheme is rolled out and made compulsory in the UK, it could have a dramatic impact on the decrease of insurance premiums and car incidents.
Those who choose to risk driving without the necessary
motor insurance could soon find themselves penalised. More stringent vehicle checks, especially on cars classed as performance or ‘boy racer’ cars, mean that the possibility of an uninsured driver evading detection becomes less likely. Cameras already on the roads can check the keeper and insurance details of any car, and can issue penalties just as they can for speeding incidents.
So there really is no reason for not being insured. Shop around for the cheapest
car insurance quote you can find, as there are some companies out there that will insure the younger driver. If you have a high-performance car, consider selling it in favour of one a little less high-risk. It may compromise your street-cred but it will save your pocket!
