New Driver Insurance

Recently passed your driving test and ready to get on the road? Whether you’re a young driver or have taken your test a little later in life, one essential thing you’ll need is new driver insurance. This guide will help you know what to look for:

• Car insurance for new drivers
• Types of car insurance for new drivers
• How much is insurance for a new driver?
• How to get cheap car insurance for new drivers
• Frequently asked questions

Car insurance for new drivers

If you’re looking for car insurance quotes for new drivers, you’re likely to see higher policy prices than more experienced drivers. As someone with less experience on the road, you're generally at a higher risk of getting into an accident or collision. However, this risk is reduced as you build up driving experience, so you won't always need to pay more.

It’s worth knowing that UK law requires you to have third-party car insurance as a minimum. Driving without a valid insurance policy puts you at risk of fines, court prosecution and having your car confiscated or destroyed.

Types of car insurance 

Browsing different types of car insurance as a new driver might be initially confusing, so it’s worth learning about the three main types of cover you’ll find.

Comprehensive cover is generally the most expensive type of car insurance you'll find, as it covers you for most things you’ll need. Third-party car insurance will usually be the cheapest, as it includes only the most basic features. 

Fully comprehensive

Comprehensive cover gives you protection for:

• Fire, theft, or accidental damage of your car
• Damage caused to any other vehicles or property while you're driving your car, including any damage to your own car
• Injuries you've caused to others while driving.

If you have a comprehensive AXA car insurance policy, we include lots of benefits, such as audio and sat nave cover, windscreen cover, and child car seat cover.

Third Party, Fire and Theft Car Insurance

This type of policy is limited to:

• Damage caused to any other vehicles or property while you’re driving your car. Damage to your own car or property isn’t covered. 
• Injuries you’ve caused others while driving. Your own injuries wouldn’t be covered. 
• Fire damage to your own car. 
• Fire, theft or accidental damage of your car.

If you have a third party, fire and theft AXA car insurance policy, we include audio and sat nav cover, plus child car seat cover, with our policies. 

Third-party car insurance

This is the minimum type of cover you need to be able to drive on UK roads. Cover only applies to any damage you might cause to other vehicles or property. 

How much is insurance for a new driver?

The cost of your policy will depend on lots of different factors, such as:

• The type of car you have
  The higher the vehicle's performance, the higher the risk to insure it usually is. A higher risk means a higher cost for your policy. Some cars are also more prone to theft, which can drive up the cost of insurance.
   
• Your driving experience
  The longer you build experience on the roads, the lower risk you’ll be to insure. A lower risk means lower prices, so building your driving experience is really important. 
  
  
• Where you live
  Insurers will look at the claims history in your postcode area. If there have been more claims in the area that you live in, this may affect the price of your policy. 
  
  
• Other drivers on your policy
  Depending on their relationship to you, and how long they’ve been driving, named drivers on a policy may lower the cost of your cover. 

Each insurer is different, and the areas they look at when deciding your policy price can also vary, so it’s definitely worth doing your research. 

AXA car insurance policies start from as little as £241*.

_{* 10% of AXA Comprehensive Car Insurance customers paid this or less between 1 January and 31 March 2025} 

New driver tips to help lower the cost of your insurance

Learning to drive and then passing your test can be costly, so you may well be wondering if it’s possible to lower the cost of your car insurance. 

Thankfully, there are a few things you can consider that may be able to cut the cost of your insurance over time: 

• Pay on a yearly basis
  As interest is usually charged on monthly payments, paying upfront for the full year is nearly always cheaper 
  
  
• A safe and reliable car 
  Looking for a safe, lower performance car that's less desirable to potential thieves can help to keep the cost of your insurance down. 
  
  
• Keep an eye on mileage 
  If you’re on the road less often, then you have a lower chance of accidents, which could result in a saving on your policy.
   
• Install a telematics device in your car (also known as a black box)
  Tracking good driving habits builds trust with your insurer and can bring the policy cost down over time. 
  
  
• Add a named driver 
  If an extra person will be driving your car, and they’re an experienced driver, adding them to your policy can give your insurer some extra reassurance. It may even help to shave a few pounds off your policy.