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Adding a Learner Driver to You Insurance Can Be Expensive 

It’s no secret that the cost of car insurance is higher if you’re a young, inexperienced or learner driver. For drivers aged between 17 and 24, the most affordable way for them to get car insurance is – usually – to become a named driver on their parent’s car. For the parent, having a child on their policy will push up the cost of their motor insurance – and often significantly so. 

So, if you’re about to insure you child on your own car have a look at these ways to bring down the cost and enjoy the benefits of cheaper insurance. 

 

Allow your child to get named driver experience 

Don’t underestimate the value of gaining named driver experience. If your child has been a named driver on your policy for one or two years, this will reduce their premium when they decide to get insured on their own car. Be sure to mention any named driving experience to insurers and/or brokers when they eventually look to get insured on their own car to ensure this experience will be taken into account on their insurance policy. In the event that your remains on your policy for longer than you thought, as if often the case, know that their named driving experience should in time reduce the cost of your own car insurance premium.  

 

Encourage your child to pass their driving test 

A learner driver could save hundreds a year on their car insurance if they pass their test and move from a provisional license to a full licence. If you’re insuring your child on your policy, your own car insurance premium should come down too if they pass their driving test. So, as early as possible (bearing in mind that they must be at least 17 before they can start driving), encourage them to get as much experience as they can both with yourself and professional driving lessons. Given the backlog that many are facing for their driving tests today, be aware that you could face as much as a six-month wait for a test date – so applying for the driving test as soon as driving lessons start, and they have some experience under their belt is wise. Remember that a learner driver must complete at least 12 driving lessons to sit their full driving test. 

Making sure your child understands the importance of passing their full test is important. Many learner drivers in Ireland simply renew their provisional instead of sitting their full test. Ideally your child – and any other learner driver- should aim to pass their driving test on their first license to get cheaper insurance. 

 

Encourage your child to drive safely 

Good driving habits and safe driving are an important aspect of getting cheaper insurance. As long as your child stays claims and penalty-point free, the cost of insuring them on your car – or of them getting their own insurance – will start to fall after a number of years. While poor driving behaviour could see your car premiums skyrocket and your child could struggle to get insurance in their own name. The benefits of a no claims bonus are something that most people know about but it’s important to make sure learner drivers realise just how beneficial it can be.  

Having three penalty points on a driving licence could push up a driver’s motor premiums by about 10pc, while ten penalty points could see a motorist pay more than twice as much for insurance as one who is penalty-point free, according to recent research by Peopl Insurance. Motorists could knock hundreds of euros a year – or even more than €1,000 – off their car insurance quote by keeping their driving licence penalty-point free. 

More importantly, unsafe driving can lead to lives being lost on Irish roads in a matter of seconds. Road fatality figures in Ireland are sadly heading the wrong direction – with road fatalities now almost 20pc higher than they were this time last year. This leads to unsafe conditions and higher insurance premiums for all motorists. Ultimately, when your child is out driving, you want them to return home safely afterwards – and not to be a danger to anyone else on the roads. Remember, that a learner driver, must be accompanied at all times by someone who is fully qualified. 

 

Wait for the birthday candles 

If you’re about to get your child insured on your car and they have a birthday around the corner, it might be financially worthwhile waiting a few weeks to add them to your insurance policy. For example, if they are turning 20 in a few weeks, it would be wise to get quotes for two insurance policies: one for adding a 19-year-old to your policy and another for adding a 20-year-old. If the latter is cheaper, wait until they turn 20 before getting cover. This tactic might also prove useful for a learner driver seeking insurance on their own vehicle. 

 

Be clever about mileage 

Car insurers place a high value on insuring motorists with low mileage. The less they drive, the less the risk of accidents. Many motorists make the key mistake of over-estimating their mileage or rounding up to the nearest thousand. A common error made by drivers in Ireland is to estimate mileage at ‘around 10,000 a year’. The difference in insurance quotes between 9,999 miles per year and 10,000 miles a year can be as much as 10pc with some insurers. So, before you seek an insurance quote, assess the mileage that you and your child are likely to clock up a year and if you think it will be no more than 9,999 miles a year, get a quote on that basis.  

 

Don’t pay in instalments  

You’ll usually pay extra for insurance cover if you pay in instalments over the year. For example, your car insurance could easily be 30pc – or more than €100 – more expensive, if you pay your premium in monthly instalments instead of upfront, though this will depend on the insurer. So, if you can, pay your annual car insurance premium in full. While this rule of thumb is relevant to everyone, it especially shouldn’t be overlooked by parents looking to add a learner driver to their insurance policy. 

 

Don’t engage in ‘car fronting’ 

Do not insure a car in your name and add your child as a named driver unless you are going to be the main user. In Ireland car fronting – when the main – often learner- driver of a car is declared to be someone else as (usually a parent) to reduce the cost of their insurance premium – is illegal and can lead to the cancellation of the car insurance policy and an insurance fraud conviction. 

 

When the time comes for your child to get a new car of their own 

When it’s time for your child to buy and insure their own car, be sure to take them off your policy. Forgetting to take a younger, and especially learner, driver off a policy will see you unnecessarily pay over the odds for insurance. 

Also be careful which vehicle he or she chooses to buy. The model and engine size of the car bought will have a significant impact on the cost of their premium.  If possible, avoid purchasing a car that is over ten years old or that have been modified as these are generally more expensive to insure. Buying a car that has an engine smaller than 1.4-litres – especially for the first year, is also advisable.  

Finding affordable car insurance as a learner driver can be challenging, but there are insurers specialising in coverage tailored for a younger/learner driver. If your child is still on a learner permit when they start to drive their own car, they should still be able to get car insurance and may even qualify for a car insurance discount. Consider shopping for his insurance through a broker as some insurance companies specialising in insuring learner drivers are only available through a broker.