Learning to drive is an exciting process that once completed, can truly be life changing. That being said, it is not without its’ challenges, of the most significant being the financial aspect, with learner driver costs often on the mind of learners and their parents/guardians. Learner driver insurance is needed for those who are looking to practice driving with a friend, family member or guardian, outside of driving lessons with an approved driving instructor. The alternative to learner driver insurance, is being added as a learner to an existing insurance policy, however this can be quite costly. Whatever route you decide to go down, it’s important to be fully aware of the costs and financial implications of your options.
The cost of learner driver insurance varies widely depending on multiple factors, including the type of policy, the learner’s age, the vehicle, and the duration of coverage. This guide will break down these key cost factors and compare different insurance options to help you find the best and most cost-effective solution for insuring a learner driver.
What Is Learner Driver Insurance?
Learner driver insurance, also known as ‘provisional insurance’, is a temporary insurance policy designed specifically for provisional licence holders who want to practice driving outside of professional lessons with a driving instructor. It provides cover while a learner is driving a private vehicle under supervision, ensuring they are legally allowed to practice on UK roads.
At Collingwood Insurance, we offer two types of learner driver insurance:
- Short-term learner driver insurance – Flexible policies ranging from 28 days which can be topped up from 7 days
- Annual learner driver insurance – Cost-effective cover for up to 12 months, allowing for regular practice at what is normally a lower daily rate.
These policies provide an alternative to adding a learner to an existing policy, which can often be more expensive and may impact a car owner’s No Claims Bonus*.
Do I Need Learner Driver Insurance?
If you’re learning to drive outside of lessons with an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), you must have learner driver insurance or be added as an additional driver to an existing insurance policy. In the UK, it’s illegal to drive on public roads without valid insurance, even as a provisional licence holder.
Here’s when you are legally required to have a learner driver insurance policy:
- Practising in a private car – If you’re learning in a car owned by a friend, family member or guardian, you’ll need a learner driver insurance policy.
- Supervised practice – Your supervisor must meet legal requirements (over 21, held a full licence for at least three years, and qualified to drive the car).
- Outside of professional lessons – Driving instructor cars are already insured, but for extra practice in a private car, additional insurance is required.
Can I Be Added to an Existing Policy?
You can be added as a named driver on someone else’s car insurance, but this isn’t always the best option. Adding a learner driver to an existing policy can be expensive and might impact the car owner’s No Claims Bonus* in the event of an accident.
Instead, learner driver insurance is a separate policy that allows learners to practice in a car without affecting the owner’s existing insurance.
The Factors Affecting a Learner Driver Insurance Policy
Several factors can influence and impact of the cost of learner insurance. Understanding these can help you find the most affordable policy:
Age of the Learner Driver
Younger drivers typically pay higher premiums because they are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents. For example, a 17-year-old learner driver will usually face higher insurance costs than a 30-year-old learner driver.
The Car Being Insured
The vehicle’s make, model, and engine size significantly impact insurance premiums. High-performance cars cost more to insure due to their speed and repair costs, which potentially present a higher risk of accidents. On the contrary, cars that have smaller engines and lower repair costs can be cheaper to insure.
Location of the Learner Driver
There are a number of location factors that can impact the premium price. Where the car is kept overnight matters as for example, a car being in a secure garage can be cheaper to insure than a car kept on a driveway or public street.
In addition to this, urban areas with higher accident rates and theft risks tend to have more expensive insurance costs than quieter areas with lower crime rates.
Length of Policy Coverage
A short-term learner driver insurance policy might cost more per day, but it allows more flexibility and less long-term commitment. An annual policy, on the other hand, spreads costs over 12 months, often working out cheaper for regular practice.
Level of Cover Chosen
Learners can choose between:
- Third-party only (minimum legal requirement).
- Third-party, fire, and theft (adds fire and theft protection).
- Comprehensive (covers damage to both the learner’s car and others).
Comprehensive insurance isn’t always the most expensive—sometimes, it can be cheaper than lower levels of cover.
Learning to Drive with Collingwood
At Collingwood Insurance, we specialise in flexible and affordable learner driver insurance. Our policies are tailored to suit different needs, ensuring you can practice safely and legally. Whether you need short-term insurance for a few weeks or an annual policy for continuous coverage, our learner insurance offers competitive rates while protecting the car owner’s No Claims Bonus.*
How Much Does Short-Term Learner Driver Insurance Cost?
Short-term learner driver insurance is a flexible and cost-effective option for building driving skills.
Benefits of Short-Term Learner Driver Insurance
- Ideal for occasional practice in a friend, family member or guardian’s car.
- Policies available from 28 days and can be topped up from just 7 days.
- Protects the car owner’s No Claims Bonus*.
- No long-term commitment beyond what you need.
How Much Does Annual Learner Driver Insurance Cost?
Annual learner driver insurance is designed for learners who need regular, long-term practice in their own or a family member’s car.
Benefits of Annual Learner Driver Insurance
- 12 months of coverage for consistent practice.
- Can be cheaper per day than short-term policies.
- If the learner owns the car, they can start building their No Claims Bonus.
- No risk to the car owner’s existing No Claims Bonus*.
Conclusion
Understanding the cost of learner driver insurance can help learners find the best deal. The price of a learner insurance policy can vary based many different factors, including age, car type, coverage duration, and location. By choosing the right insurance policy for learning to drive, this can lead to significant savings.
- Short-term learner insurance is great for occasional practice with no long-term commitment.
- Annual learner insurance can work out cheaper for frequent practice over a longer period of time.
- Adding a learner to an existing policy may be convenient but could be costly.
At Collingwood Insurance, we provide flexible, affordable policies that let learners practice safely and legally while protecting the car owner’s No Claims Bonus. Get a quote today and start your journey on the road with confidence!
FAQs
The cost of learner driver insurance varies based on factors such as age, car type, and policy length.
Yes, learner driver insurance is generally cheaper because learners drive under supervision. However, once they pass their test, their premium may increase as they become new, independent drivers.
Yes! Insurance for learner drivers in their own car is available with Collingwood, allowing provisional licence holders to build their No Claims Bonus before passing their test.
Yes, a Collingwood learner driver policy could allow you to use the car for your practical test, provided the policy is still active on the test day as long as Collingwood are notified and the car meets the required standards.
Not if you take out a separate learner driver policy (like Collingwood’s). However, if a learner is added to an existing policy and has an accident, it could impact the car owner’s No Claims Bonus*.
*Terms, conditions and underwriting criteria apply
