Learner Driver Insurance

Do learner drivers need insurance?

Whether learner drivers are practising in their own car or someone else’s car, they’re required to be covered by some form of insurance.

If you’re learning to drive in your own car then you need to make sure you have your own learner driving insurance, whereas if you’re driving in someone else’s car you’ll need to make sure you’re covered as a learner driver under their standard car insurance policy.

If you’re driving with a professional driving instructor, you don’t need to worry about being covered as the fee you pay for the driving lessons will include the cost of the car insurance, which should have been arranged by your instructor.

Am I eligible for learner driver insurance?

There are some criteria which need to be met in order for someone to be eligible for learner driver insurance. For instance, as the driver you must:

• Be a UK resident between the ages of 17 and 50 years old.
• Be a provisional licence holder with no motoring convictions or penalty points.

Anyone supervising the learner must also:

• Be aged between 21 (some insurers require supervisors to be at least 25) and 75 years old.
• Have held a full UK driving licence for at least 3 years.

And the vehicle you’re driving must:

• Be worth less than £40,000.
• Have no more than 7 seats, including the driver’s seat.
• Have a valid MOT certificate and up to date road tax.
• Have clearly visible L plates with red lettering and white background

What does Howden’s Learner Driver Insurance cover?

So how does learner driver insurance work? As with most motor insurance, there are three levels of learner driver insurance you can opt for:

• Third-party insurance
• Third-party, fire and theft insurance
• Fully comprehensive car insurance.

So, what do these different levels of learner driver insurance actually cover?

Third-party

Third-party insurance covers any damage or injury that’s caused to another vehicle or person because of your driving. Third-party doesn’t include cover for any damage or injury caused to you or your own car.

Third-party, fire and theft

Third-party, fire and theft includes all of the above and cover against any damage caused to your vehicle as a result of fire or if your car is stolen.

Fully comprehensive

This covers everything from the other two and also provides full cover for both you and the vehicle in the event of an accident, even if the accident was your fault.

Just be aware that some insurance providers only offer fully comprehensive policies to learner drivers. If you’re looking for learner driver insurance, the first thing to do is to get in touch with us, and as an insurance broker we’d be happy to go over your options with you.

What isn’t covered?

Unfortunately, insurers can't cover learner drivers for everything, and it’s important that you’re aware of this to avoid being left exposed if you did need to make a claim.

Not all insurers are the same, but you could expect the following to not be covered under a learner driver policy:

• Any driving done without a licence.
• Any driving done under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• For any claims made if the car was eft unattended with the keys in the ignition.
• If a car is being taken out of an impound.
• If a learner driver drives a car outside of what’s permitted according to the insurer.

We believe it’s important that as an insurance broker we’re as open and honest with you as possible when you come to ask us about policies, so that there is a clear understanding of what is and isn’t included in the flexible learner driver insurance policies that we offer.

How much is Learner Driver Insurance?

As with all insurance, the price of learner driver insurance varies depending on several factors such as the model of car, how old you are, where you live, etc.

One of the key factors in determining the cost of learner driver insurance is the time you choose to get the policy for. Some providers offer policies that last as little as a single day, and most also have policies that cover a few months.

The longer policies are cheaper per day than the shorter ones. So, if you’re planning to learn for a substantial period of time, then it may well be worth getting a longer policy for a better overall deal, rather than pay per day.

Factors which could affect the cost of a learner driver insurance quote

You’ll be happy to hear that there are many ways you can save money on your learner driver insurance policy. You could:

Pick the right car

Of course, the more expensive the car you drive, the more expensive the insurance will be. Choose to learn in a car from a lower insurance group if you can. That way, you’ll save money on the cost of your own insurance.

Get your insurance policy for longer

It’s far more cost-effective to get an insurance policy that lasts longer than it is to get multiple short policies. It’s better to overestimate and be over-prepared than it is to underestimate your practice time.

Get insured on someone else's car

Getting insured on someone else's car is far cheaper than setting yourself up as the main driver of your own car and then adding a named supervisor to your policy.

Install a black box

A black box measures your driving record and informs your insurer of how safe a driver you are. If you install a black box with a clean record and then renew your learner driver cover, you’ll likely see a reduction in your insurance costs as the insurer will see that you’re a safe driver.

Shop around

There are always good deals available that offer good cover at reasonable prices. Going through an insurance broker gives you access to all the options available before settling on a policy, as there is likely to be a better deal out there if you go looking for it.

How to get Learner Driver Cover from an insurance broker

The first step you can take towards getting a learner driver quote is by contacting us or visiting us in branch, and providing us with the following details:

• Your personal details - name, age and where you live
• Details about your driving history – have you been involved in an accident? Or made a claim over the last few years?
• Details about your car – registration number, age, make and model of the car

Once we have all the details we need from you, we’ll start looking at policy options and quotes which we think would work best for you! We will then talk it through with you so that you are aware of all the options and can find the right solution to match your budget.

Who Howden work with

The great relationships we have with a wide range of trusted car insurance providers allows us to provide a service which supports each and every one of our learner driver clients.

The years of experience our team have working in the insurance industry has meant that Howden continues to be rated highly by our clients.

Claims

We’re here to assist you when it matters most.

Whatever’s happened to you or your car, we’re here to help. It’s part of our service to make sure that your claim is dealt with as quickly as possible and without any hassle.

MAKE A CLAIM

Do you need car insurance or motor trade insurance to support your business? Look no further than Howden for your motor insurance!

Learner Driver insurance articles and guides

L Plates and P plates: What are the rules?

Where are you most likely to pass your driving test?

How Many Questions are there in a Theory Test?

Your Guide to the Pass Plus Scheme

Can I add a learner driver to my insurance?

In many cases, car insurance policies allow you to add a learner driver to your coverage, but the specifics may vary depending on the insurance provider and the terms of your policy.

To add a learner driver to your insurance, you typically need to contact your insurance provider directly. It's important to notify your insurance company about the learner driver, as failing to disclose this information could lead to coverage issues if an accident were to occur.

How much does it cost to add a learner driver to a car insurance policy?

Adding a learner driver to your insurance policy might affect your premium or policy terms, as learner drivers are considered higher risk due to their lack of experience.

It’s hard to say exactly how much adding a learner driver to a policy would cost though, as we know how much premiums vary amongst different car insurance providers. The best option is to talk to the experts here at Howden who can guide you through the pricing based on your personal circumstances.

Do I need insurance to supervise a learner driver?

No, if you’re simply supervising a learner driver, you don’t need to have specialist insurance yourself. However, you’re required to ensure that the learner driver is properly insured. The learner driver must either be added as a named driver on the insurance policy for the vehicle they’re driving or have their own separate learner driver insurance.

If you’re a driving instructor, however, it’s important that you have proper insurance coverage which protects you, your students, and your vehicle.

Does learner insurance count as no claims?

It’s dependant on the terms of the insurance provider, but if you have a learner driver insurance policy in your name, which covers a vehicle you own, you could be able to earn a no claims bonus as soon as your policy begins. It’s important though that you clarify this with your insurer or insurance broker as not all insurers will offer a no claims discount.

What is provisional driver insurance?

Provisional driver insurance isn’t any different from learner driving insurance. They offer the same thing to learners practising to drive before their driving test.

Can learner driver insurance be used to take my driving test?

If you're taking your driving test in the same car specified on in your policy, yes, learner driver insurance can be used to take your driving test. Don’t forget though that once you pass your test (fingers crossed!) you’d then need to make sure you’re then adequately insured as a new driver on a car insurance policy. Technically, once you’ve become a new driver, you’d need a car insurance policy to drive a car from the driving test centre.

Can I cancel my learner driver insurance?

Yes, you’re able to cancel your learner insurance cover at any time. Assuming you’ve not made any claims or had any accidents, you should be entitled to a refund of unused premium. You can also cancel your policy early if you passed your driving test earlier than you initially expected, and you’ll also get a refund for the full days you haven't needed the learner driver insurance cover.

Once again, however, be sure to check the terms and conditions of your learner insurance before you cancel to avoid being surprised by any expected cancellation fees or not receiving the refund you expected.