Top tips for young driver insurance
It’s common knowledge that car insurance in Ireland tends to be more expensive for new or young drivers but there are definitely ways around this.
First and foremost you would want to get your full license as soon as possible, this alone will make a difference but there are more things you can do to make sure you save yourself some money and get the best deal on your insurance so that all you need to worry about is where you’re going on your next spin!
1. Know your car insurance options
Research, research, and then research some more. Compare prices and ask for car insurance quotes. Comparison websites are huge these days so use this to your advantage, look up a list of car insurance providers, some might specifically focus on young drivers. Check your spec and compare all your prices. If you’re that way inclined, you could even try calling a car insurance company and ask if they can cut you a deal. You know what they say, if you don’t ask, you don’t get!
2. Don’t go wild with your choice of car
Save the little red sports car for your midlife crisis, flashier cars are notoriously expensive to run and cost a small fortune in car insurance and fuel. No doubt there are plenty of quality car insurance deals for high-performance cars but if it’s cheap car insurance you’re after, steer clear. For new or young drivers, a Golf GTI is going to cost you a lot more to insure than the safe little number your parents want to see you in. While we’re on the subject, take it easy on any custom work because that will only add to your premium!
3. Go the extra mile
Some companies will offer a reduced rate for young drivers if they complete an additional safe driving course with them so it’s worth considering one of these courses. You can also get discounted offers if you install a telematics box which uses GPS and other technologies to track how safely you are driving.
4. Call security!
Security is something we sometimes forget about that can have a big impact on your car insurance. Your parents might have hooked a super cool steel bar lock to their steering wheel but these days, there are better options. Look into getting yourself a car alarm or high-tech immobiliser. Better safe than sorry!
5. Get yourself some named driver experience
Your premium will be lower if you have been on your parent’s cover beforehand. This can even be used as a form of no claims bonus (providing you haven’t crashed your Mam’s car of course). If you can’t do this then you could consider adding a more experienced driver to your cover, insurance companies could see this as spreading the risk with young drivers.
