Best way of sorting insurance for learner drivers?

kissenger

kissenger

kissenger

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I've been taking two lessons a week from an instructor for the past month but I thought it would be helpful to get a bit of extra practice in with a relative of mine who offered to help, so I'm going to need insurance. I'll also need it if I decide to take my test with her car rather than my instructor's.

Well I looked into it this morning and the company that insures my relative's car (the Co-op) flat out refused to add me as a named driver, so as far as I can see my only option is to pay through the nose for a standalone learner driver insurance policy with a different company.

I looked into some quotes and the cheapest I could find yearly was for £1300 and the cheapest monthly was for £85 :eek: And this is for a 1.6ltr Ford Focus too!

So what are my options here? Can I even practice on private land anywhere? Any advice as far as insurance goes?
 
It will probably be cheapest for her to temporarily add you to her insurance. If not, suck it up and continue your lessons.
 
I think that there are problems having two policies running on one named vehicle. Someone confirm please.

Note also private land means privately owned roads with the landowners permission. Not council property or car parks etc.
 
nkata said:
Note also private land means privately owned roads with the landowners permission. Not council property or car parks etc.
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I'd considered using the area around my sister's flat which is in a very quiet development that is signposted with 'Private Land' at the entry, but I suppose that wouldn't work as the public can access it as well as the homeowners?
 
kissenger said:
I'd considered using the area around my sister's flat which is in a very quiet development that is signposted with 'Private Land' at the entry, but I suppose that wouldn't work as the public can access it as well as the homeowners?
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I would think that wouldnt be allowed. I guess to be sure you would need to investigate, maybe local police would know?
 
I had my wife on my insurance, while she was learning. Thinking when she passed my insurance would go down, the gits bump it up by another £90 for the last 2 months, in till the policy ran out.
 
Wearemarmalade.co.uk

I used this when I was learning. By far the best and cheapest option in my opinion.
 
If it's just for a day or two, use day insurers. They cost a lot, but I got insured on my mother's 118 before I passed for £20 a day. Fine for a few days!
 
Some companies don't like certain combinations of "learner & car". I was with AXA last year and they offered a fair renewal.
However my wife (provisional holder) wanted to be added this year - AXA said no chance.
Aviva however, new policy, added my wife and it added around £25 to the policy.
 
stoofa said:
Some companies don't like certain combinations of "learner & car". I was with AXA last year and they offered a fair renewal.
However my wife (provisional holder) wanted to be added this year - AXA said no chance.
Aviva however, new policy, added my wife and it added around £25 to the policy.
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Wow that's a good deal. I wonder if switching provider would be worth looking into.
 
kissenger said:
I've been taking two lessons a week from an instructor for the past month but I thought it would be helpful to get a bit of extra practice in with a relative of mine who offered to help, so I'm going to need insurance. I'll also need it if I decide to take my test with her car rather than my instructor's.

Well I looked into it this morning and the company that insures my relative's car (the Co-op) flat out refused to add me as a named driver, so as far as I can see my only option is to pay through the nose for a standalone learner driver insurance policy with a different company.

I looked into some quotes and the cheapest I could find yearly was for £1300 and the cheapest monthly was for £85 :eek: And this is for a 1.6ltr Ford Focus too!

So what are my options here? Can I even practice on private land anywhere? Any advice as far as insurance goes?
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Was this quote as a "provisional" license? If so, see what it'd be like as a full uk drivers license too, from the same company of course, just to see how much the premium changes.

kissenger said:
I've got a few quotes from price comparison sites and while my provisional insurance is around £1300 my 'full' insurance is apparently around £1000.
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Just seen this - make sure you get that confirmed and agreed, I know someone who's been stung badly by a quote like that after passing their test. Instead of dropping by a couple hundred it increased by about £700... One thing I certainly know is, insurers don't really give a crap about you, just your money.

If the price doesn't change by much then I'd be seriously tempted to get that, seeing as that's a super cheap quote for a first-time driver - if you think otherwise... you're mental. £85 p/m is also cheap, especially seeing as that works out cheaper than £1300........ (how much is initial deposit?)

Just read what car you'll be insured on... that's ridiculous! If you think that's expensive on a 1.6ltr you truly are mad!
 
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Aston998 said:
Try direct line they were pretty cheap when i was learning to drive. you would need to phone them tho.
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Direct Line are probably one of the worst insurers unless you're over 25 with a full uk license - price wise. Every quote I've had from them (I'm nearly 23 now) has been dreadful - and they wouldn't even quote me up until I was 21+.

Been with Egg - strongly avoid, possibly the worst company you could ever deal with; Admiral - no issues, but wouldn't budge on the renewal even though I'd found cheaper with...; Aviva - been cheapest 3 years on the trot now. Think I paid £440 or something, fully comp, NCB Protection, 4 years no claims, accident in first year of driving (went to court after 18 months of insurer tennis, again, Egg were dreadful, also I got 80% of the blame even though the moron did a handbrake turn in front of me - yes, a handbrake turn), 3 points in first year speeding (didn't know the road, was 1am on a Wednesday driving home from casino, speed camera, 'out of the way' signage so didn't even know it was a 30... #JustBristolRoads). All declared and yeah, around £440 or so on a BMW 120D M Sport.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, with my parents on there of course.
 
kissenger said:
I've got a few quotes from price comparison sites and while my provisional insurance is around £1300 my 'full' insurance is apparently around £1000.
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You're lucky...

I added my GF (with a provisional) to my insurance because it put it down by ~£400. I checked what it would be after she passed; an extra ~£500 on top of the original price, so a difference of ~£900! Needless to say, she's not allowed to pass her test! :p

OP, just noticed you're in Birmingham - get used to extortionate insurance prices, that £1,300 is still less than I'm currently paying, and I've been driving for 10 years...

But hey, at least you're actually learning to drive and planning to get a licence, unlike the majority of people round here who drive like they got their licence out of a Christmas cracker!
 
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