Temporary learner driver insurance

Can I learn to drive using temporary learner insurance?

Yes you can keep costs down by practising in a friend’s or parent’s car – which is when you will need insurance

When taking lessons with a registered ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) you will be automatically insured as part of the cost of your lessons.

Many insurance providers will let you take out temporary provisional car insurance for a day up to 140 days, which should generally be cheaper than an annual policy on someone else's insurance.

What are the cheapest ways of learning to drive?

Learning to drive can be costly,  so you’ll need to weigh up which option best suits your needs.

Paying a professional driving instructor

Pro: if you have regular lessons you can cut out the need for learner driver insurance, as the lesson fees cover the cost of them being insured on your behalf.

Con: the cost of getting professional lessons can add up quickly, with many instructors charging between £25 and £35 anr hour.

Learning with friends and family

Pro: if you have family or friends willing to accompany you in their car on a regular basis, you could save on driving lessons.

on: you will need to be added as a named driver on their insurance policy, and you may take longer to pass your test.

You may need to plan a few months in advance where you know you'll be available to take all of your lessons. Otherwise, there is the risk that if you don't keep up your driving lessons regularly, you'll fall behind in some of the things you've learnt.

What is the cheapest way to insure a learner driver?

Some car insurance providers are more willing to take on provisional drivers. If you have family or friends willing to help you, first check how much their insurer might charge to add you as a named driver.

Warning – provisional car insurance and fronting Some parents take out a car insurance policy and declare themselves as the main driver, adding a young driver as a named driver. This is despite the fact that the child will be driving the car more than the parent, this is known as 'fronting' and is illegal.

How does learner driver insurance work?

If you're lucky enough to have your own car and want to get insured as a learner driver, you can simply take out an insurance policy as normal, making sure to inform your provider that you are yet to gain your full licence.

• This will cover you for up to 12 months while you prepare to take your test

• If you pass within this time you will need to inform your insurer as they will amend your policy to reflect this – your premium is likely to rise once you have passed your test

• The cover is normally fully comprehensive, which will cover accidents as well as theft, fire and malicious damage

• You may even be able to build up your own no claims bonus while driving on a provisional licence

How can I save on provisional driver’s insurance?

The best way to achieve long-term savings on your car insurance is to take out your own policy while you are still driving on a provisional licence.

• You will be able to start building your no-claims bonus even before you have passed your driving test

• Once you start building your no-claims bonus your premium should drop steadily each year as long as you don’t make any claims

• Taking out an insurance policy in your own name means you will also avoid the risk of damaging your friend’s or relative’s no-claims bonus as you might if you had to make a claim as a named driver on their policy

if you take out your own insurance policy, there should be no impact on the main driver’s insurance premium.

How to find cheap provisional driver’s insurance

If you're looking for learner driver insurance for your own car and need a provisional driver insurance quote, there are a couple of issues to consider.

Check what kind of car you drive

The type of car you drive will often have an impact on the amount you pay for insurance – but with provisional driver’s insurance most policies will cover you for any car up to a certain value or insurance group (usually a value of £20,000 or around insurance group 30).

This is great if you want to learn in your parents’ car and then you can choose a cheaper car to insure once you’ve passed your test.

Make sure you tick the right box

When you are looking for cheap learner driver insurance, make sure you have ticked the box for provisional rather than full licence if you’re buying or comparing policies online.

But be prepared to pay more for learner driver insurance

Once you’ve passed your test you may be considered as more of a risk as you are no longer required to be accompanied at all times by an experienced driver, and there’s the added risk of driving on motorways.

Always compare quotes first

By getting quotes from more than one provider it's possible to get learner driver cover for the equivalent of a couple of pounds per day. The best learner driver insurance is one that offers good value and sufficient cover for your needs.

How to get car insurance when you don’t own a car

When you get your full driving licence you may not immediately want, or be able to afford, to buy a car. This doesn’t mean you can’t drive at all. 

You can choose to take out a temporary car insurance policy using someone else’s car, as long as you have their permission. Compare quotes for short-term or temporary car insurance to get started.

When you do come to buy your first car it may be worth taking out a group car insurance policy if people in your family drive and own cars.

This is called multi-car insurance and might also be suitable:

• If you own more than one car

• If you’re a family with more than one driver

• If you’re a couple with more than one vehicle