Tips for new drivers buying insurance

What kind of insurance do you want?

The first thing you’ll need to do is decide what kind of insurance you actually want. The main types of insurance you’ll be offered are:

• Third party, fire and theft
• Comprehensive

Third-party, fire and theft insurance 

This insurance will cover you for everything third-party insurance covers, plus damage from fire or theft.  

If your car is damaged by fire, either accidental or deliberate, this insurance will cover the cost of repairs.  

In the case of theft, you’ll be covered for:

• The cost of replacing your car if it’s stolen and can’t be recovered 
• The cost of repairing damage to your car after theft or attempted theft, i.e. if the window gets smashed.  

Comprehensive car insurance 

Comprehensive car insurance, also known as fully comprehensive car insurance or fully comp car insurance, offers the highest level of protection for you and your car.  

Along with everything third-party, fire and theft insurance covers, comprehensive car insurance also covers damage to your car.  

Consider if you need your own insurance

If you don’t own a car yet, consider if you actually need one. If you have the option to drive your parents’ car, it can be cheaper for you to be added to that insurance than it is to get your own.

If you need your own car, considered having and additional driver on your policy. This will still have you as the main driver (and owner) of the car, but it will lower your costs as you’ll have an experienced driver on your policy.

Find out what affects your insurance

There are lots of things that can affect your insurance as a new driver, so it’s good to have an awareness while you’re browsing policies. Things like the make of your car, whether you have any extra qualifications, and what your mileage will be like will all have an effect.

Shop around

If you’re looking for your very first car insurance policy, don’t just buy the first one you find. There are lots of different car insurance policies with different benefits so it’s important you find one you’re happy with and that works for your lifestyle.

Telematics insurance

If you’ve just passed your test, you might find it a good idea to look at telematics or black box insurance. 

Telematics and black box insurance monitors your driving and scores you based on how safe a driver you are. The data is then reported to your insurance provider. Your provider will then use this information to determine how much of a ‘risk’ you are and adjust your insurance costs accordingly.

Need insurance? Get a quote from 1^st Central.