Motor insurance for 17 year old...

[newbie]

My son has just reached 17 and we have bought him a car. Then I got a reality check when it came to trying to insure it!!!! Obviously he has just started to learn to drive but the premiums are unbelievable. Can anyone suggest an insurance company that doesn't require us to take out a second mortgage - please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ojread2]

car make, model etc might be helpful

[joe-jen12]

I am a 19 year old male who knows all about the insurance premiums situation. Although I am not lucky enough to have my parents pay it off for me.
The best thing I would suggest is getting your son his own policy (using price comparison sites) and then add more experienced drivers to HIS policy. This is the best way (from experience). If you put him on your policy, for instance, it is nowadays just as expensive as the insurance companies have cottoned onto the fact people were doing that to get around paying larger premiums.
I say use price comparison as I have found that the companies that you have to approach directly will not qutoe younger drivers.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Joe
P.S I usually find Endsliegh or E-Car (NOT ESure) are cheapest for me.

[puzzled54]

It goes up when he passes his test and goes out by himself. I didnt realise until it happened!

[newbie]

The car is a Ford KA - 1998 - 1299cc. Sadly both Endsliegh and Esure are quoting in the region of £2500 which is just not acceptable. If we cannot find anything cheaper we will have to sell the car. Sad but true. Thanks for answers so far though.

[pasb]

Not saying they'll be cheap, but try the NFU (national farmers union). We wanted to add my 18yr old at the time to my wife's car's insurance - and they turned out considerably lower cost than many other insurers. Not available on price comparison sites, and not someone you'd normally associate with car insurance, but worth a try just as another quote.

[bigbadmarty]

Disconnect your brake lights .
Stop suddenly at a junction .
Put in a claim for "whiplash".
Settle for £2500 - pay sons insurance.
Just kidding - but thats part of the reason for exorbitant premiums :(

[NOX]

I agree with NFU, we insure all our stuff with them and they are DRASTICALLY cheaper for younger drivers.

[Buenchico]

If you're getting quotes of £2500 for a 17-year-old I'm guessing that you don't live in one of the postcodes where insurance premiums are particularly high. There are several parts of the country where a 17-year-old can't get insurance for under £4000.

A few hints (based upon reading hundreds of similar posts on AB!):

1. When your son passes his test he might want to consider going for 'Pass Plus', which can get him a discount on his insurance premium ;
http://www.direct.gov...iedDrivers/DG_4022426

2. It's worth getting quotes for all levels of insurance. It's easy to think that 'third party only' is bound to be cheapest, with 'third party, fire & theft' costing a bit more and 'fully comprehensive being the dearest' but, strangely, it doesn't always work out that way. 'Third party, fire & theft' is frequently cheaper than 'third party only' but 'fully comprehensive' is sometimes the cheapest of them all! ;

3. Many people, here on AB, have reported that they've achieved significant discounts on the premiums for inexperienced drivers by adding another (more experienced) 'named driver' onto the policy. So putting yourself onto your son's policy could see his premium reduced. (That's perfectly legal, even if you've no intention whatsoever of actually driving his car) ;

4. Read this lot:
http://www.moneysavin...surance-young-drivers

Chris