If I buy a car and have no license but learning can 'I' get insurance?

Question

I'm learning to drive and have my test in a few weeks but - if I buy a car now and stick my L plates and my mate who has been driving for more than 3 years etc comes out with me then we will be okay - the question is will insurers insure me to drive a car when I havent yet passed my test? cheers

Answer 1

When I was in the same boat, I went out and bought a 1 litre Metro, I spoke to my driving instructor, and he advised Tesco insurance as one of the cheapest for learners at the time.
(you'll generally find supermarket insurers to be cheaper in the early days of your driving career)

This is a major thing - ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR - he/she are in a very strong position to advise you on this as they deal with it day in, day out.

It's not cheap, I was 21 at the time, and it cost me £968 a year for 3rd party (I was the main driver, and my father was named)

Which brings me nicely onto another major thing:
There are so many people out there that believe it makes a difference to be the named driver, and an older family member/friend as the main driver.

It does not make a scrap of difference. Insurance is rated, and worked out on the highest risk driver.

One thing to do though, is get it on a limited mileage policy - most insurance companies give discounted premiums if you limit your mileage (6000 seems to be a good figure per year - but play around a bit)

Some insurers may say no, it's mostly based on the class of vehicle - IE, no insurance company on this earth will allow a learner driver to insure a Lamborghini.. Not without multi million pound premiums anyway.

It does vary from company to company though - for instance, my last insurer wouldn't let me insure my sister (learning) on my 1.6 litre Nissan Almera, while another said yes.. Shop around a bit.

http://www.moneysupermarket.com has been giving me good prices for a long while now, and a damn site cheaper than http://www.confused.com

That is entirely subjective though - you'll find some vehicle types and driver profiles to be cheaper with insurers that are the most expensive for other vehicles and driver profiles.

Don't ever completely ignore an insurer because they were expensive in the past.

Make certain to check excesses - what may seem like a good deal could turn out to be a very bad one in the event of a crash. Voluntary excess is ON TOP of the mandatory excess.
Most insurers hand out mandatory excesses of £400 - £500 to learners, and young drivers.

Insure yourself against the excess too: (Shop around here too, I'm posting this one as it seems to have a good explanation) http://www.thebikeinsurer.co.uk/car-excess-insurance.asp
These policies are gold plated in my mind, especially with high excess drivers - £30 isn't going to break the bank, and means you're going to get no nasty headaches after a crash - worth it in the long run.

Play around, don't be afraid to spend a week or two getting quotes, and adjusting things - REMEMBER: you're going to be stuck paying this policy for a year, make sure you're happy with it before you accept it!

Welcome to the racket that is the UK motor insurance industry..

Apologies if I'm repeating things, and for the long post.

Chris

Answer 2

Yes u can get insured but only as a named driver, an it has to be under the person who is driving with u. So u have to insure ur friend on the car and then u as named driver, Expect it to be high as u have no test, they will class u as a high risk,
Best of luck with the test.

Answer 3

You have a licence, even if it is only provisional, lets get that straight right away.

If you are the legal owner/keeper of the vehicle then any insurance should be in your name if you are also to be the main driver. As you do not hold a full licence any body who accompanies you must also have insurance cover to be able to drive your cover. This could be by virtue of being named on your policy, or by being covered for 3rd party risk only on their own policy.

Taking out your own policy prior to passing your test may well be extremely expensive.

Do not go down the road of getting someone else to insure your car, and then adding you as a named driver, that could lead to all kinds of trouble if you are the main driver

Answer 4

Phone a couple of insurance companies and check with them.

I know that Bell specialise in half-decent rates for young and/or inexperienced drivers.

I had a 1969 Morris Minor when I was learning to drive, and had my own insurance for it as a learner driver, but that was years ago, way before the new style theory and practical tests etc, so things may have changed significantly.

Answer 5

It is a fact that many learner drivers, when they pass their driving tests expect that their motor insurance premiums will suddenly reduce dramatically. However this is extremely unlikely as a learner driver who is being supervised is statistically a similar risk, in respect of having an accident, as a driver who has recently passed their test.

Try

http://www.yourmotorinsurance.co.uk/mainpages_motor_insurance_for_learner_drivers.htm

Answer 6

Yes you can get insurance i started learning back in march my husband bought me a little car to practice in (plus was havin lessons)i had fully comp insurance and plus my gran used to come out in the car with me if i wanted to take my car so yes you can get insurance.Mine was with AXA.It was really cheap which i was shocked at being a learner driver.Good luck on your test i had mine yesterday first time and i passed.

Answer 7

I would probably get the insurance, mate as main driver. Later when you have your license, have yourself put on policy. If you leave your mate on as first, your rate may be a bit lower if he has had no violations.

Answer 8

yes they will insure you but only as a named driver not a full policy holder.. you would be better waiting to you pass your test so you can build up your no claims

Answer 9

yea i did the same i got my car ford fiesta 1.1 got my own insurance ok it cost £1300 but we all hav to start sumwhere i learnt wiv my dad to be honest its the best way because its easier to build up your own no claims bonus so go for it its a good idea

Answer 10

Yes you will get insurance but it may well be exspensive.Try asking a family member if they can put you on theirs.