Compare fully comprehensive car insurance quotes

Our guide to fully comprehensive car insurance

If you are buying car insurance, you first have to decide on the type of policy you need. There are basically three options. Third party insurance covers damage or injury to another person or property and is the legal minimum requirement to take a car on a UK road. The downside of a third party policy is that it does not insure your own car. If it is stolen, for example, you would have to pay for a new vehicle out of your own pocket.
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 Motorists who choose third party fire and theft (TPFT) are buying limited protection for their own vehicle because the policy would pay out if the car was stolen by thieves or destroyed in a fire. But what if your car was damaged or written off in an accident? If the accident was your fault, you would not be able to claim on a TPFT policy. In other words, you would have to pay for the cost of repairs or a new car yourself - and that could run into thousands of pounds.
So it's perhaps not surprising that most drivers choose fully comprehensive insurance - about 75% according to some estimates. When you buy fully comprehensive car insurance, you also buy all-round protection for you and your car.

What does fully comprehensive insurance cover?

A standard fully comprehensive insurance policy covers your liability for injuries to other people, including passengers, as well as damage to other people's property. Your own car is also insured against fire, theft and accidental damage. The policy also usually covers personal effects, up to a certain limit, such as a sat-nav system. 
Most comprehensive policies insure the policyholder to drive another car, but you might only get third party insurance - and you will almost always need the owner's permission.   
Don't assume that all fully comprehensive insurance policies are alike. Some insurers, for example, include a courtesy car if your vehicle is off the road. Or they might offer European cover if you want to take your car on the Continent. Other common add-ons include legal expenses and windscreen insurance. But the extras usually come at a price. So make sure that compare like for like when you are searching for car insurance. And remember that the cheapest policy is not always the best deal. MoneySupermarket's comparison service can help you choose the best policy for your needs.

Is fully comprehensive insurance the right choice for me?

If you drive an old banger, you might be happy with a more limited third party or third party fire and theft policy, especially if the premium for fully comprehensive insurance is more than the car is worth.
But always check out all types of policy because third party cover has become more expensive as it has become more popular. The cost of fully comprehensive car insurance for young male drivers is often prohibitively high - the average premium for a 17-22 year-old man is currently £2,872. So many opt for third party or third party fire and theft insurance to save money. But young men are statistically more likely to make a claim. They are therefore more risky and costly to insure, so insurers have pushed up the price of even basic cover. These days there is often little or no difference between the premiums for third party cover and fully comprehensive insurance.
Of course, motor insurance is expensive, whatever your age or gender. The average premium is currently just over £900, an increase of 40% over the past year. But there are ways to keep the cost of cover under control.
You should always shop around for competitive quotes when your insurance is due for renewal, but one in four drivers automatically sticks with their existing insurer. MoneySupermarket's free independent comparison service is a quick and easy way to search the market and save money - the typical customer cuts more than £300 off their car insurance through our website.   
Almost all car insurance policies include a compulsory excess, which is the amount you must pay towards any claim. If you agree a higher voluntary excess, you can usually negotiate a lower premium.
If you fit your car with an approved security device, such as an alarm or immobiliser, you can help to deter thieves and so reduce the likelihood of a theft claim - and that could mean a discount on your premium. You should also keep your care secure, preferable in a locked garage overnight, or at least off the street.
Motorists who drive fewer miles are less likely to make claims. So if you drive your car infrequently, negotiate a low mileage limit with your insurer and you should be able to cut the cost of cover.
Drivers who don't make any claims on their car insurance policy can build up a no-claims discount (NCD). The discount can be valuable: in some cases it can knock up to 75% off your premium after five consecutive claim-free years. It can therefore make sense to pay for any minor damage yourself to protect your NCD.

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Compare new driver car insurance quotes

How to get your first car insurance policy

Whatever age you are when you pass your driving test, it's a thrilling achievement. But the excitement can soon fade when you catch sight of your first motor insurance premium.
New drivers of all ages typically pay more for policies than experienced motorists, simply because they are statistically more risky. The figures show that one in five people who pass their test are involved in a crash within 12 months.

Why is car insurance for new drivers so expensive?

If you are a new driver in your teens or early 20s, you could stump up more for the insurance than you did for your car. The reason is statistics: motorists aged between 17 and 25 are responsible for one third of all fatalities on UK roads. In other words, they are more likely to be involved in an accident and so more likely to claim on their insurance.
Young men typically pay more than young women, because male drivers are responsible for more than 92% of UK driving convictions and 98% of all convictions for dangerous driving.

Car insurance for new women drivers

However, this will not be the case for much longer. The European Court of Justice has ruled that, as of 21 December 2012, insurers will no longer be allowed to take gender into account when setting premiums, whatever the statistics say.
As a result, female car insurance premiums are expected to shoot up by an average of 30%. But for young female drivers aged between 17 and 25 the news is even worse - they could see premiums rise by a whopping 34% in many cases. So, for the first time, newly qualified female drivers will be hit just as hard as males.

Car insurance is compulsory

Of course insurance is not optional. You must have at least third party cover to drive legally on a UK road. And if you were thinking of trying to dodge the law, think again. The government has recently introduced Continuous Insurance Enforcement regulations to clamp down on uninsured driving. Anyone found guilty of driving without insurance risks a fine of up to £1000. They could also have their vehicle impounded.
As with any kind of insurance, it is important to scour the market for the best policy at the cheapest price. MoneySupermarket's online service can help you compare new driver car insurance quotes from more than 100 insurance companies - and can lead to big savings.
You can also find insurers recommended by other moneysupermarket.com customers in our forums or by reading our car insurance reviews.

Find cheap car insurance for new drivers

There are a number of other steps that can be taken in order to ensure you are getting the cheapest car insurance for new drivers available:

• Choose your cover with care- Third party insurance is the minimum legal requirement and is the most basic level of cover. Young drivers can sometimes save money on their premiums by choosing third party instead of comprehensive insurance - but not always. It's always worth finding out the cost of a comprehensive policy because you might be able to get more cover for the same or even a cheaper premium.
• Buy the right car- The rule of thumb for car insurance is the bigger the engine, the bigger the premium. And, as you might expect, the more expensive the vehicle, the more expensive the policy. All models are placed into one of 50 car insurance groups and a car in group one will be cheaper to insure than a car in group 50. If you have just passed your test and are thinking of buying a car, it's worth checking out its group rating at: www.thatcham.org
• Don't modify your vehicle- Insurers will usually increase the premium if you modify your car - even if you add an extra set of lights. Either resist the temptation, or think twice before buying a secondhand model that has been altered from the original specification.
• Increase the excess- Your policy will impose a compulsory “excess”, which is the amount you have to pay towards the cost of any claim. So, for example, if you have a £200 excess and make a successful claim for £500, the policy will pay £300. If you volunteer to increase the excess, the premium will reduce. But don't pick too high an excess or you may not be able to afford it if you have to make a claim. This is explained in more detail on our insurance excess page. 
•  Lose the extras- Policies can come with all sorts of add-ons such as breakdown cover or insurance for driving overseas. But the extras come at a price. You can save money if you buy a no-frills policy, or only include the extras that you really need.
• Add another driver- New drivers can often save money if they add an older more experienced driver to their policy, perhaps their mum or dad. Just don't name your mum as the main driver - the tactic is known as fronting and is illegal. Find out more information about this on our named driver car insurance page.
• Buy online- Some insurers offer a discount if you buy online rather than over the phone.
• Keep your car safe- You will find cheaper new driver car insurance quotes if you fit approved security devices such as an alarm, or an immobiliser. If you can park off-road or in a garage, the premium often falls further.
• Driver fewer miles- Insurers work on the basis that the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to be involved in an accident. So if you can keep your mileage down, you should also keep the premium down. Just remember to tell the insurer if you expect to breach your mileage limit otherwise you might invalidate the policy.
• Pay-as-you-go- You can often cut the cost of insurance with a pay as you go car insurance policy. A “black box” will then be fitted to your car to monitor your motoring and you will typically pay a lower premium if you driver fewer miles and avoid hazardous conditions, such as night driving and rush hour traffic.
• Don't claim- If you don't make a claim on your policy, you will be rewarded with a discount on your premium. The discounts can add up, often cutting the cost of cover by up to 70% after five consecutive claim-free years.

For more ways to save on car insurance, read our money saving tips

Compare young driver car insurance quotes

Young drivers: how to save money on your car insurance

If you thought your driving test was difficult, wait until you try and buy car insurance - that's when things could start to get really tricky.
Not only are young drivers forced to pay significantly more for car insurance than older and more experienced motorists, but more than half of insurance companies simply refuse to cover teenage drivers altogether due to the higher risk that they represent.
Don't be tempted to drive without car insurance, though. The government estimates that 1.4m motorists do not have insurance cover, but they risk a fine of up to £5,000 and six to eight points on their licence.
And if you are the main driver or registered keeper of a car, do not insure the car in your parents' name and add yourself to the policy as a named driver. Known as 'fronting', this is a form of insurance fraud that will invalidate your policy and could lead to a charge of driving without car insurance.

Why are young driver car insurance premiums so high?

Car insurance for young drivers is disproportionately high compared to the national average because they are quite simply more risky. Motorists aged between 17 and 25 are responsible for one third of road fatalities in the UK. And one in five drivers is involved in a crash during the first 12 months behind the wheel. Statistics also show that young drivers are more likely to be the victim of theft, fire and vandalism resulting in insurance claims.

How to find cheaper car insurance for young drivers

However, there are several ways that young drivers can reduce the price of their car insurance premiums.

• A number of firms will fit a so-called 'black box' to your car to track your movements. It sounds a bit like 'Big Brother' but it can reduce young driver car insurance premiums because you will usually be rewarded if you drive a limited number of miles and if you avoid driving late at night, when most accidents are likely to occur.
• Buy a sensible car. Every new car is assigned to a car insurance group - and the lower the group, the lower the likely premium. So, it will be cheaper to insure a Fiat Punto than an Audi TT. You can find details of the car insurance groups on the website of the Association of British Insurers (www.abi.org.uk). 
• Don't modify your car. Insurers don't like boy - or girl - racers and modifications such as turbo charging, rally lights, nitrous oxide kits will send your premium soaring.
• Consider taking the Driving Standards Agency's Pass Plus course, which gives extra tuition on night, motorway and inner city driving. You can take the course any time, although it is aimed at new drivers within the first year of passing their test. The course is made up of six modules and takes at least six hours. There is also a fee of about £150, but it is often worth the money as drivers who have successfully completed the course can earn discounts on their motor insurance of up to 35%.
• Shop around and compare young driver car insurance quotes. But make sure you compare like with like. A car insurance policy might be cheap because it does not offer many benefits.
• Don't assume third party insurance is the cheapest option. Many consumers purchasing car insurance for young drivers assume that third party cover will be the best value option as it is usually the cheapest car insurance you can buy. If damage another vehicle while driving it will cover the cost of the repair to that vehicle, but any damage to your car won't be covered so you'll have to pay for any repairs yourself. Fully comprehensive car insurance on the other hand, protects your car as well as any other vehicles.

However, third party car insurance is popular with young drivers as they assume it is the cheapest option due to the fact it offers less protection. But because claim statistics are one of the factors insurers take into consideration when calculating premiums, the cost of third party cover can actually prove more expensive than fully comp due to the fact that a higher proportion of drivers are involved in accidents and make a claim. It therefore important to get quotes for third party; third party, fire and theft, and fully comprehensive car insurance and weigh up which will be most cost effective. 

•  If you are driving your parents' car, it will be cheaper in the short term to add your name to their policy. However, if you take out your own insurance cover, you can start to build up a no claims discount, which will lead to even greater savings in the future. The NCD can be valuable, reducing the cost of cover by a third after one year. You can even add an older, more experienced family member with a clean driving record to your own policy and it could cut the cost.
• You stand a better chance of obtaining cheap car insurance for young drivers if you fit additional, approved security devices, such as an alarm or immobiliser system. If you can, keep your car in a locked garage when not in use, or off the street if possible.
• If you are prepared to pay a bigger voluntary excess, you might pay a lower insurance premium. But remember that the excess is the amount you contribute towards any claim, so it should be affordable.
• It can be convenient to spread the cost of your car insurance over monthly installments, but it is also more expensive because you will be charged extra. So try and pay up front, even if you have to ask your parents for a loan.

For more ideas on how you could obtain cheap young drivers car insurance quotes visit our money saving tips page.

More young driver car insurance guides

MoneySupermarket.com recognises that young drivers have to pay significantly more than the average driver for car insurance. We have therefore crafted a number of young drivers car insurance guides to give more specific help in a variety of different situations.
Obtaining your first car insurance policy can often be a very confusing period and it is very easy to make mistakes which could cost you serious amounts of money. Our guide looking at car insurance for 17 year olds aims to make the process as simple as possible. However, not everyone passes their test at 17 and 18 year old motorists could find themselves in a similar pickle. We have this covered as well with our guide looking at car insurance for 18 year olds.
19 year old motorists will also generally pay above the national average for car insurance as a result of them being statistically more likely to be involved in an accident and make a claim in the eyes of insurers than older drivers. Even 19 year olds with a couple of years no claims under their belts will be affected. Increase your chances of overcoming the odds by taking advantage of MoneySupermarket's guide to car insurance for 19 year olds.
For a thorough look at how people in these age bands can overcome statistics we have produced a teenage car insurance guide.
You might think you are in line for significant savings once you reach the age of 21. While it will normally work out cheaper than the sort of premiums that you could expect in your teenage years; 21 year olds can still expected disproportionately high premiums compared to older motorists on account of statistics. Take a look at our guide to car insurance for 21 year olds for more information on this.
25 year olds motorists are still classed as being young drivers and road safety organisation Brake recently revealed that one in four of the fatal and serious injuries sustained in crashes on the road involve motorists who are under the age of 25. Our page looking at car insurance for 25 year olds aims to prepare you for this; outlining potential cost saving methods and techniques.
Up until 21st December 2012 male motorists in all of these age groups will ordinarily pay more for insurance than their female equivalents as a result of males being statistically more likely to be involved in accidents. This will all end on this date when gender discrimination will be outlawed. Up until this point there are things that male motorists can do to overcome these higher prices and we take a more extensive look at these in our guide to car insurance for young male drivers.
After the 21st December it is expected that male prices will drop on average by 10% while females could well pay up to 30% more for the same policies. Our guide to car insurance for young female drivers aims to help motorists negatively impacted by these regulation changes prepare.

Resources

• Print this page now
• Contact us for more information

Compare young driver car insurance quotes

Young drivers: how to save money on your car insurance

If you thought your driving test was difficult, wait until you try and buy car insurance - that's when things could start to get really tricky.
Not only are young drivers forced to pay significantly more for car insurance than older and more experienced motorists, but more than half of insurance companies simply refuse to cover teenage drivers altogether due to the higher risk that they represent.
Don't be tempted to drive without car insurance, though. The government estimates that 1.4m motorists do not have insurance cover, but they risk a fine of up to £5,000 and six to eight points on their licence.
And if you are the main driver or registered keeper of a car, do not insure the car in your parents' name and add yourself to the policy as a named driver. Known as 'fronting', this is a form of insurance fraud that will invalidate your policy and could lead to a charge of driving without car insurance.

Why are young driver car insurance premiums so high?

Car insurance for young drivers is disproportionately high compared to the national average because they are quite simply more risky. Motorists aged between 17 and 25 are responsible for one third of road fatalities in the UK. And one in five drivers is involved in a crash during the first 12 months behind the wheel. Statistics also show that young drivers are more likely to be the victim of theft, fire and vandalism resulting in insurance claims.

How to find cheaper car insurance for young drivers

However, there are several ways that young drivers can reduce the price of their car insurance premiums.

• A number of firms will fit a so-called 'black box' to your car to track your movements. It sounds a bit like 'Big Brother' but it can reduce young driver car insurance premiums because you will usually be rewarded if you drive a limited number of miles and if you avoid driving late at night, when most accidents are likely to occur.
• Buy a sensible car. Every new car is assigned to a car insurance group - and the lower the group, the lower the likely premium. So, it will be cheaper to insure a Fiat Punto than an Audi TT. You can find details of the car insurance groups on the website of the Association of British Insurers (www.abi.org.uk). 
• Don't modify your car. Insurers don't like boy - or girl - racers and modifications such as turbo charging, rally lights, nitrous oxide kits will send your premium soaring.
• Consider taking the Driving Standards Agency's Pass Plus course, which gives extra tuition on night, motorway and inner city driving. You can take the course any time, although it is aimed at new drivers within the first year of passing their test. The course is made up of six modules and takes at least six hours. There is also a fee of about £150, but it is often worth the money as drivers who have successfully completed the course can earn discounts on their motor insurance of up to 35%.
• Shop around and compare young driver car insurance quotes. But make sure you compare like with like. A car insurance policy might be cheap because it does not offer many benefits.
• Don't assume third party insurance is the cheapest option. Many consumers purchasing car insurance for young drivers assume that third party cover will be the best value option as it is usually the cheapest car insurance you can buy. If damage another vehicle while driving it will cover the cost of the repair to that vehicle, but any damage to your car won't be covered so you'll have to pay for any repairs yourself. Fully comprehensive car insurance on the other hand, protects your car as well as any other vehicles.

However, third party car insurance is popular with young drivers as they assume it is the cheapest option due to the fact it offers less protection. But because claim statistics are one of the factors insurers take into consideration when calculating premiums, the cost of third party cover can actually prove more expensive than fully comp due to the fact that a higher proportion of drivers are involved in accidents and make a claim. It therefore important to get quotes for third party; third party, fire and theft, and fully comprehensive car insurance and weigh up which will be most cost effective. 

•  If you are driving your parents' car, it will be cheaper in the short term to add your name to their policy. However, if you take out your own insurance cover, you can start to build up a no claims discount, which will lead to even greater savings in the future. The NCD can be valuable, reducing the cost of cover by a third after one year. You can even add an older, more experienced family member with a clean driving record to your own policy and it could cut the cost.
• You stand a better chance of obtaining cheap car insurance for young drivers if you fit additional, approved security devices, such as an alarm or immobiliser system. If you can, keep your car in a locked garage when not in use, or off the street if possible.
• If you are prepared to pay a bigger voluntary excess, you might pay a lower insurance premium. But remember that the excess is the amount you contribute towards any claim, so it should be affordable.
• It can be convenient to spread the cost of your car insurance over monthly installments, but it is also more expensive because you will be charged extra. So try and pay up front, even if you have to ask your parents for a loan.

For more ideas on how you could obtain cheap young drivers car insurance quotes visit our money saving tips page.

More young driver car insurance guides

MoneySupermarket.com recognises that young drivers have to pay significantly more than the average driver for car insurance. We have therefore crafted a number of young drivers car insurance guides to give more specific help in a variety of different situations.
Obtaining your first car insurance policy can often be a very confusing period and it is very easy to make mistakes which could cost you serious amounts of money. Our guide looking at car insurance for 17 year olds aims to make the process as simple as possible. However, not everyone passes their test at 17 and 18 year old motorists could find themselves in a similar pickle. We have this covered as well with our guide looking at car insurance for 18 year olds.
19 year old motorists will also generally pay above the national average for car insurance as a result of them being statistically more likely to be involved in an accident and make a claim in the eyes of insurers than older drivers. Even 19 year olds with a couple of years no claims under their belts will be affected. Increase your chances of overcoming the odds by taking advantage of MoneySupermarket's guide to car insurance for 19 year olds.
For a thorough look at how people in these age bands can overcome statistics we have produced a teenage car insurance guide.
You might think you are in line for significant savings once you reach the age of 21. While it will normally work out cheaper than the sort of premiums that you could expect in your teenage years; 21 year olds can still expected disproportionately high premiums compared to older motorists on account of statistics. Take a look at our guide to car insurance for 21 year olds for more information on this.
25 year olds motorists are still classed as being young drivers and road safety organisation Brake recently revealed that one in four of the fatal and serious injuries sustained in crashes on the road involve motorists who are under the age of 25. Our page looking at car insurance for 25 year olds aims to prepare you for this; outlining potential cost saving methods and techniques.
Up until 21st December 2012 male motorists in all of these age groups will ordinarily pay more for insurance than their female equivalents as a result of males being statistically more likely to be involved in accidents. This will all end on this date when gender discrimination will be outlawed. Up until this point there are things that male motorists can do to overcome these higher prices and we take a more extensive look at these in our guide to car insurance for young male drivers.
After the 21st December it is expected that male prices will drop on average by 10% while females could well pay up to 30% more for the same policies. Our guide to car insurance for young female drivers aims to help motorists negatively impacted by these regulation changes prepare.

Resources

• Print this page now
• Contact us for more information

Compare new driver car insurance quotes

How to get your first car insurance policy

Whatever age you are when you pass your driving test, it's a thrilling achievement. But the excitement can soon fade when you catch sight of your first motor insurance premium.
New drivers of all ages typically pay more for policies than experienced motorists, simply because they are statistically more risky. The figures show that one in five people who pass their test are involved in a crash within 12 months.

Why is car insurance for new drivers so expensive?

If you are a new driver in your teens or early 20s, you could stump up more for the insurance than you did for your car. The reason is statistics: motorists aged between 17 and 25 are responsible for one third of all fatalities on UK roads. In other words, they are more likely to be involved in an accident and so more likely to claim on their insurance.
Young men typically pay more than young women, because male drivers are responsible for more than 92% of UK driving convictions and 98% of all convictions for dangerous driving.

Car insurance for new women drivers

However, this will not be the case for much longer. The European Court of Justice has ruled that, as of 21 December 2012, insurers will no longer be allowed to take gender into account when setting premiums, whatever the statistics say.
As a result, female car insurance premiums are expected to shoot up by an average of 30%. But for young female drivers aged between 17 and 25 the news is even worse - they could see premiums rise by a whopping 34% in many cases. So, for the first time, newly qualified female drivers will be hit just as hard as males.

Car insurance is compulsory

Of course insurance is not optional. You must have at least third party cover to drive legally on a UK road. And if you were thinking of trying to dodge the law, think again. The government has recently introduced Continuous Insurance Enforcement regulations to clamp down on uninsured driving. Anyone found guilty of driving without insurance risks a fine of up to £1000. They could also have their vehicle impounded.
As with any kind of insurance, it is important to scour the market for the best policy at the cheapest price. MoneySupermarket's online service can help you compare new driver car insurance quotes from more than 100 insurance companies - and can lead to big savings.
You can also find insurers recommended by other moneysupermarket.com customers in our forums or by reading our car insurance reviews.

Find cheap car insurance for new drivers

There are a number of other steps that can be taken in order to ensure you are getting the cheapest car insurance for new drivers available:

• Choose your cover with care- Third party insurance is the minimum legal requirement and is the most basic level of cover. Young drivers can sometimes save money on their premiums by choosing third party instead of comprehensive insurance - but not always. It's always worth finding out the cost of a comprehensive policy because you might be able to get more cover for the same or even a cheaper premium.
• Buy the right car- The rule of thumb for car insurance is the bigger the engine, the bigger the premium. And, as you might expect, the more expensive the vehicle, the more expensive the policy. All models are placed into one of 50 car insurance groups and a car in group one will be cheaper to insure than a car in group 50. If you have just passed your test and are thinking of buying a car, it's worth checking out its group rating at: www.thatcham.org
• Don't modify your vehicle- Insurers will usually increase the premium if you modify your car - even if you add an extra set of lights. Either resist the temptation, or think twice before buying a secondhand model that has been altered from the original specification.
• Increase the excess- Your policy will impose a compulsory “excess”, which is the amount you have to pay towards the cost of any claim. So, for example, if you have a £200 excess and make a successful claim for £500, the policy will pay £300. If you volunteer to increase the excess, the premium will reduce. But don't pick too high an excess or you may not be able to afford it if you have to make a claim. This is explained in more detail on our insurance excess page. 
•  Lose the extras- Policies can come with all sorts of add-ons such as breakdown cover or insurance for driving overseas. But the extras come at a price. You can save money if you buy a no-frills policy, or only include the extras that you really need.
• Add another driver- New drivers can often save money if they add an older more experienced driver to their policy, perhaps their mum or dad. Just don't name your mum as the main driver - the tactic is known as fronting and is illegal. Find out more information about this on our named driver car insurance page.
• Buy online- Some insurers offer a discount if you buy online rather than over the phone.
• Keep your car safe- You will find cheaper new driver car insurance quotes if you fit approved security devices such as an alarm, or an immobiliser. If you can park off-road or in a garage, the premium often falls further.
• Driver fewer miles- Insurers work on the basis that the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to be involved in an accident. So if you can keep your mileage down, you should also keep the premium down. Just remember to tell the insurer if you expect to breach your mileage limit otherwise you might invalidate the policy.
• Pay-as-you-go- You can often cut the cost of insurance with a pay as you go car insurance policy. A “black box” will then be fitted to your car to monitor your motoring and you will typically pay a lower premium if you driver fewer miles and avoid hazardous conditions, such as night driving and rush hour traffic.
• Don't claim- If you don't make a claim on your policy, you will be rewarded with a discount on your premium. The discounts can add up, often cutting the cost of cover by up to 70% after five consecutive claim-free years.

For more ways to save on car insurance, read our money saving tips

Compare fully comprehensive car insurance quotes

Our guide to fully comprehensive car insurance

If you are buying car insurance, you first have to decide on the type of policy you need. There are basically three options. Third party insurance covers damage or injury to another person or property and is the legal minimum requirement to take a car on a UK road. The downside of a third party policy is that it does not insure your own car. If it is stolen, for example, you would have to pay for a new vehicle out of your own pocket.
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 Motorists who choose third party fire and theft (TPFT) are buying limited protection for their own vehicle because the policy would pay out if the car was stolen by thieves or destroyed in a fire. But what if your car was damaged or written off in an accident? If the accident was your fault, you would not be able to claim on a TPFT policy. In other words, you would have to pay for the cost of repairs or a new car yourself - and that could run into thousands of pounds.
So it's perhaps not surprising that most drivers choose fully comprehensive insurance - about 75% according to some estimates. When you buy fully comprehensive car insurance, you also buy all-round protection for you and your car.

What does fully comprehensive insurance cover?

A standard fully comprehensive insurance policy covers your liability for injuries to other people, including passengers, as well as damage to other people's property. Your own car is also insured against fire, theft and accidental damage. The policy also usually covers personal effects, up to a certain limit, such as a sat-nav system. 
Most comprehensive policies insure the policyholder to drive another car, but you might only get third party insurance - and you will almost always need the owner's permission.   
Don't assume that all fully comprehensive insurance policies are alike. Some insurers, for example, include a courtesy car if your vehicle is off the road. Or they might offer European cover if you want to take your car on the Continent. Other common add-ons include legal expenses and windscreen insurance. But the extras usually come at a price. So make sure that compare like for like when you are searching for car insurance. And remember that the cheapest policy is not always the best deal. MoneySupermarket's comparison service can help you choose the best policy for your needs.

Is fully comprehensive insurance the right choice for me?

If you drive an old banger, you might be happy with a more limited third party or third party fire and theft policy, especially if the premium for fully comprehensive insurance is more than the car is worth.
But always check out all types of policy because third party cover has become more expensive as it has become more popular. The cost of fully comprehensive car insurance for young male drivers is often prohibitively high - the average premium for a 17-22 year-old man is currently £2,872. So many opt for third party or third party fire and theft insurance to save money. But young men are statistically more likely to make a claim. They are therefore more risky and costly to insure, so insurers have pushed up the price of even basic cover. These days there is often little or no difference between the premiums for third party cover and fully comprehensive insurance.
Of course, motor insurance is expensive, whatever your age or gender. The average premium is currently just over £900, an increase of 40% over the past year. But there are ways to keep the cost of cover under control.
You should always shop around for competitive quotes when your insurance is due for renewal, but one in four drivers automatically sticks with their existing insurer. MoneySupermarket's free independent comparison service is a quick and easy way to search the market and save money - the typical customer cuts more than £300 off their car insurance through our website.   
Almost all car insurance policies include a compulsory excess, which is the amount you must pay towards any claim. If you agree a higher voluntary excess, you can usually negotiate a lower premium.
If you fit your car with an approved security device, such as an alarm or immobiliser, you can help to deter thieves and so reduce the likelihood of a theft claim - and that could mean a discount on your premium. You should also keep your care secure, preferable in a locked garage overnight, or at least off the street.
Motorists who drive fewer miles are less likely to make claims. So if you drive your car infrequently, negotiate a low mileage limit with your insurer and you should be able to cut the cost of cover.
Drivers who don't make any claims on their car insurance policy can build up a no-claims discount (NCD). The discount can be valuable: in some cases it can knock up to 75% off your premium after five consecutive claim-free years. It can therefore make sense to pay for any minor damage yourself to protect your NCD.

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Compare insurance quotes for 25 year old drivers

Affordable car insurance for 25 year old drivers

By the time you reach 25, you may have a few years' driving experience under your belt and be starting to see your car insurance costs fall.
Car insurance for 25 year olds is generally cheaper than it is for those in their teens or early twenties, especially if they've managed to build up a few years' worth of No Claims Discount, but premiums can still be significant.
Twenty five is an age where you may be starting to think about saving for the future, so it makes sense to shop around for your car insurance to make sure you're getting the best deal. MoneySupermarket's car insurance comparison tool can help you to find cheap quotes on the cover you need.

Why car insurance for 25 year old drivers is expensive

The cost of your car insurance is a reflection of how likely the insurer thinks you are to make a claim. The level of risk you pose is determined by a number of factors, not least your age and experience.
Though statistics show drivers aged 25 are less likely to be involved in an accident than a 17 year old driver, they're still more likely to make a claim than older, more experienced drivers. Insurers weight car insurance premiums according to statistics like this.
Inevitably, this means younger, less experienced drivers are penalised with higher premiums.
But it's not just young drivers being squeezed by the cost of car insurance as it is relatively expensive across the board. There are also factors which continue to inflate the cost of cover for all age groups.
A rise in the number of personal injury claims in recent years, including fraudulent claims where someone falsely claims for whiplash or other injuries following a crash are pushing up everyone's premiums.
Car insurance is a legal requirement in the UK, but some drivers continue to flout the law by driving uninsured. The Association of British Insurers estimates that this illegal activity adds around £40 a year to the average premium, but new regulations which came into force this year aim to deal with the problem.

New car insurance rules

The new Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) regulations mean that unless your vehicle is registered as off the road with a SORN declaration, it must be insured.
As the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) and the DVLA are working together to clamp down on uninsured vehicles by comparing DVLA records against the Motor Insurance database, you should be careful not to get caught out.
Anyone who breaches the new regulations will get an initial warning, followed by a fixed penalty of £100 if they do not comply with the warning's advice. Worse still, if the driver does not take action, their vehicle can be clamped, seized and disposed of and a court prosecution with a maximum fine of £1,000 can be imposed.

The ECJ's 'gender ruling'

Traditionally, there's always been a difference in prices for men and women, but a new ruling will put an end to this in 2012.
A ruling by the European Court of Justice in 2011 means that as of December 2012, insurers won't be able to charge drivers different amounts for cover based on whether they are male or female.
It remains to be seen how much of an effect the ruling has, but estimates say that car insurance for women will rise by up to 30%, and fall by around 10% for men.

Get cheap car insurance for 25 year old drivers

MoneySupermarket data consistently shows that drivers can save money on their car insurance by shopping around for cheapest quotes. Beyond comparing prices, there are still some other things you can do to reduce your costs.
For instance, adding an older, more experienced driver to the policy as a named driver can help to lower your premium because in theory, it cuts the amount of time you'll spend behind the wheel.
You must not be tempted to add them as the main driver and yourself as a named driver to get a cheap quote though. This is called 'fronting', is illegal and can invalidate your insurance if discovered.
Increasing your excess can lower your premiums, but you must set it to amount you'll genuinely be able to afford in the event of a claim.
Safe and conscientious driving is one of the best ways to keep premiums down, as it'll earn you a No Claims Discount (NCD). Eventually, an NCD can cut your premiums by as much as 60%, so it's well worth taking your time and taking care behind the wheel.

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