Learner driver insurance
Compare quotes with our partner Collingwood Insurance[1]
What's learner driver insurance?
Sometimes called provisional driver insurance, it’s insurance for people learning to drive, either in their own car, or in a family member or friend’s car.
It lets you get extra driving practice outside of your lessons with an approved driving instructor.
You can take out either an annual learner driver policy or opt for short-term cover.
Short-term learner driver insurance can last a day, a week, a month or even longer, depending on the insurance provider. Taking out a short-term car insurance policy can be handy if you want to get in some more hours of practice just before your test, for example.
Do learner drivers need car insurance?
When you’re learning to drive, you’ll need insurance in place.
If you’re learning with a professional instructor, then car insurance will be arranged by them and the cost included in your driving lesson fees, so you don’t need to worry about it.
But if you’re learning or practising in your own - or someone else’s - car in between lessons, then you’ll need to get insurance.
If you’re practising in your own car, you’ll need to take out your own learner driver insurance policy. In some cases, your parent or spouse can be added as a named driver for free.
If you’re driving in someone else’s car - a parent or friend’s for example - you either need to:
Be added to the car owner’s insurance policy as a learner
This can be an expensive option and, if you have an accident and need to make a claim, it can affect the main policyholder’s no-claims discount (NCD).
Or:
Take out your own learner driver policy
This will sit alongside, but be separate from, the car owner’s motor insurance. So, if you have an accident, you can claim on the learner driver policy, meaning there’s no risk to the main owner’s NCD.
How long will it take to learn to drive?
There’s no minimum amount of lessons you need to take, or hours you need to practice, before taking your test.
But according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), it takes most people 45 hours of lessons, plus 22 hours of practising to learn to drive and pass the driving test.
Its data also shows 51% of people passed their driving test on their first attempt between March 2020 and March 2021.
Studies also show that getting plenty of extra supervised practice in between lessons with an instructor can help you pass earlier.
This sort of practice gives you the opportunity to drive in a variety of different weather conditions, on different types of roads, and when it’s dark - all of which can help you become a more confident driver.
The friend or family member supervising your driving needs to be:
- Over 21 (though some insurance companies stipulate the supervising driver needs to be over 25)
- In possession of a full driving licence for at least three years
- Qualified to drive the type of car you’re learning in - for example they must have a manual licence if you’re using a manual car
Join over a million customers with free £250 excess cover^
What’s an excess? It’s the amount of money you agree to pay towards a claim when you take out insurance.
Don’t worry – GoCompare will refund up to £250 of your excess^ if you do need to claim.
We’ve already refunded £1 million* to customers!
^Up to £250 refunded after claim settled. Car insurance purchases only. Excludes breakdown, windscreen and glass repair/replacement. Full T&Cs apply.
*Between July 2019 and November 2020, £1M has been refunded to free excess cover customers following a successful claim.
What does learner driver insurance cover?
Check your policy for what’s included and what extra protection can be purchased as an add-on. Look out for:
- Legal liability or legal expenses cover - pays for legal costs if you’re involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault
- Damage to the car owner’s vehicle
- Personal accident cover - covers you and passengers for loss, damage or injury as the result of a road traffic accident
- Medical expenses cover
- Personal belongings cover
What’s not covered?
It depends on the policy, but exclusions might include:
- Cover for loss or damage which occurs between midnight and 6am when the policyholder isn’t the registered keeper of the car
- Cover while driving abroad
Am I eligible for learner driver insurance?
You’ll need to check with your insurer, but in general, to be eligible for learner driver insurance the following apply:
-
Driver requirements
- You have a current provisional licence
- You’re a permanent UK resident aged between 17 and 35
- You have no motoring offences or convictions
-
Vehicle requirements
- The vehicle must be UK registered with a current MOT and no modifications
- The car isn’t worth more than a certain amount
How much is learner driver insurance?
It depends on a range of things, such as the age of the learner driver, as well as the type and age of vehicle they’ll be driving.
What details do I need to get a quote?
Usually you just need to provide your:
- Name
- Provisional driving licence number
- UK address
- Date of birth
- Vehicle information (including the registered keeper’s details)
How can I get a cheaper learner driver insurance quote?
It’s best to compare policies to find the policy that suits your needs and budget. Generally, you’ll find that cheaper, less powerful cars are less expensive to insure.
Looking for something else?
- Telematics car insurance - Often called black box insurance, this type of insurance uses technology to monitor your driving and offers you a price based on your driving style and risk
- Short-term car insurance - Temporary cover that can last from one hour to several months
- Multi-car insurance - Covers multiple cars under one policy with a single provider
- New driver insurance - Cover for recently qualified drivers
Frequently asked questions
-
It depends on the insurance company. Some companies offer policies that can last for just a day, a week, a month or for a full year.
Short-term cover can be handy if you’re looking for some extra practice outside of any professional lessons you take.
-
Although more than one learner can drive the same car, each learner driver needs to have their own separate policy.
-
Yes, most insurers allow you to add a learner driver to your insurance policy, but it can be expensive. And if the learner driver has an accident and has to make a claim, it can affect your NCD.
-
No, as soon as you pass your test, your learner driver policy will be cancelled. So, you’ll need to either get a lift home from the test centre or arrange for new driver insurance cover.
-
Dual insurance is where the same car or person is insured with the same level of cover on more than one policy. Learner driver insurance covers a driver who is not named on the car’s main insurance policy, so it doesn’t cover the same risk.
-
When you take out your own learner driver insurance, making a claim in the event of an accident won’t affect the car owner’s NCD.
-
Yes, learners with an annual policy can start earning their own NCD, as long as they don’t make a claim within that year.
-
It depends on the insurer, but most won’t allow you to drive abroad on a learner driver policy.
-
Yes, you can get insured on more than one car, but you’ll need to take out separate learner driver policies. Some insurance companies offer a discount when you get insured on two cars – for instance, on both of your parents' cars.
-
It depends on the insurer but, in many cases, learner driver insurance on your own car will have no curfew limitations. So you can drive, suitably supervised, at any time that suits you.
-
Yes, rules changed in June 2018 to allow learner drivers to drive on the motorway, as long as they’re with an approved driving instructor in a car with dual controls.
Learner drivers aren’t allowed to practice with friends or family on the motorway.
-
Yes, it can cover you to sit your test in the insured car - check with your provider.
-
Yes, and any penalty points on your provisional licence that haven’t expired when you pass your test will be carried over to your full licence. Your licence will be cancelled if you get a total of six or more penalty points within two years of passing your driving test.
-
You can ask your insurer to swap the policy to a different car, if you’re changing the car you’ll be driving and practising in. This will usually incur an admin fee.
[1]Gocompare.com introduces you to Collingwood to provide learner driver insurance quotes. Collingwood is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Gocompare.com’s relationship with Collingwood is limited to that of a business partnership, no common ownership or control rights exist between us