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Learner driver insurance

We don’t offer learner driver insurance, but you can get a quote from our partner Collingwood Insurance[1]

  • Collingwood Insurance Services UK Ltd offers short-term learner driver insurance for drivers aged 17-65, starting from 7 days to 24 weeks, with the ability to select the cover type. This cover is for provisional licence holders learning to drive in their vehicle or in someone else's car. With over ten years’ experience in offering learner driver cover, Collingwood has one of the best ratings on Trustpilot (9.7/10) and the winners of the DIA Best Learner/Young Driver Insurance Provider two years running.

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Car insurance for learner drivers

Learner driver insurance is a short-term car insurance policy that insures either your own car or someone else’s while you hold a provisional licence.

If you’re going to be learning to drive in your own car, you can get annual learner driver car insurance which you can update once you’ve passed your test.

Or, you can get a short-term policy - it’s entirely up to you.

As well as insurance, remember to put your L plates on - or D plates in Wales - or risk a six-point penalty on your licence. 

Car insurance for learner drivers

Learner drivers will need around 20 hours of practice to pass a driving test, in addition to 45 hours of driving lessons[2]
Get the right insurance, so you can practice worry-free

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Insurance for the different ways you can learn to drive

Depending on who’s car you’re driving, there are a couple of options available to you.

In your own car
In someone else’s car
In your instructor’s car

If you’ve bought your own car, whether through a dealership or private trade, you’ll need to insure it before you can hit the road.

As a learner driver, it can be very difficult to find affordable car insurance as you’re seen as a risk to insurers because you’re new to driving.

It’s important to shop around to find an affordable policy that covers everything you need it to, such as fire, theft and third-party claims.

There are also additional extras you can buy on to your learner driver car insurance if you need them, such as accidental damage and breakdown cover.

When searching for a learner driver policy, make sure you tick the ‘UK provisional’ option when choosing your licence type.

Key points

  • Learner drivers may struggle to find affordable car insurance, but we can help
  • Check your policy to make sure it covers what you need it to
  • Remember to choose ‘UK provisional’ as your licence type

If you’re using someone else’s vehicle to learn to drive in, learner driver insurance protects their no claims bonus (NCB) if you need to make a claim.

You can either take out your own learner driver insurance on the car, or you can be added to a friend or family members policy as a named driver.

Not all insurers will allow somebody under the age of 25 to be added to a policy as a named driver. Some will charge your friend or relative more money to put you on their cover as young and inexperienced motorists are high risk.

It might be more better to get your own learner driver policy, but compare your options to be sure.

Key points

  • Learner drivers’ insurance protects the NCB of the car owner should you make a claim
  • You can either take out your own policy or be added to theirs as a named driver
  • Insurers may not allow young or inexperienced drivers to be added

You can learn to drive in your driving instructor’s car, which means you won’t have to worry about getting learner driver insurance.

Your instructor will have their own policy in place for their students, which you contribute to by paying for your driving lessons.

If you want to practice without your instructor, perhaps in a parent of friend’s car, then you’ll need to make sure your properly covered to drive that vehicle too.

Key points

  • Your driving instructor will have insurance that covers you
  • If you want to practice in another car, you’ll need insurance for that

Learner driver insurance rules

Learner driver insurance lets you practice in almost any car, so long as you have permission, but there are a few rules to follow. By law, you must be supervised by a professional driving instructor or a qualified driver who’s over 21 years old.

  1. The person supervising you must have held a full driving licence for three years, be qualified to drive the car you’re learning in, not be intoxicated, and sit in the front passenger seat

  2. You must display L plates on the front and back of your vehicle (you can use D plates in Wales). Once you've passed your driving test, you can replace your L plates with P plates

  3. You can only drive on a motorway if you’re with an approved driving instructor and the car has dual controls. As soon as you pass your test you are free to drive on motorways, but it's also best to get extra supervision if you're unsure....

If you drive without the right supervision, you can be fined up to £1,000 and can receive up to six penalty points on your provisional licence.

Learner driver insurance exclusions

Some learner drivers’ policies limit the value of cars you can drive, such as a cap of £20,000.

Other policies have a curfew, meaning you won’t be insured to drive between certain times, like between 10pm and 6am - check your policy to find out its limits and restrictions.

Comparing policies, choosing a sensible vehicle and considering pay as you go car insurance could see you get cheaper premiums.

But finding the right insurance is just as important as getting a good price

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Frequently asked questions

  • Can I change cars on a learner driver policy?

    Yes. You should be able to change the vehicle on your learner drivers’ policy, but just remember there could be value restrictions for the cars you can drive. Give your insurer a call to find out.

  • Can I use my own car for the test?

    Yes. To use your own car for your driving test, you’ll need to make sure it’s taxed, has a valid MOT certificate and you’ll have to sign a declaration confirming that your insurance covers you during your test.

  • What should I do when I pass my test?

    Congratulations! Now you’ve passed your test, your provisional licence will be sent off to the DVLA to be upgraded to a full licence.

    You’ll need to start looking for car insurance that covers you as a fully qualified driver.

    Frustratingly, insurance for new drivers can be quite expensive as you’re considered to be at an increased risk of making a claim, especially if you’re under 25.

    That’s why it’s important for new drivers to compare car insurance to find the best price for the cover you need.

    You can display P plates, to let other drivers know you’re a new driver, but it’s not compulsory. You can also take a Pass Plus course to expand your driving experience, which can get you a discount on your insurance premiums with some providers.

All car insurance guides

[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

[2]According to the RAC on 3 July 2020

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