Learner driver car insurance

Learner driver insurance is a type of car insurance designed specifically for people with a provisional driving licence who are learning to drive. It allows learners to practise driving legally in their own car or someone else's, as long as they're supervised by a qualified driver.

You must have valid insurance in place whenever you're behind the wheel, even if you're learning to drive. Driving without insurance is illegal and can lead to fines, penalty points, or even losing your licence before you've passed your test.

If you're learning with a parent, friend, or partner, they could add you as a named driver on their policy. That means you'll be insured to drive while they supervise you.

But keep in mind:

• Their insurance premium might go up at renewal.

• If you have an accident and you make a claim, it could affect their no-claims bonus.

You can choose how long your cover lasts, depending on how much practice you need:

• Annual cover - lasts for a whole year. Great if you'll be practising regularly for a few months or more.

• Short-term cover - from a single day up to a few months. Perfect if you need a bit of extra time to practice before your test.

• Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) - pay by the hour or day for total flexibility. Handy if you're not sure how much practice you'll get in.

Yes, you absolutely can. Many insurers offer policies designed especially for learners who want to practise in their own car.

There are some great benefits to this:

• You can learn in a car you already know and feel comfortable driving.

• In some cases, you can even start building your no-claims bonus, which could help lower your future insurance costs.

Just keep in mind that once you pass your driving test, your learner policy will need to change to a full driver policy, and the price might go up at that point.

Want to find the cheapest learner driver insurance without cutting corners? Here are a few simple ways to help bring your premium down.

• Choose a less powerful car. Vehicles in lower insurance groups usually cost less to insure.

• Increase your voluntary excess. Agreeing to pay a bit more towards a claim can lower your overall premium - but just make sure the amount is affordable to you.

• Consider a black box policy. These devices monitor how you drive and can reward safe driving with lower prices.

• Add an experienced named driver. Including a parent or older driver on an annual policy can sometimes help reduce the cost.

• Compare quotes. Always check prices from different insurers - costs can vary a lot for the same level of cover.

Remember, the cheapest policy isn’t always the best. Make sure your insurance provides the right level of cover for your needs, so you’re fully protected whenever you’re on the road.

Most learner driver insurance policies cover you during your driving test, as long as the car you’re using is listed on your policy. Your supervising driver will usually need to accompany you to the test centre.

Once you pass, the learner policy ends immediately, so you won’t be able to drive yourself home. You’ll need to arrange a new insurance policy before driving alone. If you don’t pass, you can generally continue practising under your learner cover until your next attempt.

There are a few things you'll need to provide to get an insurance quote as a learner driver.

Most insurers want to know:

• Your provisional licence number

• The vehicle's registration number

• Details of the person who'll be supervising you

• How long you'll need cover for

Once you've got those ready, you'll be ready to start comparing quotes and prices! And don't forget – using our comparison tool is a quick way to double-check you're getting a policy that fits both your needs and your budget.