Top Tips For Teenage Drivers
Save Money On Your Insurance
Generally speaking, insurance isn't kind to teenage drivers with premiums often being significantly higher than more experienced drivers. Luckily, here at Chill we have come up with a list of our tips for teenagers taking out young driver car insurance for the first time.
Buy a Safe and Reliable Car
The easiest way to get a lower car insurance quote as a young driver is to buy a safe and reliable car. You may want to buy your dream car but in reality it may require more expensive insurance than a car with less risk and a higher safety rating. To save even more money don’t go for the latest model. A car that is a few years old will be cheaper to buy in the first place and brand new cars can often be much more expensive to insure than older models. However, keeping the car under 10 years old is advised also as this will help to bring the price of your insurance down. A car that is older than 10 years may result in a higher insurance premium.
Named Driver Experience
Having named driver experience will also reduce the cost of your insurance. Getting insured for the first time can be expensive but if you have some driving experience on your parent’s policy it can be used as a form of no claims bonus. Named drivers experience will show the insurer that you have a good driving history and may lead to cheaper insurance. See our blog on named driver experience.
Licence
Getting your licence as soon as possible is the best thing to do; once you pass your test the price of your insurance will reduce. The faster and younger you are when you pass your test, the better it is. Down the road this will also benefit you as you can get a better no claims bonus.
Price Your Insurance Before Buying
This problem comes up again and again when teenagers are taking out cover. They often buy a car without pricing the insurance beforehand. They then look at insurance and find it is much too expensive and isn't affordable. So don’t forget to calculate the running costs of a car before handing over the money for your dream car!
The Right Car
There are a few things to look out for when buying a car as a young driver. These are top tips for the kind of model you should be looking at.
NEW VS OLD
Although you may not have the luxury of this choice, there are pros and cons to each. If you purchase a brand new car it will start to depreciate in value the second it leaves the car shop. However, you are usually entitled to a lengthy warranty in case anything goes wrong with your vehicle.
Buying a second-hand car is typically better value but if you are to buy it off an unknown source, you may just be buying their problems. We recommend that if you purchase a second hand car, you buy it from a well respected dealer.
CAR SIZE
More often than not, the smaller the car is, the smaller the cost will be. This is not only in insurance terms; as smaller cars tend to use less fuel. A smaller car is easier to handle and can be easier for first time drivers especially when parking in a city. Please note that when choosing a smaller vehicle, it is important to ensure that you feel safe at all times.
PETROL, DIESEL OR ELECTRIC?
Fuelling a car can be expensive, no matter what kind of engine you choose. Petrol and diesel prices are generally similar, and the bigger your engine, the more you’ll have to use. However, it’s well worth considering an electric alternative. New traditionally fuelled cars are soon to be banned from the roads, leaving only electric and hybrid models as an option. The tax you’ll pay on these greener cars is also considerably cheaper, making them good for your wallet as well as the environment.
For more information or to get a quote give us a call on 01 400 3400 or get a quick car insurance quote.