Cheaper Car Insurance Infomation

Choosing car insurance after learning to drive

Having a car on the road, as we all know, costs a lot of money when you take into consideration petrol, road tax, mot tests, maintenance and of course, insurance. The sky-high premiums charged to young drivers has seen the number of those people learning to drive drop by 19% since 2005.Whereas there’s little you can do about most of those costs, there may be significant measures you can take in regards to your car insurance and keeping your premiums down.

Pass Plus

Car Insurance is not optional, so if you want to drive, it’s something that you will have to face sooner or later. The first big step you can take is obtain your Pass Plus certification, which can take as little as 6 hours to complete with an accredited driving instructor. A good selection of insurance companies recognise Pass Plus as an indicator that you have the extra experience and less like likely to have an accident, making you less of an insurance liability and therefore cheaper to insure. Not all companies give a discount for this, so it’s important to check when getting insured. For those that do, you can expect a reduction in the region of 30% as a reward for your efforts.

Don’t ‘soup up’ up your car

A key factor in your insurance company deciding your category is the performance of your vehicle. If it has been modified with low-profile alloy wheels and a spoiler etc, then you can expect your premiums to rise to ‘eye-watering’ levels.  

Telematic car insurance

Although you will be required to pay a relatively high cost at the start of your policy, telematic insurance rewards safe driving. According to the AA, a small ‘black box’ GPS device is fitted in your car to record how the car is driven. Factors like speed and cornering are measured to give you a score which may lead to a reduced premium if you drive safely. The advantage is that you pay a premium that’s based on your driving record, rather than the record of all young drivers.

Improve your car's security

Another of the major factors used in calculating your premiums is your car’s overall security. For example, where the vehicle is kept overnight. If it’s kept in a garage, that is better than if it’s kept out on a busy road. Others details include security measures such as alarms/immobilisers, glass etching and removing valuables from your car.

Limited hours policy

Not the sexiest policy around, but when needs must a measure that could result in a reduction of up to 40% is to take out a limited hours policy. A policy aimed at 17 to 25 year olds, it asks that you don’t drive your car between the hours of 11pm and 5am, a time when it is much less likely you’ll be out and about anyway.

Again, check with your insurer to see if this is an option when getting quotes.

You really can change your driving landscape with these different approaches. It could be the difference between you driving and not being able to drive at all. If you would like to take driving lessons with a company who cares, then opt for Drive2Pass Driving Schools covering many areas in London.

What is Pass Plus, how does it effect me?

What is Pass Plus and what can it do for me?

According to the government website “Pass Plus is a practical training course that takes at least 6 hours and is for drivers to improve their skills and drive more safely”.

As many new drivers will attest to, driving up to and including your test can be a lot different to what you experience afterwards. It can be taken anytime, but to get the most out of Pass Plus, it’s recommended that you take it within the year after passing your test.

Cheaper insurance

If you are a young driver, then you will be well aware of just how much car insurance can be. As a Pass Plus certified driver, you are displaying your general driving competence and you may find that you receive a discount from your car insurer.

Current insurers offering discounts based on Pass Plus include but are not limited to;

Swinton Colonnade

Tesco Insurance

AA

Churchill

Co-op Insurance

Direct Line

Aviva

Endsleigh

What does the course cover?

The course, as said before, takes a minimum of 6 hours to complete and includes the following disciplines;

i) Town driving

ii) All-weather driving

iii) Driving out of town

iv) Night Driving

v) Driving on dual carriageways

vi) Driving on motorways

Although, all these categories are covered, some may only be in theory, as conditions such as bad weather can’t be easily replicated. Being fully prepared for every avenue and situation, will help your future as a competent and safe driver.

Is it harder to pass than the normal driving test?

The practical assessment rules are more lenient than those used in the normal driving test and many rules that would constitute a fail (such as not parking straight) do not apply. It is only required that the instructor deems you to be able to drive safely and legally.

Can any driving instructor do this?

Your instructor will have to be a Pass Plus registered approved driving instructor. Look for the logo - (insert the logo)

How much does it cost?

The cost does vary depending on where you live, the instructor or driving school that you use and how long it takes you to achieve certification, but based on you taking the standard 6 hours, then the cost will be around £140.

So, in answer to the question right at the beginning of this article “what can Pass Plus do for me?”, it can put more money in your pocket by giving you a discount off your car insurance. In addition to this, it will comprehensively prepare you for all the scenarios you are likely to encounter in your driving life. The confidence and independence gained from knowing that you can go wherever you want, whenever you want regardless of weather can be a real liberation.