By and large, first time drivers face higher costs for insurance mainly due to the fact that they don’t have any driving experience. But there are ways to cut down on the cost of starting out
There are no two ways about it: as a first time driver, you’re going to pay more for car insurance than experienced drivers. Despite this, there are still some clever little tips in order to trim down the cost of cover – and they don’t necessarily involve taking out a stripped down policy. We have made a tidy list of some of these tips below for you to read:
1. Buy a car that is cheaper to insure
Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make so you want to make sure you buy something that you are really happy with. With this in mind, the temptation of that stylish sports car can be hard to resist. However, insuring such high-powered cars are not kind on the pocket – especially for the first time driver. Vehicle engine size is a big factor that affects premiums.
To minimise premiums, we recommend that you take out a car with a smaller engine size. The lower the engine size, the lower your premiums will be. Ideally, we recommend all starter drivers to buy a second-hand car with a 1 Litre engine as this is the lowest capacity vehicle available on the market. These cars often have a lower value which also has a knock-on effect on reducing the premium.
2. Be safe on the roads
When driving, drive sensibly and observe the rules of the road at all times. Any breach of the rules such as speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will result in penalty points and convictions being added onto your licence which will mean higher premiums.
Thankfully, the opposite is also true. For every year you keep safe on the road and not make a claim, you will earn a ‘No Claims Bonus’ discount which brings down the premium as it adds up over the years.
3. Keep your driving to a minimum
The less often you drive, the lower the risk you are going to be. The good thing is that insurers do offer discounts for low-mileage drivers. Understandably, you will need to drive to work or to college but minimising how often you drive is a nice way to save a bit of money.
4. Get that full driving licence
Easier said than done, but passing your driving test is possibly the best way to get a substantially lower premium when your policy is up for renewal. And many insurers also offer rebates for those who pass their exam mid-term so there’s never a bad time to get rid of those ‘L’ plates!
5. Get in touch with us!
As experts in securing great rates for first time drivers, we work with insurers who work exclusively with specialist brokers who offer preferential rates from €950 to first time drivers. Getting a quote is simple. Either get a quote online, request for a callback or ring us up on 1890 746 759.
