So you've passed your driving test! Congratulations; you're now as free as a bird and won't have to spend another dime on driving lessons or tests. What you will have to spend you money on now though is a new car, tax, petrol and car insurance...ah well. Sadly that's often how it feels when you get your first car and expense of car insurance can be incredibly daunting for newly passed individuals making it harder and harder for them to get started. While this is the case however, there are certainly ways you can make it easier on yourself to make sure you get the cheapest deal possible.
There are several reasons that your first car will always be your most expensive to insure. The most obvious of these is unfortunately the fact that new drivers statistically have more accidents - which is only natural if they're still learning the ropes. This also goes double for males who will find that their insurance is significantly more expensive due to the number of young boy racers ruining it for everyone else. So bad is it that some insurers only take women at all. The other reason that insurance for a first car is often sky high is that those who are just getting a car are usually fairly young - and younger drivers are again statistically more accident prone. The final reason is that new drivers have had no opportunity to build up a no-claims bonus which is awarded for careful driving and significantly brings down quotes for older drivers.
So the first way to lower your car insurance is to be female. It's not an easy job but it certainly works for about half the population. Once that's in order it makes sense to get quotes from insurance companies that specialize in female drivers as they can often afford to offer lower rates - though this won't always be the case depending on the company as well as other factors. This way you have already moved yourself into a demographic that puts you at less risk of having an accident.
You also need to demonstrate to the insurance company however that you're not a 'boy racer'. For this reason it's important not to modify your car in anyway with spoilers, neons or alloys as any of these things can significantly increase your quote. At the same time you should also look for a car that has a smaller engine where possible, and the insurance on a 1.0 liter engine will always be lower than that of a 1.4 of 3.0. This again is because it suggests that you're a driver who likes to drive fast, but at the same time makes you more likely to have an accident for doing so and increases the car's 'nick-ability'.
Finally you need to demonstrate to the car insurance company that you're technically proficient and unlikely to make the mistakes associated with being a new driver. One way you can achieve just that is to take a 'Pass Plus' which gives you additional certification for a small price and teaches you additional skills such as motorway driving. By showing this to your insurers you can often bring down your quote, and along with the other tips above you can concentrate on the freedom a new car brings you and help your poor parents to rest easy at the same time.
