New drivers often experience a nasty surprise. An 18-year-old trainee who wants to insure a used Golf V cannot find an offer for less than 1,500 euros on comparison portals such as Check 24. Third-party insurance policies, without which no car can be driven, can cost well over 4,000 euros in extreme cases, and voluntary comprehensive insurance can also be added on if required. This can make the insurance company’s first set of wheels significantly more expensive.
New drivers pay several times more than drivers who have been accident-free for many years. Every claim costs money and insurers calculate premiums based on risk. Those who have just acquired their driver’s license and are inexperienced start with high premiums. There is a discount for years without a reported claim. In addition, risks and premiums are determined based on a variety of tariff features, from secure garage space to the number of kilometers driven per year. Those who compare offers and know a few tips can save a lot of money.
Tip 1: Choose a cheap type class
The purchase of the car is already decisive for the insurance premium. This is because motor vehicle liability insurance is divided into 16 type classes, from 10 to 25. Car models that are frequently involved in accidents end up in the higher classes with more expensive premiums. This also includes many models that are popular with beginners. If you want to save money, ask about the type class before buying. this is possible here, for exampleFor the Golf V alone, the spread goes from type class 11 to 18 depending on engine power, equipment and year of manufacture. Choosing a vehicle with a lower type class brings considerable premium savings over the years.
Tip 2: Prove your driving experience
Many insurers give new drivers a lower rate if they have already taken part in accompanied driving. This is the name given to the 17-year-old driver’s license, which you can apply for at this age. If you pass the test, you receive a certificate and are allowed to get behind the wheel until your 18th birthday, but only when accompanied by a registered person. Insurers offer participants different discounts; you should ask and compare. Driving a moped or motorcycle without an accident can also result in premium discounts.
Tip 3: Use the family tariff
If new drivers insure their first car in their own name with the same provider as their parents, they can sometimes get a cheaper family rate. This can result in a better no-claims bonus class right away. Insurers are naturally interested in attracting young people and tying them to their company with attractive premiums.
Tip 4: Register as parents’ second car
It is usually cheaper to register the child’s car as a second car in the parents’ name. The vehicle will then also immediately end up in a lower no-claims class. If the novice driver is registered with the insurance company as one of the users of the second car, it will be easier to prove later that the child has already gained driving experience – and after a few years the lower no-claims discount can be transferred to the son or daughter.
Tip 5: Get discounts from relatives
It is not well known that many insurers also allow no-claims discounts to be transferred between relatives, for example from grandfather to grandchild. In some cases, this is even possible if the ancestors have already died. It is definitely worth asking. Older people in particular often have many accident-free years and thus high discounts. When seniors no longer need their car insurance, the time for the transfer is ideal. However, the recipients are only credited with as many years as they themselves have had a driving license.
Tip 6: Share your parents’ car
If novice drivers initially only use their parents’ car, the risk of damage increases and so does the premium. However, some insurers do not require all drivers to be registered, which saves the expensive surcharge. The Association of Insured Persons points out that insurers also offer additional contracts that allow novice drivers without their own car to receive their own no-claims discount and use insured vehicles without being explicitly registered as an authorized driver. However, they must then also insure their own car with this provider later in order to keep the discount.
Tip 7: Check telematics tariffs
Telematics tariffs reward careful driving with a lower premium. A box is installed in the car that records and evaluates driving behavior. This can be worthwhile. However, the Association of Insured Persons is critical of the tariffs. Many are non-transparent and should be treated with caution with regard to data protection. It is usually not clear how and to what extent a specific driving behavior affects the premium.
Tip 8: Keep your eyes open when comparing tariffs
You should not blindly trust the popular comparison portals such as Check 24 or Verivox. “The cheapest tariff is not necessarily the best insurance cover,” warns the Association of Insured Persons. What is important is what the policy provides in the event of a claim. What many people do not know is that not all insurers are listed in the comparison portals. A comprehensive comparison is therefore not possible – because the best providers may be missing. The Association of Insured Persons has a free calculator.
