How much does car insurance cost for a 17 year old? Costs by region, cheapest cars to insure, and how to reduce your premium.
Compare first-time driver quotes from 130+ UK insurers
Black box and standard policies compared side by side
Telematics could reduce premiums for safer young drivers
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A 17 year old in the UK pays between £1,709 and £2,929 per year for car insurance, depending on where they live. That is a spread of over £1,200 between the cheapest and most expensive regions.
| # | Region | Average premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wales | £1,708.52 |
| 2 | South West England | £1,714.63 |
| 3 | East Midlands | £1,780.21 |
| 4 | East of England | £1,816.94 |
| 5 | South East England | £1,818.63 |
| 6 | West Midlands | £1,927.96 |
| 7 | Scotland | £1,931.24 |
| 8 | Northern Ireland | £1,933.96 |
| 9 | North East England | £1,939.53 |
| 10 | Yorkshire | £2,019.14 |
| 11 | North West England | £2,036.88 |
| 12 | London | £2,928.81 |
London is consistently the most expensive region for 17 year old drivers, with average premiums 71% higher than Wales. Northern regions and Scotland tend to be cheaper than the South East, though Northern Ireland remains relatively expensive for young drivers.
Source: Quotezone Car Insurance Price Index, Q2 2026. Based on a random sample of 100,000+ UK car insurance policies, April to June 2026.
Department for Transport data shows drivers aged 17 to 24 represent around 7% of UK licence holders but are involved in 22% of fatal collisions. Insurers typically price policies on risk, not individual ability, so new drivers may pay more until they can build a driving history.
Young driver insurance and new driver insurance are among the most expensive policies in the UK because insurers typically base premiums on statistical risk. Car insurance for new drivers is typically higher because there is no driving history for insurers to assess, and first time driver insurance reflects the higher probability of a claim in the first year of driving.
There are four main reasons a 17 year old pays so much:
Read our young drivers insurance guide for the full picture on why premiums are set the way they are, and what changes as you get older.
Every car in the UK is placed into one of 50 insurance groups, set by Thatcham Research. Group 1 is the cheapest to insure and group 50 the most expensive. Small city cars with modest engines tend to sit in groups 1 to 5, and they are almost always the cheapest first cars for new drivers.
Cars in insurance group 1 are typically the cheapest to insure. Insurance group 1 cars tend to be small hatchbacks with engines under 1.2 litres.
Popular cars typically found in groups 1 to 5 include:
These are also some of the best first cars for 17 year olds because they are affordable to buy, cheap to run, and sit in the lowest insurance groups. They are also the cheapest cars to insure for new drivers, not just 17 year olds.
The exact insurance group depends on the specific model, engine size, and trim level. A Vauxhall Corsa with a 1.0-litre engine may be in a different group to the same model with a 1.4-litre engine. You can read more in our car insurance groups guide.
Taking out your first car insurance policy is a big expense. These tips can help new drivers reduce the cost.
There is no single trick that will slash a 17 year old's premium, but stacking a few small savings adds up quickly. Here are the eight most effective ways to bring the price down.
Building a no claims bonus as a young driver is one of the most effective long-term ways to reduce your premium. Each claim-free year earns a discount, and after five years you could see significant savings.
A black box (telematics) policy uses a small device fitted to your car or a smartphone app to record how you drive. It tracks your speed, braking, acceleration, cornering, mileage, and the time of day you drive. Your insurer uses that data to set your renewal price and, on some policies, adjust your premium during the year.
The upside: a safely driven black box policy can cut premiums well below the standard price for a 17 year old, and it builds evidence of safe driving that pays off at renewal.
The downside: your driving is monitored, poor driving habits can push the premium up mid-term or at renewal, and some policies come with night-time curfews or mileage caps.
For most 17 year olds who drive safely, a black box policy is one of the most effective ways to bring the cost down. Our black box car insurance guide explains how the policies work and what to check before you buy.
Yes. Temporary (short-term) car insurance is available for anything from 1 hour to 28 days. It is useful for borrowing a parent's car, test-driving a used car before you buy, or getting practice hours in a family car while you learn.
One caveat: not every temporary insurance provider covers 17 year olds. Some set a minimum age of 18 or even 19, so check the age limits before you apply. Providers that do accept 17 year olds usually require a valid provisional or full UK licence.
See our temporary car insurance guide for what is available and how it compares to an annual policy.
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Compare QuotesPremiums fall each year as you build driving experience and a no-claims bonus. The biggest drops tend to happen between 17 and 19, when a first full year of claim-free driving unlocks a real discount. Prices flatten out from around age 21.
On average, car insurance premiums drop around 12% between age 17 and age 18. The biggest single-year drop comes between 18 and 19, where premiums fall by around 32%.
This is why comparing car insurance for 17 year olds in the UK is so important. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive quote can be hundreds of pounds, so it pays to check how much car insurance costs across the UK for a 17 year old before you buy.
Source: Quotezone Car Insurance Price Index, Q2 2026. Based on a random sample of 100,000+ UK car insurance policies, April to June 2026.
| Age | National average |
|---|---|
| 17 | £1,963.04 |
| 18 | £1,730.78 |
| 19 | £1,174.90 |
| 20 | £947.33 |
| 21 | £922.67 |
See how prices change: 18 year olds, 19 year olds, 20 year olds, 21 year olds.
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