How much no-claims bonus does a 19 year old have?

Most 19 year olds who passed their test at 17 will have up to two years of no-claims bonus. That typically unlocks a 30 to 40% discount at renewal, which is usually the reason premiums drop so much between 18 and 19.

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Car Insurance for
19 Year Olds

How much does car insurance cost for a 19 year old? Costs by region, cheapest cars to insure, and how to reduce your premium.

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Premiums dropping as you build driving experience

2 years of no claims bonus could mean real savings at renewal

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How much is car insurance for a 19 year old?

A 19 year old in the UK pays between £943 and £1,832 per year for car insurance, depending on where they live. That is roughly 40% less than the national average at 17, largely thanks to two years of driving experience and a growing no-claims bonus.

£943

Cheapest (South West England)

£1.8k

Most expensive (London)

#	Region	Average premium
1	South West England	£942.59
2	Wales	£945.57
3	South East England	£968.97
4	East of England	£993.61
5	North East England	£1,010.43
6	Scotland	£1,040.78
7	East Midlands	£1,088.10
8	North West England	£1,247.82
9	West Midlands	£1,253.10
10	Yorkshire	£1,268.98
11	Northern Ireland	£1,506.86
12	London	£1,831.93

London remains the most expensive region for 19 year old drivers, with average premiums 94% higher than the South West. The gap between the cheapest and most expensive regions is wider than at 21 because the London risk premium has not yet flattened out.

Source: Quotezone Car Insurance Price Index, Q2 2026. Based on a random sample of 100,000+ UK car insurance policies, April to June 2026.

Why does car insurance drop so much at 19?

At 19, the average UK driver pays around £1,175 a year for car insurance. That is roughly 40% less than at 17 and around 32% less than at 18: typically one of the biggest year-on-year drops in the young driver curve.

The drop comes from three things happening at once:

Two years of no-claims bonus. Most 19 year olds who passed their test at 17 now have two years of NCB, which could unlock a significant discount at renewal.
Statistical risk drops after 24 months. Accident data shows the first 24 months are by far the highest-risk period. From year three onward, insurers may view the driver as having more experience handling common road situations.
More insurers compete for your business. Some insurers refuse to quote 17 and 18 year olds altogether. At 19 you get quotes from a much wider pool of providers.

Even so, young driver insurance remains more expensive than for over-25s. See our young drivers insurance guide for a full picture.

Car insurance for 19 year olds working part-time or commuting

Many 19 year olds are combining study with part-time work, or driving to a placement year. Your commute distance and vehicle use are two of the biggest rating factors your insurer looks at.

Social, domestic and pleasure only. The cheapest use category, but does not cover driving to and from work.
Commuting. Covers driving to and from one regular place of work. Adds a small premium but is essential if you drive to a job.
Business use. Needed if you drive between different work locations during the day. Priced higher.

Get this wrong and a claim could be rejected. Get it right and you avoid paying for cover you do not need. See our guide on young driver insurance for what insurers ask about.

Temporary car insurance can be useful at 19 if you need to borrow a friend's car for a weekend or drive a different vehicle for a short period. Short-term policies typically run from 1 hour to 28 days.

How can a 19 year old get cheaper car insurance?

At 19 you have a bit more leverage than at 17 or 18. Insurers can see two years of driving history, and small choices can shave real money off the premium. Here are the eight most effective ways.

Compare quotes at renewal. Auto-renewing rarely gives you the best price. Prices for the same driver can vary by hundreds between insurers. Compare quotes →
Protect your no-claims bonus. A small extra premium can protect your NCB against a single claim. Worth considering once you have two years built up.
Downsize to a lower insurance group. If your current car is in group 15 and you can move to group 3, the premium falls significantly.
Increase your voluntary excess. Increasing your voluntary excess may lower your premium. Choose an amount you could afford to pay if you needed to make a claim.
Consider a black box policy. If your driving is smooth and mostly daylight-hours, a telematics policy still beats standard cover for many 19 year olds. See black box insurance.
Add an experienced named driver. A parent on the policy who occasionally drives the car can reduce the premium. Never list them as the main driver: fronting is illegal.
Pay annually. Monthly payments could add interest to the overall cost. If you can, save up and pay in one go.
Keep mileage honest. Underestimating to save money is risky and can void a claim. Overestimating pushes the price up. Estimate honestly.

Building a no claims bonus as a young driver is the single most effective long-term way to keep your premium down. Three full years by 20 unlocks another significant reduction.

Cheapest cars to insure for 19 year olds

At 19, some drivers are ready to upgrade from a first car to something slightly more capable. The rule is still the same: lower insurance group means lower premium. If your first car was a group 3 hatchback, staying in groups 1 to 10 keeps the premium down.

Popular cars in groups 1 to 10 that suit 19 year olds:

Volkswagen Polo (lower trims)
Ford Fiesta (1.0 EcoBoost)
Vauxhall Corsa (1.2 or 1.4)
Nissan Micra
Skoda Fabia
Toyota Yaris
Renault Clio
Seat Ibiza
Kia Rio
Hyundai i20

The exact insurance group depends on the specific trim, engine size, and safety features. Read our car insurance groups guide for more information on how insurance groups work.

Which type of cover is cheapest for a 19 year old?

There are three legal cover levels in the UK. For young drivers, fully comprehensive cover is often the cheapest, which surprises many people.

Third party only. The legal minimum. Covers damage you cause to other people and their vehicles. Does not cover your own car. Often the most expensive at 19 because it is associated with higher-risk drivers.
Third party, fire and theft. Adds cover if your car is stolen or catches fire. Not always available for young drivers.
Fully comprehensive. Covers damage to your own car as well as damage to others. Usually the cheapest and most comprehensive option for young drivers.

Compare all three cover levels when quoting. See our guide on fully comprehensive car insurance for a full breakdown.

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How much does car insurance drop between 17 and 21?

Premiums fall each year as you build driving experience and a no-claims bonus. The biggest single-year drop happens between 18 and 19, when premiums fall by roughly 32%. From 19 onward, drops are smaller as risk assumptions flatten.

Comparing car insurance for 19 year olds in the UK every year at renewal is the simplest way to keep the price low as your NCB grows.

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: 17 year olds, 18 year olds, 20 year olds, 21 year olds.

Car Insurance for 19 Year Olds FAQs

Based on the national average of around £1,175, that is roughly £98 per month. London drivers still pay closer to £153, while drivers in the South West average around £79. Paying annually could save on interest charges that add to the overall cost versus paying by monthly instalments.

The 18 to 19 jump is the single biggest drop in a young driver's premium curve. It reflects two claim-free years, two years of no-claims bonus, and the fact that statistical accident risk falls sharply after the first 24 months of driving.

Most 19 year olds who passed their test at 17 will have up to two years of no-claims bonus. That could unlock a significant discount at renewal, which is usually the reason premiums drop so much between 18 and 19.

For most 19 year olds, black box insurance is still worth comparing against standard cover. The gap between telematics and standard prices narrows once you have two years of NCB, but safe drivers can still save meaningfully.

Full comprehensive cover is often actually the cheapest option, not the most expensive. Third party only is associated with higher-risk drivers, so insurers price it higher. Comparing quotes on both cover types is the surest way to find the best price.

Yes. Your occupation is a rating factor for car insurance. Some jobs are considered lower or higher risk than others. Update your insurer if your job, hours, or commute distance changes during the policy year.

Points on your licence could push the premium up. Speeding points added within the last three years are the most common. Comparing quotes is even more important with points on your licence because insurers may price the same driver very differently.

Adding an experienced named driver often reduces the premium, especially if they use the car occasionally. Adding a low-mileage parent is a common and legitimate way to bring the price down. Never list them as the main driver if that is not true: that is fronting and it is illegal.

Car Insurance for19 Year Olds