You just can’t avoid car insurance. It might be a legal requirement and an expense you could live without, but in the event of an accident claim being made against you, you’ll be happy you have it. However, younger drivers have a tough time even finding car insurance, never mind affording it. But whatever you do, don’t be tempted to try and break the law to save a bit of money. If there is ever an accident claim, you might very well regret it.

Not even half of the mainstream insurance companies in the UK will offer insurance to teenage drivers. Buying a policy with one of the few that will could cost £4,000 which is often more than the value of the vehicle. If a female teenage driver makes an accident claim, it is likely to be of lower value than one made by a male teenager, so it is the male teenagers who have the costliest policies.

Insurance companies are right to perceive teenage drivers as more likely to have an accident claim made against them. In this age group, drivers are ten time more likely to kill or injure someone than drivers with experience. Nonetheless, some parents are acting illegally in their attempts to bring down insurance costs.

Around one fifth of teenage drivers have no insurance at all, according to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. Many others engage in a practice known as ‘fronting.’ This is when parents claim to be the main driver of a car and name their child as another driver when in fact the child is the main driver. For some it is a harmless way of saving a bit of cash. It is illegal.

If an accident claim is made and the insurance company suspects that the teenager was the main driver, there can be serious consequences. Parents and teenagers can be prosecuted and might find it difficult to get insurance again. Also, insurers have the right to refuse to pay the accident claim settlement.

Attitude surveys seem to show that many people use ‘fronting’ and that people believe it is harmless. However it certainly isn’t worth risking prosecution, or the cost of a whole accident claim settlement if the insurance company refuses to, no matter how much money you could save.

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