You just can’t escape motor insurance. You’re legally obliged to have it, but in the event of needing to make an accident claim or, more importantly, having one made against you, you’ll be very glad you have it. Unfortunately for them, young drivers have a hard time finding car insurance, let alone paying for 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 major companies providing car insurance will cover a teen driver. Amongst those that do, it is common to see quotes as high as £4,000 which is often significantly more than the car is even worth. Male teenage drivers have the priciest premiums because female teenagers are statistically more careful and those that do make an accident claim tend to have lower value claims.

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. But in trying to beat the insurance companies and drive down costs, some parents act illegally.

Around one fifth of teenage drivers have no insurance at all, according to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. For many others ‘fronting’ is a temptation. 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 not even legal.

In the event of an accident claim being made the insurance company can investigate who really was the main driver and where policy holders have lied, there can be consequences. Both parents and teenagers can be prosecuted and may struggle to get insurance again in the future. Not only this, but insurance companies can also refuse to pay part or all of the accident claim compensation.

‘Fronting’ might seem harmless and surveys suggest many people are doing it. However, saving money, however much, is not worth the risk of prosecution or of having to pay for an entire accident claim settlement when the insurers refuse to.

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