Do learner drivers need car insurance?
Yes they do.
Learner drivers need to be insured on any car they use for driving lessons, or to practise their driving - and to meet the requirements of that insurance until their driving test, and beyond!
Driving without valid insurance as a learner driver can lead to a fine, penalty points on their provisional driving licence, and higher future insurance costs.
Things that can invalidate learner driver car insurance include:
- not having a valid UK provisional driving licence
- not having appropriate supervision while driving
- not meeting the minimum eyesight requirements for driving
- not informing the DVLA about a 'notifiable' health condition
- being ‘unfit to drive’ due to over-the-counter or prescription medication, alcohol or drugs.
Who needs to pay for the learner driver car insurance?
The learner driver - directly or indirectly.
The responsibility for taking out and paying for the car insurance policy will depend on the circumstances.
Check below and see if you will need to pay directly, and if you do - see your options, so you can start to work out which is the best type of learner driver policy for your situation.
Learner driving: a car provided by a Driving Instructor
No additional car insurance is needed.
As long as the learner driver meets the standard car insurance requirements they should be covered under the Driving Instructor’s car insurance policy - a contribution to the cost of the insurance will be included in the driving lesson price.
Learner driving: a car owned and insured by a family member or friend
Additional car insurance is needed.
There are 2 options:
- add the learner driver to the current car insurance policy as a named driver
- buy a separate 'learner driver' insurance policy to run alongside the current policy.
For a more detailed explanation about these 2 options - including the pros and cons of each, have a look at Learner Driver Car Insurance - car owned by a family member or friend.
Learner driving: a car owned by the learner
A valid car insurance policy is needed.
There are 2 options:
- a short term or temporary policy which will end the moment the learner passes their driving test
- an annual policy which will continue even if the learner passes their driving test during the period of the policy.
For essential information about these 2 options - including the pros and cons of each and a code to save £50 off an annual policy, have a read of Learner Driver Car Insurance - car owned by the learner.
Learner driving: a car provided by a car hire company
No additional car insurance should be needed.
As long as the learner driver meets the standard car insurance requirements they should be covered under the car hire companies car insurance policy - a contribution to the cost will be included in the car hire price.
Always check the wording of the policy to ensure the learner is covered for supervised driving and for taking their driving test if required.
Summary
Learner drivers need to be covered by valid car insurance before driving any car.
This may need to be paid for directly via a car insurance policy, or indirectly when paying for driving lessons or car hire.
This is the first in our Learner Driver Insurance series. Have a look at the other posts too, and if you can't find the answer to your Learner Driver Car Insurance related question - get in touch and we'll see if we can help :)
Learner Driver Car Insurance - car owned by a family member or friend
Learner Driver Car Insurance - car owned by the learner