Compare learner driver insurance quotes online

Compare Northern Ireland car insurance quotes for learner drivers

Learning to drive is an exciting rite of passage for many young drivers in Northern Ireland – but it’s also a significant financial burden for most of them.

Not only will you have to pay for the cost of lessons and the fees for the theory test and driving test, but if you’re planning to learn to drive in your own car (or a family member’s car, for that matter) you’ll also need to fork out for Northern Ireland learner driver insurance.

That’s why you should use CompareNI.com to compare learner driver insurance quotes from a wide range of providers, which will increase your chances of finding a suitable policy at a reasonable price.

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Learner driver insurance in Northern Ireland: a straightforward guide

How can I find cheaper provisional driver insurance?

First and foremost, you should compare quotes from a wide range of insurance providers – and our car insurance NI comparison service is here to help you do just that.

Beyond that, there are a few others things you can do that might help to reduce the cost of your learner driver insurance, such as:

• Opting for a car in a lower insurance group: If you’re planning to buy a car in which to learn to drive it would be advisable to opt for one in a lower insurance group, which will usually be cheaper to insure. Alternatively, if you’re planning to learn to drive in a friend’s or family member’s car and have a few cars to choose from it would be worth opting for the one in the lowest insurance group, for the very same reason.
• Asking a family member to add you to their insurance: If a family member with a good driving record is able to add you to their insurance policy this will usually be much more cost effective than taking out a standalone insurance policy in your own name.
• Taking out temporary insurance: If you’re confident you’ll be able to pass your test in less than a year it might prove more cost effective to take out temporary NI car insurance instead of forking out for an annual policy.

Should I opt for third party learner driver insurance to reduce the cost?

Learner drivers in Northern Ireland usually have three levels of cover to choose from:

• Third Party
• Third Party, Fire and Theft
• Fully Comprehensive

In theory third party should be the cheapest option because it’s the least comprehensive, but in practice that’s not always the case.

Since riskier drivers have traditionally opted for third party cover insurance companies in Northern Ireland have begun hiking their premiums for these policies in recent years, which means fully-comp is often just as cheap as third party now.

The best option for provisional drivers in Northern Ireland is to compare quotes for all three levels of insurance cover and go for the policy that offers the most comprehensive coverage at a price that’s within your budget.

What happens to my Northern Ireland learner driver’s insurance policy after I pass my test?

Your Northern Ireland learner driver’s insurance policy is only valid while you’re learning to drive, so the moment you pass your test your insurance policy will expire.

In fact, you won’t even be able to drive home from the test centre if you pass your test, since you’ll suddenly find yourself uninsured!

If your learner driver insurance is an annual policy your provider will probably offer you a partial refund for the time left on the policy once you pass your test, although it’s worth bearing in mind that they will probably charge an admin fee for this.

Can learner drivers in Northern Ireland take out black box insurance to reduce their premiums?

Yes, many insurance companies that offer black box insurance in Northern Ireland are able to provide these policies to learner drivers, and if that option is open to you it’s certainly worth considering because it could reduce your premiums a little.

Should I opt for a higher excess?

Many younger drivers opt for a higher voluntary excess on their policies, because this can help to lower their premiums. However, it’s important to bear in mind that this does mean you’ll have to cover a larger share of the costs yourself if you ever have to make an at-fault insurance claim.