Northern Ireland cheapest car insurance for younger drivers

Northern Ireland has the cheapest car insurance figures for young drivers across the UK. Despite this age group still suffering soaring premiums, Northern Ireland was recorded as cheapest across the 17-24, 25-34 and 35-44 age categories, according to the latest quarterly car insurance index figures.

Research by car insurance comparison experts CompareNI, shows that in Northern Ireland, 17–24-year-olds are, on average, paying the cheapest car insurance premiums in the UK at £1748.  For the 25-34 and for the 35-44 age categories, the NI figure is still the cheapest at £844 and £625 respectively.

This is despite the latest figures from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) showing the rate of fatalities on Northern Irish roads is 34% higher than the overall UK rate – with accidental death rates of car occupants 88% higher in Northern Ireland than in the UK as a whole.* 

Taking a look at the volume of incidents on our roads amongst young drivers, a recent report by the Department for Infrastructure showed that over the three-year period 2021-23, novice drivers (those within 2 years of passing their driving test) were involved in road traffic collisions that resulted in the death or serious injury of, on average, 125 people each year – which represents a 10% increase on the 2014-16 baseline of 113 killed or seriously injured per annum.

The greatest proportion of those involved a driver within six months of passing their test (39%), highlighting the increased risk involved with new drivers.**

Ian Wilson, car insurance expert and Managing Director at CompareNI.com said: “Historically drivers in Northern Ireland have been affected by a higher crime rate and a higher level of compensation from our courts, typically making premiums here more expensive. It is great to see prices starting to become more competitive with the rest of the UK although I would expect them to still remain high going into 2025 as inflation continues to fluctuate.

“Young people normally pay the most for their car insurance as the insurance providers don’t have historical data yet to base their risk analysis on.  Also statistically, young people and new drivers have more accidents, especially in Northern Ireland.

“This doesn’t mean insurance for young people here in Northern Ireland has to be unaffordable, there are ways to find savings such as knowing the ideal day and time to buy insurance – plus reviewing how and where the car is used, all these tips could help reduce insurance premiums.

“But the best way to save money and protect lives is to drive safely, there are devices young drivers can use such as telematics or ‘black box’ insurance which allow them to show the insurance provider that they are safe and careful drivers.”

Tips for young drivers in NI to help find savings:

1.Purchase three weeks before renewal

Normally 15-24 days  before your policy is due for renewal is when the prices are most competitive, drivers could save between 33-45% during this period so be sure to keep an eye on your due date.

2.Park up somewhere safe

If possible, drivers should make use of their garages, driveways or carports for overnight parking. This can keep premium costs down because the safer you can keep your car, the cheaper it is to insure, likely a reduction of at least £140 if you can move your car from the roadside to a private driveway overnight.

3.Research telematics or a black box

A telematics policy, or black box insurance starts collecting driving data immediately which can help the insurer with their risk analysis. This way young drivers can demonstrate their safe driving and increase their chances of getting a competitive premium price.

4.Opt for a smaller engine

Be sure to check your vehicle’s engine size and horsepower, both can impact the cost of your premium. Also, some small engines are turbocharged and that can give them more power than might be expected, which will likely cause the premium to increase.

5.Add a more experienced driver

Adding a low-risk driver to your policy could bring down the premium costs especially if the other driver is experienced and has a clean record – just make sure the main driver is actually the one who drives the car the most or you could be charged with insurance fraud.

6.Do your homework

Never let a policy auto-renew, even if your provider was the cheapest option for you last year it doesn’t mean they will be the cheapest this year, always shop around and compare products and don’t be afraid to switch providers, it’s an easy process which could lead to substantial savings.  Comparison sites are ideal ways to find better quality car insurance at more competitive prices.

 In terms of the average car insurance costs across all age groups throughout the UK regions, the most recent figures, from December 2024, show London is the most expensive for car insurance at £1144, West Midlands is second most expensive at £921 and Yorkshire third at £788. Northern Ireland comes in 8th out of the 12 UK regions with an average car insurance cost of £659.

The cheapest region throughout the last quarter was South West England with October figures showing £605, November £627 and December dropping to the lowest month of the quarter at £565.  -ENDS-

References:

Full car insurance data across UK regions and age groups – https://www.compareni.com/car-guides/car-insurance-index-ni

*https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/risk-of-accidental-death-soars-in-ni-with-charity-demanding-action-on-public-health-scandal/a198002032.html  

**https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/news/northern-ireland-road-safety-strategy-nirss-2030-annual-statistical-report-2024-published