An unfortunate reality is that young drivers in the 17-24 age range are going to pay more for insurance in comparison to older drivers.
Being new to the road means you’re more of a risk in the eyes of insurers. Additionally, you won’t have had a chance to build up a No Claims Bonus so you won’t be saving this way.
The reason for these higher premiums is that industry data shows drivers in this age group are more likely to be involved in an accident than any other age category.
What type of van insurance are there?
Like car, there are three levels of van insurance you can choose from and depending on the insurer, you are able to customise these with optional add-ons:
- Third party: only covers other people and does not cover you or your vehicle.
- Third party, fire and theft: in addition to third party, your van will be covered if it’s stolen or damaged by fire.
- Comprehensive: the highest level of insurance available which covers damage to yourself and your vehicle in addition to everything from the previous levels of cover.
What factors can affect your premium?
Insurers consider many factors when calculating a premium, a lot of which will be asked during the initial questions from your insurer before they provide you with a quote. A few common ones include:
Van insurance groups
Vans come in all different shapes and sizes and like cars, they are categorised into insurance groups to help calculate premiums. Van insurance groups consider factors including; cost of parts and repairs, performance, engine size, weight and security.
Annual mileage
The less you’re driving, the lower the chance of an accident. Note that underestimating this can invalidate your insurance policy.
Occupation
Your job is an influencing factor when calculating premiums. This is because certain occupations will pose a higher risk, for instance if you’re required to carry valuable goods in your vehicle.
Address
Insurers determine the risk of where you live using statistical data such as levels of vehicle crime and traffic in the area. You may find yourself paying a higher premium if you live in a city compared to somewhere more rural.
Ultimately, the higher premiums for this younger age group are unavoidable. But the good news is that there are factors you can control which could help keep the costs down of a premium. For instance, purchasing a van in a lower insurance group could potentially help you save on your insurance.
Read our beginner’s guide to van insurance if you’d like to find out more.