How much does car insurance really cost?
Here’s a breakdown of the average price of cover in the UK and an explanation as to how the cost can differ depending on various factors, such as the type of car you have and your driving history (claims, convictions, etc).
Car insurance is an expense that we could all do without, but it is a must-have due to the fact that it is a UK legal requirement and that it helps protect us against the potential costs associated with the aftermath of a road traffic collision, which can be extortionate.
Finding out what the true average cost of car insurance is can be tricky – mainly because it varies so much between individuals and companies – but our guide will help give you an idea as to what affects the cost of car insurance, how much you might have to pay for a policy, or indeed, how much you could save on car cover and how to go about reducing the cost.
In this article:
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) reported that at the end of the first quarter of 2022, the average cost of comprehensive car insurance was £416 per year. This was £24 less than the average cost of cover in the previous 3 months, but the decrease could well be attributed to:
The average cost of car insurance varies considerably depending on your driving history, make and model of car, where you live and how old you are.
Average prices will rise and fall depending on the current market and major events like the Covid-19 pandemic, so it’s important that you get your own quotes from a variety of different providers and comparison sites to get a rough estimate of how much you may be required to pay.
A report by This is Money – using data from MoneySupermarket – found that the average cost of manual car insurance is £465.94 per year, while automatic vehicles typically cost around 20% more at an average of £560.01 per year.
In most cases, automatic vehicles are more expensive to insure due to the higher cost involved with replacing any damaged or broken parts – for example, an automatic gearbox can cost up to £1,000 more than the manual equivalent.
This means that, in the event of a car accident claim, insurers would be required to pay out more money to cover the cost of repairing automatic vehicles, so they bump up the premiums to account for this risk.
Read more in our full guide: Is Insurance Cheaper for Automatic Cars?
The average cost of car insurance for an 18-year-old will, of course, be different to the average cost of cover for a driver who is older and more experienced, and there are dozens of other factors that are taken into account when determining how much you will pay for your insurance policy.
Some of the most important factors considered when calculating your car insurance cost include:
Read more: How is Car Insurance Calculated?
The type of vehicle you drive has a significant impact on the price you pay for cover overall, so be sure to think about how much it might cost you for insurance before buying or leasing a new motor.
Read more: The Cheapest, Best Cars to Insure
Years ago, insurers traditionally offered cheaper car insurance to women, but new regulations put in place in 2012 mean that they can no longer use gender as a factor when calculating someone’s premiums.
Data from Admiral shows that men still pay more for cover on average, but the gender gap has decreased significantly in recent years and the driver's sex is no longer taken into account.
As previously mentioned, the price you pay for car insurance depends on a variety of factors, with your age and driving experience believed to be two of the most influential.
Generally, the younger you are, the more expensive your premiums will be, but it’s also important to remember that the cost of car insurance usually spikes again once you reach your 60s and 70s.
The average price of cover by age is as follows:
| Age | Average Cost | Compare Quotes |
| 20 years old | £851 | Get Quotes |
| 25 years old | £719 | Get Quotes |
| 35 years old | £639 | Get Quotes |
| 45 years old | £575 | Get Quotes |
| 55 years old | £468 | Get Quotes |
| 65 years old | £491 | Get Quotes |
| 75 years old | £752 | Get Quotes |
The above figures are average car insurance quotes from a range of UK insurance providers, assuming the following about the driver for the case of standardisation:
The cost of car insurance for a 17-year-old, 18-year-old or a learner driver will inevitably be higher than for someone who has been driving for more than five years, as they pose a higher risk due to their lack of experience on the road.
In 2020, MoneySupermarket reported that those aged between 17 and 19 pay an average of £725 for an annual, fully comprehensive policy but many will typically be looking at a cost between £1,000 and £2,000 a year.
Read more:
Premiums are set by insurers using statistics from research carried out in the car insurance industry, and because these statistics show that younger and less experienced drivers are more likely to have an accident than those with more years under their belt and a no-claims bonus, they usually face higher costs as a result.
The more experience you have, the cheaper your insurance will become. NibleFins found that motorists aged 35 paid an average of £639, whereas drivers aged 25 would pay £80 more.
It’s true – to a point – that motor insurance typically becomes cheaper as you age, especially if you build up a good no-claims discount, with those aged between 40 and 50 often being offered the best deals.
Read more: Car Insurance for Over 50s
It’s also true that your car insurance could increase once again as you head into your 60s and 70s.
Insurers say that this is because statistics show that drivers become more likely to have an accident as they reach such an age, perhaps due to their increased reaction times or potential health issues, such as visual impairment with your eyesight.
Read more: Is There an Age Limit for Driving in the UK?
There are a few things that you can do to get cheaper car insurance, no matter how old you are or where you live in the UK, including the following:
To get a car insurance quote now, start with Compare UK Quotes; simply tap the button below to get a free quote quickly and see how much money you could be saving on cover.
For more advice and tips relating to car insurance, be sure to read our related guides below.