Insuring a Learner's Vehicle

Before you begin to learn to drive practically you must make sure that you are both legally allowed to be on the road – i.e.: have your provisional driving licence and are insured to drive the vehicle you will learn in.

Learning in a Driving Instructor’s Vehicle

Many people cannot afford to have a vehicle of their own to learn how to drive in so they must make do with the use of a driving instructor’s car. This is as good a way to learn as any however many learner drivers find this something of a disadvantage especially if the driving instructor changes vehicles throughout the course of their lessons. Learner drivers become familiar with the layout and feel of a particular vehicle and become comfortable with it and change can upset the balance. However if you are learning to drive and are doing so in a driving instructor’s vehicle then he or she will be fully insured for other drivers and there is no need to concern yourself with matters of insurance.

Learning to Drive in Your Own Vehicle

If you are fortunate enough to have your own vehicle in which to learn to drive you must be insured before you begin driving. Failure to have the correct insurance in place is a criminal offence and carries a hefty fine.

When purchasing a vehicle in which to drive the first thing you must do is acquire the appropriate insurance which will not only cover you against damage from others but also cover you against any damage you may cause to other people’s property whilst driving.

If you intend to purchase a vehicle that is used (or second hand) then you must have the insurance in place before you buy it so that you may legally move it from one place to another. Alternatively you must have the car driven by someone who is insured to drive any vehicle. You must not drive the vehicle yourself without the correct insurance.

Fully Comprehensive Insurance

This is by far the best and most widely used category of insurance and covers not only you the driver, but also anyone in the vehicle with you and the vehicle itself. Fully comprehensive insurance – especially for learner drivers – can be expensive but if you can afford it then the advantages justify the expense.

Fully Comprehensive (or Fully Comp as it is known also) can include such extras as breakdown cover (useful if you have purchased a used car), a courtesy car should your own vehicle not be road worthy and cover for medical bills should you need hospital treatment.

If you are looking for insurance then you must provide the insurance company with details of the vehicle you are wanting to drive, details of your own driving experience and also where the vehicle will be kept. All of this information is used in order to formulate a quote which will normally be an annual sum that can be paid outright at the commencement of the policy – or by monthly instalments taken by Direct Debit from your bank or building society account.

When applying for insurance you will be asked for details of your driving licence, your driving history, details of any accidents you have had or any endorsements you may have incurred.

It is important to note that failure to disclose any information which the insurance company later discovers is taken as fraud and not only will the insurance policy be rendered null and void but you may also be liable to criminal prosecution.

You can find information on the variety of different insurance policies available on most insurance company websites as well as the ability to produce an online quote. Alternatively any high street insurance broker will be able to help you find the best and most cost effective policy.