http://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneyadvice/default.aspxen-gbTue, 14 Jul 2009 13:43:55 GMThttp://www.teletext.co.uk/images/Logo64x64.gifhttp://www.teletext.co.ukYoung drivers are most car insurers&#39; worst nightmares - one in five new drivers will have a crash within the first six months of passing their test.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/news/finance/moneyadvice/~4/x_FBMwtmaSg" height="1" width="1"/>
These stark statistics lead to steep premiums for novice drivers.

On average, a male driver aged 17 will pay nine times more than someone aged 25 and 14 times more than someone aged 35 to insure the same car in the same location, says broker AA Insurance.

Andy Goldby, director of motor underwriting at Direct Line, says: "Drivers under 21 are twice as likely to make a claim as those over 21."

But some are fed up of this one-size-fits-all view. Simon Douglas, of AA Insurance, says: "Not all young drivers are reckless when behind the wheel.

"The insurance industry must find a formula that recognises those who take a responsible approach to driving."

Better training can be a solution. The AA's Charitable Trust For Road Safety has set up the Drive Smart assessment course for newly qualified drivers.

It focuses on safe and fuel-efficient driving and will be offered free.

It will target those most at risk - for example, young drivers with speeding convictions, but anyone who has passed a test in the past year can apply at website theaa.com.

Other training can help trim insurance bills. Pass Plus is a course backed by the Driving Standards Agency.

It aims to broaden the experience of new drivers and covers topics such as night and motorway driving.

Those completing the course can earn discounts of up to 35% on insurance premiums. Pass Plus is run by driving schools and costs between £180 and £300 depending on location.

Rural insurer NFU Mutual has a voluntary "Safer Driving Agreement" aimed at those aged 17 to 20.

The agreement, drawn up with safety charity Rospa, is a series of promises about how young people drive a car.

Drivers set their own restrictions on when the vehicle can be used, for example, not late at night, and on a maximum number of passengers.

More than 2,000 drivers have signed the pledge over the past two years - and qualified for a £100 discount.

Those who share a car with parents or a sibling can gain by picking a policy that rewards their own driving record.
Source: thisismoney.co.uk

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