My First Car

My first car, just two years ago, was a 1967 Rover 2000. At that time, classic car insurance was available to young people, to some extent, although there were limits in terms of engine size, and 2.0 really was as big as the insurance companies were willing to insure. However, at the end of my first year, despite having made no claims, they wouldn't insure me. The car is now insured as a modern car, which isn't particularly cheap, but it's not any worse than many of my friends' insurance premiums.
After a year of the 2000, I decided that I'd buy a modern car to run for a while. I looked at several small cars; Corsas, Fiestas, Lupos, and so forth, but most of the examples I saw were in very poor condition. In the end, I bought a Rover 75 2.0 V6, which is pretty cheap to insure, compared to a lot of cars I was looking at, and provides me with a level of comfort which I wouldn't expect to get for the price. Admittedly I'm paying more for fuel, and running costs aren't exactly low, but it's a very pleasant way of getting around.
I did, for a brief spell, run a Rover P5B, 3.5 V8 as a daily drive earlier this year, but insurance for that, in my own name, as a second car was absolutely ridiculous, so it was with a great deal of reluctance that I sold it on, and went back to something far less interesting.

In terms of a first car, my suggestions would be to go for something unusual. A Morris 1000 might make quite a lot of sense, but I'd look for modern cars which insurers are likely to see as a low risk, due to their stereotypical owners, cars such as the Mercedes A-class, for example. A car with many flaws, but as insurance is such an enormous consideration for young motorists, then perhaps it could be tolerable for a spell!

Young driver insurance is just money-grabbing by the industry.

I admit that the 17-24 age group is statistically more likely to have a crash, but if you compare someone who starts driving aged 37 to one who started aged 17, the first years insurance cost for the 37 year old is far lower.....why? Because according to the statistics a 37-year old is, even with the same level of experience on the road is safer than a 17-year old.

Sorry just had to get that off my chest...and calm....

Do you think the insurance company would do double or quits? You pay twice the insurance premium, and if they are crash free, you get all your money back.

Might be some tense conversations over the cornflakes?

Tried to find a good second-hand car for a new driver recently, aged 18 and still at school. Clean licence six months. Putting him on his parent's insurance policy as second driver added £2,500 a year to her premium. A smaller engined cheaper car not as safe or as durable, with him as sole driver, and restricted to £2,000 city miles a year,was £3,500. It was an interesting exercise in how the industry produces metal to suit insurance companies. They assert a rooky driver is guaranteed to have an accident within two years though he might not be the cause of it.

+1.

The Fiat Panda seems a very good idea. There are plenty about, too.

The Nissan Micra is a good choice as its cheap to run and insure . Ok it wont work wonders for your street cred but sensible girls are attracted to a clean car with a considerate driver .

My recommendation have a look at a Fiat Panda very simple mechanicals and has a bit more image than a Micra .

Whatever you get insureing it will be dear may even cost more than the car so factor that in as an annual cost .

How absolutely wonderful. This I believe will be the best piece of safety kit for young drivers. We have all got memories of the totally illegal and dangerous antics we got up to when we were beginners! I am totally guilty and thank God I escaped not only the long arm of plod but from damaging property or worse injuring any human being. Before I get bOllOcked, please note that I was driving from the age of 9 (Land Rover's in fields) could and did drive 15 tons cattle trucks, tractor and trailers (for parking practice) and go karts and at 15 was involved in Ken Block style gymkana's in fields. So I was no greenhorn. But I still feel guilty about the daft things I did. Yes I went on to become a serious rally driver and thank heavens after milions of miles in over 50 countries of driving, I have never injured anyone, and I pray it will remain that way till I hang up my licence (together with my soul)...

Fitting such an item would have scared me and cooled my heels. I had never heard of such things till I read this. Make them standard world wide today!!!

I think there's something still in the small classic car route.

On occasions, my copy of Classic & Sports Car will feature a beaming 17/18-year-old proudly talking about his classic Triumph Herald, for example. Insurance is not so expensive because of lower value and performance.

The 'cool' factor is much higher but safety is much poorer, so you'd have to take that into account.

I'll second that suggestion! I had a well-used K11 a few years back and it was a little belter. Surprisingly good fun to drive, as well as totally reliable and with cheap running costs. One of today's best small bangers, I reckon.

Most classic car insurers have clamped down on this over the last few years, Teg. Unfortunately, it's now difficult (and a lot pricier) to get a classic policy unless you're 21-plus.