How to get cheap car insurance as a young driver?

Getting cheap car insurance as a young driver can be difficult because insurance companies aren’t crazy about the idea of insuring inexperienced drivers. Here are some things you can do as a newcomer.

Sign up for telematics

Most insurance companies have a telematics option in some form, like Intact’s my Drive. It’s an app-based system that tracks your driving habits, and uses your behaviour on the road to determine your premium. You can incur savings just by signing up, and if you consistently drive responsibly, your rate can go down.

Credit score

Insurance companies also look at credit score as an indicator of a responsible client. As a young person, hopefully you haven’t had time to damage your reputation as a borrower. Keep this in check and you can reap the benefits elsewhere.

Rack up experience

Obviously, you don’t have experience until you have it. But if you can keep a clean, claims-free record from the moment you get your licence, your premium will lower over time. Experience wins — it just takes a while to get there.

Pro tip: Put your name as the primary driver on one of your parents’ cars before you start driving — that helps build your profile as a driver.