Young & First Time Drivers Car Insurance
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Black Box Telematics Car Insurance for new, young & first-time drivers
Safer driving can help you work towards more competitive premiums with thanks to BoxClever - rewarding how you drive.
What is Young Driver Insurance?
Young driver insurance is Car Insurance designed for drivers aged 17 to 25 who are new to the road. Premiums are typically higher for this age group because of limited driving experience and a higher statistical risk of accidents. An Post Insurance searches across our panel of leading Irish insurers to find young drivers competitive rates. Acceptance criteria vary by insurer. For example, some may require a full driving licence or a minimum bonus level. You can choose from standard Comprehensive or Third Party, Fire and Theft cover, or BoxClever Telematics Insurance1 which uses a black box to monitor driving behaviour and may contribute to more competitive premiums at renewal.
1) BoxClever Car Insurance features and benefits differ from standard car insurance. Visit our BoxClever Telematic Car Insurance page for details.
Why Choose An Post Insurance for Young Drivers Cover?
Your Car Insurance policy includes a range of benefits as standard. You can also add optional extras such as Keycare2 or Open Driving for added peace of mind. It is not necessary to purchase any optional extras in order to purchase a policy.
24hr Breakdown Rescue Cover
Help is just a phone call away with our 24 Hour Breakdown Assistance service, available in Ireland and the UK.3
Windscreen Cover
Make sure you can see clearly with unlimited windscreen cover when you use our insurers' aligned repairer network.4
Driving Other Cars
Third-party cover to drive other private cars that are not owned by you, for those occasions you may need to drive someone else’s car.5
Discount for No Penalty Points
Some of our insurers offer a discount to drivers who have appropriate licences, with zero penalty points for driving offences in the Rep. of Ireland.6
2) Keycare is available at a charge of €19.76 (including government levy) per policy. Keycare is administered by Keycare Assistance Limited and underwritten by MAPFRE ASISTENCIA Compania Internacional De Seguros Y Reaseguros, S.A., trading as MAWDY. Not available on BoxClever Telematics policies.
3) Breakdown Assistance is covered as standard for all policies underwritten by Aviva, AIG and FBD. For policies underwritten by Allianz, Breakdown Assistance is only included on Comprehensive cover. Refer to your Policy booklet for applicable terms and conditions relating to Breakdown Assistance Cover.
4) Applies to third-party fire & theft and comprehensive AIG policies and FBD policies; applies to comprehensive Aviva and Allianz policies only. Can be added to Aviva & Allianz third-party fire & theft policies at an additional charge. It is not necessary to purchase this optional extra in order to purchase a policy.
5) Cover is provided for eligible occupation, age and licence types only. Geographical and vehicle restrictions apply.
6) Available on AIG and Aviva car insurance policies only
Why is Car Insurance more expensive for young drivers?
Car insurance premiums are based on risk. Young and first-time drivers pay more because they have no driving history for insurers to assess, and statistically, younger drivers are more likely to be involved in an accident. As you build driving experience and a claims-free record, this is taken into account at renewal and your premium should reduce over time.
The good news is that every claim-free year earns a No Claims Discount, which can significantly reduce your premium over time. Your NCD increases each year you drive claim-free, up to a maximum that varies by insurer.
Cover level comparison
| Details | Comprehensive policies | Third-party, fire, and theft policies | BoxClever telematics policies1 |
| Damage to your own car | Yes (accidental damage) | No | Depends on cover level chosen (Comprehensive or TPFT) |
| Damage to others | Yes (injury and property damage) | Yes (injury and property damage) | Yes (injury and property damage) |
| Fire damage and theft | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Added benefits | Windscreen cover and motor legal protection included as standard. Breakdown assistance included as standard on all comprehensive policies. Courtesy car may vary by insurer. | May vary by insurer. Breakdown assistance included as standard with Aviva, AIG, and FBD. Not available with Allianz TPFT policies. | Windscreen cover, courtesy car, theft tracking, and accident alert system included. Breakdown assistance not included. |
For example, if you are learning to drive and have an accident in your car, comprehensive cover pays for the repairs to your vehicle. With TPFT, you would pay for those repairs yourself which can be a significant cost for a new driver on a tight budget.
Our Insurers
We compare prices from our panel of 4 trusted insurers and present you with our best available quote. Our car insurers include Aviva, Allianz, AIG, and FBD.
How can I reduce my young driver insurance costs?
Premiums for young drivers can be high, but there are practical steps you can take to bring the cost down:
- Get your full licence as soon as possible: The price of your premium usually falls once you pass your test.
- Choose a car with a small engine: Lower engine size vehicles can be cheaper to insure.
- Build named driver experience: If possible, add your name to another person's policy for a year or more to demonstrate a safe driving history. This experience may earn you a discount when you take out your own policy. Learn more about how your No Claims Bonus works.
- Add an experienced driver to your policy: Adding another named driver may reduce your premium as it suggests reduced vehicle usage.
- Pay your premium annually: This is usually cheaper than paying monthly, which includes a service fee of up to 12%.
- Avoid vehicle modifications: Leave your car as it was designed, as any changes can increase premiums.
- Increase your voluntary excess: Accepting a higher excess can reduce your premium but make sure you can afford it if you need to claim.
- Consider telematics: BoxClever black box insurance1 monitors your driving behaviour, and safe driving may contribute to more competitive premiums at renewal. It is designed specifically for young and first-time drivers.
- Get a quote from An Post Insurance: We search across our panel of leading Irish insurers and present you with the most competitive price for your chosen level of cover. Get a quote online in minutes.
Should I be a named driver or get my own policy?
As a first-time driver, you will usually have two options: become a named driver on someone else's policy or take out your own policy in your own name.
Insurance in your own name: If you are the registered owner of your car, you can take out your own policy and start building your own No Claims Bonus from day one. Over time, this can save you on your premiums, so it benefits you in the long term.
Insurance on someone else's policy: If you do not own a car, you can be added as a named driver on another person's policy so you can gain experience in their vehicle. While this might increase their premium, the experience may lead to a discount when you take out your own policy later.
A word about fronting
It is important that the main policyholder is the person who drives the car most often. If a parent takes out a policy in their name but the car is mainly driven by a young driver, this is known as fronting. Fronting is considered insurance fraud and could invalidate your policy entirely leaving both the parent and the young driver uninsured. If your child is the main driver, they should take out a policy in their own name.
For parents: what you need to know about young driver insurance
If your child is about to start driving, you will likely be involved in the insurance decision. Here is what to consider:
- Named driver or own policy? If your child drives your car, adding them as a named driver on your policy may be the most affordable option. If they have their own car, they will need a policy in their own name.
- Avoid fronting: The main policyholder must be the person who drives the car most often. Taking out a policy in your name for a car your child mainly drives is considered fraud.
- Help them build NCD: Driving on a policy in their own name builds their No Claims Bonus, which reduces premiums over time. Named driver experience may also earn a discount when they take out their own policy.
- Consider telematics: BoxClever black box insurance1 monitors driving behaviour, and safe driving may contribute to more competitive premiums at renewal. The Rate My Driving portal gives both parents and young drivers visibility into driving performance.
- Get a quote: An Post Insurance searches across our panel of leading Irish insurers and presents the most competitive price for your chosen level of cover.
What do I need to get a quote?
Getting a quote takes just a few minutes. Before you start, have the following ready: your personal details (name, date of birth, address, occupation), your driving licence information, your car's details (registration number, make, model, year, engine size, annual mileage – if you have your registration to hand, most vehicle details are filled in automatically), your driving history (claims, penalty points, endorsements, convictions, and any previous refusals of insurance), and your No Claims Discount details. Once submitted, you will be presented with the most competitive price from our panel of insurers.
Get Young Driver Insurance Now
Get a quote online now. Let’s see if we can help you avoid costly bumps in the road. Compare our car insurance plans or check out our full range of benefits.
Acceptance criteria, T&Cs apply, subject to minimum premiums
Young Driver Insurance FAQs
There is no single definition, but most Irish insurers consider drivers aged 17 to 25 as young drivers. Premiums are generally higher within this age range due to limited experience and higher statistical risk. With An Post Insurance, young drivers can get a quote from our panel of leading Irish insurers to find competitive cover.
Yes, your No Claims Bonus starts building from your first full year of claims-free driving on a policy in your own name. The discount increases each year, up to a maximum that varies by insurer. If you are a named driver on someone else's policy, you may also earn Named Driving Experience (NDE) which may entitle you to a discount when you take out a policy in your own name.
Third Party, Fire and Theft is generally the more affordable option, but this is not always the case. Depending on your circumstances, Comprehensive Cover can sometimes be cheaper. If you are a young or first-time driver, telematics options like BoxClever* may also help reduce costs over time by rewarding safe driving. Safe driving may contribute to more competitive premiums at renewal. The best approach is to get a quote. An Post Insurance searches across our panel of leading Irish insurers and presents you with the most competitive price for your chosen cover level.
*BoxClever Car Insurance features and benefits differ from standard car insurance. Visit our BoxClever Telematic Car Insurance page for details.
Yes, if you are added as a named driver on another person's policy and drive claims-free, you may earn a discount that applies when you take out your own policy. This is a common way for young drivers to build a driving record before getting their own cover.
Yes, penalty points can increase your premium. Some An Post Insurance underwriters offer a discount for drivers with zero penalty points, so keeping a clean record has a direct financial benefit.
Cars with smaller engines (under 1.4 litres) are generally cheaper to insure. Avoiding modifications and choosing a car with good safety ratings can also help reduce your premium.
This depends on your policy. Some policies include driving other cars (DOC) cover on a third-party basis, but this is not available to all drivers and conditions apply including age restrictions (typically 25+). Young drivers under 25 are unlikely to have DOC cover. Always check your policy documents before driving someone else's car.
BoxClever is a telematics Car Insurance product designed for young and first-time drivers. A small black box is installed in your car to monitor driving behaviour including speed, braking, acceleration, and cornering. Safe driving may contribute to more competitive premiums at renewal. BoxClever includes unlimited mileage as standard and is underwritten by AIG. Call 090 648 7255 for a BoxClever quote, or visit our BoxClever page for full details.
We value your feedback
The staff that looked after my renewal were all excellent. I was changing my car a few days before renewal and they took care of everything. They helped me with my payment (I was stressed at the time) and were so patient. Overall, very happy with the service. Janette 1st - Mar - 2026
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