Car insurance for students

Do I need student car insurance?

Yes, car insurance is a legal requirement for students, just as it is for any driver on UK roads. You must, at minimum, have a third-party car insurance policy, although you can opt for higher levels of cover.

Not having car insurance while driving is a criminal offence and can have consequences. If you're the registered keeper of an uninsured vehicle, you may be fined, disqualified from driving and taken to court. In other cases, your vehicle can be wheel-clamped, impounded or even destroyed.

Student car insurance is simply a standard policy tailored to the unique circumstances of a student.

Why is car insurance more expensive for students?

Students, or young drivers in general, typically face higher car insurance costs for a number of different reasons. Although there are other factors that determine what you pay, students are particularly impacted by:

• Your age: Young drivers face far greater car insurance costs than other age groups. According to Uswitch data*, the average annual premium for 17–20-year-olds is £1,689. That figure drops to £1,176 for 21–24-year-olds and £753 for 25–34-year-olds. Younger drivers are statistically likelier to have a car accident and make a car insurance claim as a result, this greatly affects the price of car insurance
• Your driving history: The average age profile of students tends to fit with the lowest age categories of drivers. Because of this, students are generally inexperienced compared to other drivers on the road, limiting their ability to build a no-claims bonus (NCB)
• Your location: Where you live and park your car affects what you pay for car insurance. Students living in larger cities with increased traffic may live in accommodation near areas with high crime rates for vehicle theft and damage

Can I get a student discount or lower my car insurance premium?

Variations of student discounts are rare when it comes to car insurance. But that doesn't mean there aren't a number of ways you can keep the cost of car insurance down. Here are a few tips:

1. Pay annually: Although it's a larger lump sum to pay in one go, it can actually work out cheaper than paying monthly. That's because if you spread payments over 12 months, you'll also pay a small amount of interest each month for doing so
2. Compare quotes: Choosing the first car insurance policy you come across may not offer the best value for money. Instead, shopping around can help you find an affordable policy with the cover you need
3. Add a more experienced named driver to your policy: Your car insurance costs may decrease if you add an experienced driver to your car insurance policy. A driver's age and on-the-road experience can be factored in when assessing the likelihood of a claim. Alternatively, if you have the option, you can be added as a named driver to someone else's policy. You must ensure the driver who uses the car the most is listed as the policyholder and main driver. Not doing so is actually a criminal offence known as 'fronting'. But it goes the other way, too. An older, more experienced driver might add a named driver to their policy. If that driver looks like a higher risk to an insurer, the policyholder’s costs could rise
4. Consider a telematics policy: Telematics car insurance policies, such as black box insurance, install a monitoring device in your car to track your driving habits. At the end of your policy, you may be rewarded with cheaper premiums for a responsible driving history
5. Try temporary or pay-as-you-go car insurance: If you only drive once or twice a month, you can get temporary cover for a chosen period of time. Or, if you'd like continuous cover and only pay for how many miles you drive, pay-as-you-go car insurance can be a useful option

Which address should I use for my car insurance policy?

When you enter details for your car insurance policy, your address should be the residence where the car is kept for the majority of the time. If you change your address during your policy, you should inform your insurer. You must also apply for a new driving licence to reflect your new address - this process is free and shouldn't cost you.

Failing to inform your car insurance provider of a change of address can invalidate your policy, and any claim you make may be rejected. If you don't update your driving licence with the DVLA, you can face a fine of up to £1,000.

What are my car insurance options if I take my car to university?

If you take your car with you to university, you'll need to determine how often you'll be driving to weigh up your insurance options.

If, for example, you're planning on using your car regularly to commute to a university campus, you might consider standard car insurance. However, if you use your car infrequently for trips such as the food shop, it may be worth looking at pay-as-you-go car insurance policies.

A pay-as-you-go policy can work out as a cheaper alternative, as you pay on the basis of how many miles you drive. However, if you decide that you need a standard policy, there are still ways to keep the cost of car insurance down. A telematics policy, for example, measures how you drive and can reward you for good habits in terms of what you pay for premiums.

What are my options if I leave my car at home?

If you decide to leave your car at home while you're at university, you can take your vehicle off the road and apply for a statutory off-road notification (SORN).

Doing so will register your car as off the road, and you'll need to park it on a drive or on private land. This will save you from having to buy car insurance and paying car tax. However, you won't be able to drive the car again until you notify the DVLA, pay for car tax and insure your vehicle.

If you may occasionally drive your car when you return from university, you could also consider temporary car insurance. This can offer you short-term cover for a few hours, days, weeks or months. It may be a cheaper option, depending on how often you need to drive your car when you're home.

What are the rules for my driving licence address with the DVLA?

While it's generally recommended that you update your driving licence when you change address, this may not be necessary if you're a student and living away temporarily.

If your permanent address is your parents' home, for example, you may decide to ensure any correspondence from the DVLA is directed there and not to university residence. However, if your accommodation is more of a permanent arrangement, you should update your address with the DVLA.

*Uswitch data (December 2025 - February 2026)