UK lawmakers to debate capping young drivers' insurance
The UK government will be required to consider capping car insurance premiums for drivers aged 18 to 25 at £1,200 ($1,465) after an online petition on the matter passed a key level of support. Parliament will debate the measure on 20 March after more than 180,000 people added their names to the petition. The government announced last week that it would change the way it calculates accident compensation payments. The move will increase car insurance policies by an average of £75 per year, or up to £1,000 for first-time and younger drivers.

Parliament will debate a petition to put a £1,200 cap on car insurance for 18-25 year olds.

More than 180,000 people have signed the petition, triggering a debate in parliament on March 20, which will be broadcast live at parliamentlive.tv.

In response, the Department for Transport said, ‘The government is aware that the cost of motor insurance can be high for new and inexperienced drivers. We have taken forward a programme of measures to strengthen the way that people learn to drive and are tested. We have engaged insurers in this process, so that they can have confidence that additional measures will make a real difference that can be rewarded with lower premiums.

‘Motor insurance premiums can vary according to the risks associated with different types of driver, vehicle and other factors such as age and driving experience. Motor insurance is a very competitive market and shopping around for the best possible option before making any decisions is likely to benefit customers. The British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) run a not for profit ‘find a broker’ service where there are many broker products for young drivers. Further information can be found on their website: www.biba.org.uk. New rules coming into force next year will require motor insurers to disclose last year’s premium at renewal and prompt customers to shop around for the best deal.

‘Some insurers have introduced the use of telematics or in-car black boxes to allow better risk-based pricing for new drivers. It means insurers now have a real time data feed, which allows them to see an individual’s driving behaviour, which had not previously been possible in the past. There is some evidence that suggests new drivers could see their annual premiums fall by 20% or more if they show good driving behaviour with a black box installed in their cars.

‘The Government recently announced reforms aimed at tackling the continuing high number and costly whiplash injury claims that were having a negative impact on the price of motor insurance premiums. These reforms will end the cycle in which motorists pay higher insurance premiums due to minor, exaggerated and fraudulent whiplash claims by others. The government fully expects insurers to pass on the savings from these reforms to consumers through lower premiums and leading insurers have already committed to do this.’

You can sign the petition here.