I’m not sure about these figures, but the RAC has estimated the total cost to the young male of their first year of driving. They – or rather, IAM – says that the average 17-year old would have to pay £12,300, and the average 18-21 year old £14,400.
I’m not sure why it goes up as you get older, but the breakdown of these figures also raises an eyebrow or two.
Apparently, the new driver typically pays £3,000 for a five-year-old Kia Picanto, and £7,900 for insurance.
I’m sorry, but those figures are nothing like anything I experience as "an average". I can’t think of any pupil who has paid more than £2,800 for insurance – that was on a Ford Ka. Other cars have included Fiestas, Puntos, Corsas, Saxos, Clios… but no Kia Picantos that I can recall. I think someone somewhere has forgotten that there is intelligent life outisde London. Those figures might be correct for mummy’s Beemer or daddy’s Ferrari in Chelsea, but up here – north of Watford – insurance on cars is still affordable, albeit still more expensive than it used to be.
In fact, one of mine who passed recently is buying a Renault Megane for just over £1,000, and his insurance is around £2,000 for him and his girlfriend (who also passed with me recently). Both are early or mid-20s.
So this is a bit of a non-story in the end.