Learner driver insurance

Learner driver insurance (also known as ‘provisional insurance’) is flexible, short term cover that allows provisional drivers to get insured on someone else’s car for the short period of time before they pass their test. This cover should be taken out in addition to the car insurance already held by the car owner, as learner driver insurance will only provide protection when the provisional driver is behind the wheel. 

All drivers learn at different speeds, and professional lessons can sometimes get expensive and time-consuming. That’s why a lot provisional drivers choose to get covered on their parents’ or guardians’ car – to fit in that extra bit of driving time before their test.

However, it can also be expensive to get added as a named driver to your parents’ policy, and they may even be concerned about losing their No Claims Bonus should you have an accident in their car.

If you’re unsure how long you’ll need cover for, Marmalade’s learner driver insurance provides five flexible cover lengths from 30 days to one year, so you only pay for the cover you need. There’s also no risk to the car owners’ No Claims Bonus should you have an accident, so it might even make it easier to convince your parents to let you borrow their car!

You will only be covered to drive the car specified in your policy documents. If you wish to practice in any other cars, you will need to take out a separate learner driver policy for each individual car you wish to drive.

Can I get learner driver insurance for my own car?

If you own a car, you will be unable to take out learner driver insurance to cover this vehicle as this policy can only be taken out in conjunction with an existing motor insurance policy that is held by the car owner.

Your parents’ may be concerned about ‘dual insurance’ with their existing car insurance policy. ‘Dual insurance’ is where the same item or risk has been insured twice under two (or more) separate policies.

This doesn’t apply to Marmalade’s learner driver insurance, and the car owners’ insurance will be unaffected. This is because the policy only provides cover for the learner driver as a temporary risk while they’re driving - the car owner will not be insured to drive under this policy, therefore they will still need their own car insurance policy in place.

You must be supervised by a driver over the age of 25 who has held a full UK driving licence for over three years, although this does not need to be the car owner.

Learner drivers have been able to drive on the motorway in lessons since June 2018 - however they must be with a qualified driving instructor with dual controls in order to do so. Therefore this policy does not provide cover for motorway driving for provisional drivers. 

Yes, you will be covered to take your driving test in the car covered by this policy. However, you will need to ensure you meet the following government requirements before taking the test in the insured car:

• The car must be taxed
• The car must be insured for a driving test (take your learner driver insurance policy documents with you)
• The car must be roadworthy and have a current MOT (over 3 years old)
• There can’t be any warning lights showing
• You must fix L plates to the car for the test and have an extras interior rear-view mirror for the examiner.

For an exhaustive and up-to-date list, please visit the government website.

• Legal liability for damage to other people’s property up to £20,000,000
• Legal liability for death or injury to any other person, including passengers
• Damage to the vehicle
• Up to £250 medical expenses
• Up to £2,500 personal accident benefits
• Up to £100 personal belongings

Once you’ve passed your driving test you will no longer be covered by your learner driver insurance – so you’ll need to arrange for someone else to drive you home from the test centre.

Once you move from a provisional licence to a full licence, you will then need to make a decision about which is the best car insurance for you. Endsleigh can provide the following covers for young or new drivers:

Student car insurance – including optional RAC breakdown cover at discounted student prices

Black box car insurance – earn regular discounts of your insurance price, just for driving well

Temporary student driver insurance – short term cover for students during uni holidays, from 7 to 28 days

Young driver car insurance – learner drivers can immediately start earning No Claims Bonus in their own name

Find out more about Endsleigh’s car insurance.