Passing your driver's license is complicated, but as a young driver, it's only a step before you can go on vacation in your brand new car. Once you have it, you have to look at car insurance. A short guide to find your way among the different conditions and save money.
Know the different formulas
It's a fact that a young driver - someone with less than three years of driving license - is four times more likely to be killed on the road than a seasoned driver Road Safety Association. With such a high risk of accidents, some companies refuse to insure them.
Others compensate for this risk by a "premium" that can go up to double the price of monthly payments compared to a seasoned driver. This premium is governed by the insurance code and limited to 100% mark-up in the first year, 50% the following year and 25% the third year.
Companies that reduce this surcharge sometimes compensate by increasing the deductibles, the minimum amount you must pay in case of an accident, regardless of the amount of repairs. Thus, you can pay small monthly payments but have to pay a large sum of money in case of broken window or scratched bodywork.
One-third formulas are cheaper, but they protect you less: franchises are higher and many situations are not supported. "All risks" insurance protects you better, with smaller franchises, offering assistance or vehicle loan options for example, but are more expensive year-round. The choice depends mainly on your budget and the value of your car.
Use an insurance comparator
Since the criteria used are not the same according to insurers and comparators, the results can vary widely and are only indicative. We did the test with a standard profile: a young driver of 18 who would come to obtain his license and would like to provide a third Renault Clio Campus petrol 4 CV of 2005. Attention, to get a price, you must already know his model of vehicle. And not all companies are taken into account. The best is therefore to get a first idea through the comparators, then ask for quotes to companies well positioned in the agency or by phone.
Play the competition, negotiate, anticipate
It is tempting to turn to the insurance of one's parents to save time and hope for discounts, but that is not necessarily a good calculation. "This usually saves less than 10% on the price. While by playing the competition, we can get more, especially as each insurer has a margin of negotiation on its own rates, said Manon Tenes, editor of the site The young driver. What we rarely know is that everything is negotiable in the formulas offered by insurance companies. From a basic contract, you can ask to increase the free flight to reduce the breakage of ice, for example. "
To escape the surcharge, some young drivers are tempted to be cunning by registering as the second driver of their car and appointing as a main driver a relative or friend who has a good bonus. This trick actually actually lower the overall price. This is a bad idea: a "novice driver", within the meaning of the Insurance Code, means someone "who has had his license for less than three years or who has never been insured". Three years later, you will still be considered a novice driver by insurance, and will have to pay the extra premium, even if you are no longer a "young driver" in the meaning of the Highway Code "In addition, you take the risk of not being compensated in the event of an accident if the insurer manages to prove the fraud”.
Viser une assurance sur-mesure
En règle générale, les formules spéciales « jeunes conducteurs » sont moins chères mais elles peuvent cacher des franchises très élevées. « Les assurances au kilomètre peuvent valoir le coup si vous roulez peu, elles sont en général de 10 % à 30 % moins chères », assure Manon Tenes.
Bien choisir sa voiture
Pour payer moins cher, vous pouvez agir en amont, en choisissant une voiture essence peu puissante, non modifiée et pas trop récente. « La puissance entre en ligne de compte, car les grosses voitures provoquent potentiellement des accidents plus graves, explique Manon Tenes. De même, les voitures diesel sont plus chères à assurer car souvent plus puissantes que les voitures essence. Enfin, il vaut mieux éviter le tuning : en cas d’accident, si la voiture est modifiée, l’assureur peut refuser de vous couvrir. »
Passer la conduite accompagnée
Certains assureurs proposent également des stages de conduite, payants ou gratuits, qui peuvent faire baisser votre surprime. Il faut pour cela se renseigner directement auprès de son assureur.