In time for the re-opening of its inquiry into the cost of motor insurance, the Transport Select Committee has worked with young driver insurance specialists Young Marmalade to initiate research on young drivers’ views of motor insurance.

The survey confirms that 96% of young drivers think they are being priced off the road because of high motor insurance premiums.

A fifth (21%) of young drivers have considered driving without insurance, because of the high cost of premiums.

Nearly a third (30%) have considered altering the information they provided to insurance firms in order to secure a lower quote. This included 15% who considered changing the main driver of the car – a potentially illegal practice known as ‘fronting’.

More than half (57%) of young drivers were unaware that, after an accident, insurance firms often pass personal details to a solicitor, car hire firm or garage in return for a referral fee.
Commenting on these results, Committee Chair Louise Ellman MP said:

“I am extremely concerned about these results, which show that young drivers think they are being priced off the road because of the high cost of motor insurance. It is shocking that so many young drivers are considering breaking the law – by driving without insurance or changing the details they provide to insurers – in order to get a cheaper premium.

“It’s revealing that most young drivers are also unaware that many insurers receive referral fees in order to deal with claims they make. This highlights why the Committee called for referral fees to be made more transparent in its report on the cost of motor insurance earlier this year.

“I will be putting the results of this survey to Ministers when they appear before the Transport Select Committee later today”.