Almost all young drivers feel they are being priced off the road by the cost of motor insurance, according to a survey.

As many as 21% of these young motorists have considered driving without insurance, revealed the poll by the Young Marmalade insurance company in conjunction with the House of Commons Transport Committee.

The committee's chairman, Louise Ellman, said she was "extremely concerned" at the poll results.
She added that she would be putting the results of the survey to ministers when they appear before the committee later today to give evidence in an inquiry into the cost of motor insurance.

Among those appearing is former home secretary and justice secretary Jack Straw.
The poll of 1,127 young drivers showed that 96% felt young drivers were being priced off the road, while 30% had considered altering the information they provided to insurance firms in order to get a lower quote.

More than half (57%) 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.

Mrs Ellman (Lab, Liverpool Riverside) 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."
She went on: "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."

Mike Penning, parliamentary under-secretary of state for transport, said: "We know that the cost of insurance is a problem for young drivers. That is why we are making changes to the driving test to make sure it better prepares drivers for real life on the road, and introducing a new 'pass plus' qualification to help improve the skills and knowledge of young drivers so that insurers then have the confidence to offer them lower premiums.

"In addition, we have introduced a new offence of keeping an uninsured vehicle, helping us to take targeted action against uninsured driving, which contributes to higher premiums."