It’s costing Brits over £6,000 to start driving, new report reveals

Learning to drive might feel like a rite of passage for 17-year-olds, but a new report from Go.Compare car insurance has revealed the real cost of getting on the road as a new driver, and it doesn’t come cheaply.

The report, put together annually by the comparison site, looks at all the costs associated with getting on the road. Including driving lessons, insurance costs and money spent buying a car, the 2025 research reveals that the average cost for new drivers is £6,692 - which would take a 17-year-old 111 full days of paid work to save up, which for those in full-time education, would take a whole year of working Saturdays and Sundays.* 

While the average costs of getting on the road have fallen 5.7% from the 2024 figure, which sat at £7,100, new drivers still face a big bill. 

The cost of car insurance in the first year of driving has fallen by 22% in 2025 - but the average is still £1,387. So unsurprisingly, when young drivers were asked about the considerations they take when purchasing car insurance, the biggest factor was looking for the cheapest option(34%).******** And when looking at young drivers’ biggest concerns, only the cost of fuel (48%) beat the cost of insurance (43%), followed by safety on the road with other drivers (37%). 

Parents of young drivers were also surveyed about their children taking to the roads, with 35% of parents saying they purchased a car for their child - and 11% stating they pay for all of the running costs of their child’s car. *********  

Commenting on this report, Tom Banks, motoring expert at Go.Compare Car Insurance said: “Despite this new report revealing that the cost of getting on the road has slightly decreased, learning to drive is still an expensive undertaking. It’s no surprise that for young drivers, the top two concerns about taking to the roads are focused on cost. 

“While any decrease in cost is good news for new drivers, it’s worth remembering that they still face far higher bills than more experienced motorists. This is largely because insurers offer quotes based on the level of risk that a driver poses, and drivers who are new to the road are more likely to be in accidents. 

“Cost will always be an important factor when it comes to choosing your insurance, but don’t forget it’s vital to make sure you’ve got the cover you need - and no two policies are the same. So, compare all your options and look for something that suits both your budget and your needs.

“There are things that young drivers can do, though, to save money as they take to the road for the first time. Opting for a telematics insurance policy could lower your costs. They either come in the form of a black box installed in your car, or a smartphone app which collects data about your vehicle's movements and driving habits to send to your insurer. 

“And if you are learning to drive or have just passed and haven’t yet bought a car, it’s worth considering how much your insurance could cost with different vehicles. Typically speaking, smaller cars with less powerful engines are cheaper to insure, but it can vary significantly between different models. So, if you’re shopping around for a new motor, take a look at some insurance quotes before you buy. You can see the cheapest cars to insure for young drivers here.”

For more top tips for getting cheaper car insurance, visit: https://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/guide/top-tips-for-cheaper-car-insurance/.

And to read the full Cost of Getting on the Road report, visit: https://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/guide/the-cost-of-getting-on-the-road/.