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Car insurance – what to know for P-platers and young drivers

2 April 2019

Learning to drive and successfully acquiring your P-plates is an exciting time – no longer do you need to rely on others to get you from A to B. Though, if you’ve just forked out for driving lessons, your driving test and buying a car, chances are that paying even more money for car insurance might be a bit of a sore point.

Here we’ll look at some reasons why car insurance might cost more for P-platers, and how you could save money on it.

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Having the right car insurance and roadside assistance to cover you if you’re in an accident or if you break down is something worth considering. Finding the right car insurance for your needs requires some research, and it can help to ask family and friends about their experiences.

Suncorp Car Insurance can cover drivers for certain loss or damage to their car, and offers Roadside Assist as an optional extra.

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Why could car insurance cost more for P-platers?

Young drivers - especially those under the age of 25 who make up a large percentage of P-platers - could be considered to be high-risk applicants by many insurers. This is because P-platers are often less experienced than other drivers, and may have a developing ability to make sound decisions and judgements. Of course, these traits may or may not apply to any individual driver, but data from many drivers is used to form generalisations which inform premiums.

VIDEO: QLD road rules: Road markings

Don’t cross double continuous lines….

Except when safely passing a cyclist.

If there is a single broken centre line, broken centre line to the left of a continuous line, or double broken centre lines,

….you can overtake when it’s safe to do so.

Don’t drive on a painted traffic island if it separates traffic moving in the same direction, like where an on-ramp merges onto a motorway....

or if it’s surrounded by double continuous lines.

You can drive on painted traffic islands surrounded by single continuous lines for up to 50 metres before enter a turning lane that begins immediately after the island,

or to enter or leave the road.

Before entering a roundabout, give way to all vehicles – including trams and bikes – that are already on the roundabout, and use your indicator to tell other vehicles which direction you’re heading.

Check that the lane you want to exit is free of traffic, and then enter when there is a safe gap

And remember to indicate left to tell other drivers that you’re exiting the roundabout.

Make sure to do your own research on Queensland’s road rules.

Accidents happen… even when we follow all the road safety rules.

That’s why it’s important to have insurance cover for your car.

Plus, did you know you can get $50 off a new Suncorp Comprehensive Car Insurance policy when you quote and buy online?

Visit the Suncorp Insurance website to find out more.

How to save money on car insurance as a P-plater

Car insurance for young drivers doesn’t need to cost the earth. Here are a few ways you could save on your premium:

Many insurers may offer discounted rates on policies if you buy them online. For example, by purchasing a new Suncorp Comprehensive Car Insurance policy online you could receive a $50 discount on your first year’s premium. Suncorp Insurance also offers a family discount, so if you’re under 25 years old and your parent also has Suncorp Comprehensive Car Insurance, you could receive 10% off your new Suncorp Comprehensive Car Insurance premium.
If you don’t have your own car, but drive someone else’s car occasionally, you might be able to be named as a driver on that car. That way, you won’t have to pay directly for car insurance (unless you’ve agreed to first!).
Opt to catch public transport, cycle or walk if you don’t need to drive that often. Often, if you drive less than a certain number of kms – around 10,000 km - per year, your premium might be a little lower.
You can choose to select a higher excess to lower your premium. However this does mean that if you make a claim under your policy, you’ll pay more for your excess.

Though car insurance may cost more for P-platers, it could cover you in the event of an accident. If you’d like to learn more about Suncorp Car Insurance and talk about your options, call us on 13 11 55 between 8am and 7pm (AEST/AEDT), 7 days a week.

Insurance is issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as Suncorp Insurance. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement before making a decision about this insurance. This advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situations or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.

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