Insurance discounts for advanced drivers

Motorists that take the time to complete advanced driving courses are among the most skilled on the road – but does this pay off with cheaper car insurance? Here we look at the influence advanced driving could have on your premiums.

The benefits of advanced driving

When taking out car insurance, providers ask a number of key questions to assess the risk they are taking on in terms of how likely you are to make a claim.

There are a number of factors that they take into consideration including the vehicle you drive, its age, use and security levels; the number of drivers on the policy; personal circumstances including the drivers’ occupation and marital status; mileage; and your driving record.

When assessing your driving record insurers look at factors such as whether you have made claims in the past and whether you have any driving convictions. Proving to an insurer that your driving is of a high quality by completing an advanced driving course can weigh heavily in your favour as statistics show that advanced drivers are generally safer. For example, research by General Accident Plc found that when advanced drivers are involved in an accident, their cars, and those of others, are less likely to be written off; while according to a Transport Research Laboratory Report, motorists who passed the IAM Advanced Test had 25 per cent fewer accidents than those who failed.

So which courses earn discounts?

It is important to remember that not all insurers offer discounts for advanced driving courses and you should shop around to discover which providers offer the largest savings. If you already have an insurance policy, give your provider a call and ask about the reductions it offers based on the courses you have in mind.

Some of the most common courses that earn discounts include:

• The Pass Plus course

Traditionally offered to new drivers who have just completed their driving test, the Pass Plus offers six additional hours of tuition in a range of driving conditions such as motorway driving; dual carriageway driving; night-time driving; and all weather conditions. Discounts vary from insurer to insurer but can be as high as 35 per cent. Several local authorities also sponsor pupils to help them with the cost of the course.

• Advanced driving courses

These courses are widely available to drivers with one of the most widely recognised being the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) qualification.

This advanced driving test usually lasts for 30-40minutes and includes various types of roads, town driving, motorways and dual carriageways and even country lanes. The driver has to show consideration towards hazards, keen observation, restraint and composure. They key is that the candidate performs well in all situations rather than just excelling in one. Depending on the insurer, completing this course could cut premiums by as much as 25 per cent.

Another advanced driving course is the MAX driver qualification set up by Flux Direct car insurance in association with the IAM and MAX Power magazine. It can save as much as 25 per cent on premiums with the insurer.

Don’t forget no-claims bonuses…

In addition to receiving money off directly for completing these courses successfully, drivers can also benefit from no-claims bonuses. The better your driving, the less likely you are to make a claim and most insurers offer some form of no-claims bonus which could potentially cut premiums by as much as 60 per cent after five years.

What about driving instructors?

Several insurers offer driving instructor car insurance with a number of unique policy features which can include:

• Cover for pupils’ own cars.
• Cover for off-road tuition for under age learners.
• Dual control vehicles supplied following an accident.
• Comprehensive cover while driving other cars under tuition.
• Cover for previously banned or convicted drivers while under training.

Even though there are obvious risks associated with insuring learner drivers, a handful of select insurers are willing to offer competitive quotes to driving instructors with unique discounts and incentives such as:

• No-claims discounts at the same level on a second dual control car.
• Money off for insuring a fleet of cars with the same provider.
• The opportunity to add additional instructors free of charge.

There are several specialist driving instructor insurance providers in the market and so driving instructors should shop around to find the right combination of cover and price for their needs.