ROLLiN' Comprehensive
When insuring a learner driver, there are two main ways to do it:
In most cases it is better to add a learner driver to your policy than it is to take out a new one just for them. Here are a few reasons why:
But you can't add a learner driver to your policy if they're the main driver of the vehicle.
We got quotes from a few providers to figure out if it was cheaper to add a learner driver as an additional driver or for them to take out their own policy. Across the board, it was cheaper to just add a learner driver onto an existing policy, except for Coles and Bingle, where the price was the same.
Keep in mind that these costs are indicative of how much the cost can differ between adding a learner driver to your policy and them taking out their own policy. They're not a guideline for what you can expect to pay as this will be dependent on your own circumstances. To help you decide which policy suits you the most, make sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement.
| Brand | Standard cost without a learner driver | Learner driver as an additional driver | Learner driver on their own policy | Get quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $1,047.57 | $1,258.73 | $3,772.91 | Get quote |
 | $1,068.52 | $1,283.90 | $3,848.37 | More info |
 | $645.10 | $1,580.68 | $1,580.68 | Get quote |
 | $973.93 | $2,254.52 | $2,254.52 | More info |
 | $1,215.82 | $3,598.41 | $3,790.45 | More info |
Adding a learner driver to your policy couldn't be simpler. Some insurers will automatically cover learner drivers as long as there's a licenced driver in the passenger seat. :
There's really only one situation in which it's worth it to pick up a separate policy for the learner, and that's if they have their own car and plan to drive it. Whatever you do, don't insure their car in your name if they're going to be driving it more than you are. That is called car insurance fronting and is considered fraud.
In the end, it makes more sense to hold off on buying them their own car until they are experienced enough for their premiums to come down. Your policy will most likely cover them for free anyway, so there's not much to lose. If they get into an accident, you'll have to pay an additional young or inexperienced driver excess but that potential charge is better than definitely having to pay high premiums month after month.
The good news is, there's usually not much for you to do at all! Most car insurance policies automatically cover learner drivers for free, no questions asked and no need to let them know in advance. Learners are basically treated as listed drivers on a parent's policy even though they aren't technically listed on the certificate of insurance.
If your insurer does require you to list your learner driver on your policy, the process is still quite simple. Here's what to do:
Understand that instead of charging you an added premium to cover the learner driver, insurers will usually collect their fee on the back end by charging you an additional excess if you have to claim on this driver.
If you have comprehensive insurance or another type of optional car insurance, whenever you make a claim you'll usually need to pay a basic excess. This is the amount you're required to contribute to the total cost of a claim, and you're often able to adjust your excess when you take out cover.
However, in order to protect themselves against the additional risk associated with insuring a learner driver, insurers also impose a number of extra excesses. If you make a claim for an incident where a learner driver was behind the wheel of your car, you'll need to pay one or more of those additional excesses on top of the basic excess.
These learner driver excesses vary between insurers and may include:
| Underwriter | Driver under age 21 | Driver aged 21-24 | Inexperienced driver | Unlisted driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Auto & General | $600 | $500 | $500 | $600 |
 Insurance Australia Group | $800 | $450 | $400 | No excess |
 Suncorp | $400 | $400 | $400 | $1,400 |
 Hollard | $1,200 | $800 | $800 | $1,600- $2,000 |
If you can't avoid a separate policy for the learner driver, you'll need to first help them take out Take out Compulsory Third-Party (CTP) insurance. This is the mandatory insurance that all cars on the road must have. The purpose is to pay for medical bills for anyone the driver injures in an accident. In some states, CTP comes with your registration.
On top of that, there are three optional levels of car insurance that offer additional protection. You can choose one to add to the learner's CTP. These are:
If you have to take out a separate policy for your learner driver, you'll want to save wherever you can. Here are a few tips to help you do just that:
The best learner driver insurance is the one that offers you and the learner driver the appropriate amount of cover based on your individual needs. This will differ based on whether you're getting them a separate policy or you're adding them to yours.
Here's how to find the best policy for your needs and the learner's needs based on your situation:
If you're adding your learner to your policy, the best policy will be one that makes it easy to insure them and doesn't break the bank. You'll want to make sure your policy allows you to do the following:
If you've got a learner on your car insurance, there some things you should think about that could help make the process less painful or expensive:
As a learner, you'll have to keep an eye on your demerit points just like any other driver in Australia. Just remember that you don't start out with a bunch of demerit points and then lose them when you get a ticket. You start out with zero demerit points and then collect them during each offense.
If you collect too many, you can lose your licence.
The following table shows you just how many demerit points is too many in each state.
As you can see, in most states you have less room for error than people with a full licence. The penalty listed is just the starting point. In many states, the penalty can increase the farther over the demerit threshold you go.
| Learners: # of demerits to lose your licence | Full licence: # of demerits to lose your licence | Learners: Penalty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 4 in a 3-year period | 13 in a 3-year period | 3 months suspended licence |
| VIC | 5 in a 12-month period OR 12 in a 3-year period | 12 in a 3-year period | 3 months suspended licence |
| WA | 4 for the entire time you hold a learner's licence until the end of the 1st year of holding a provisional licence | 12 in a 3-year period | 3 months suspended licence |
| SA | 4 for the entire time you have your learner's and/or provisional licence | 12 in a 3-year period | 6 months suspended licence |
| TAS | 4 in a 1-year period | 12 in a 3-year period | 3 months suspended licence |
| QLD | 4 in a 1-year period | 12 in a 3-year period | 3 months suspended licence |
| ACT | 12 in a 3-year period | 12 in a 3-year period | 3 months suspended licence |
| NT | 5 in a 1-year period OR 12 in a 3-year period | 12 in a 3-year period | 3 months suspended licence |
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