Does Pass Plus really pay?

New drivers, especially young ones, are often advised that they should go on to take their Pass Plus course in order to minimise their insurance premiums. This advice, however, could prove to be costly.

The Pass Plus course, designed to be taken by newly qualified drivers within a year of passing their test, aims to give them experience of driving in towns, bad weather, on country roads, at night and on busy roads such as dual carriageways and motorways. This does not come cheap at an average of £171, which may explain why last year only 13% of new drivers took the test. For more information on what the Pass Plus test involves see the website.

However, this 13% may well have found that the savings on the premium can be less than the money spent on acquiring the qualification. Whilst the discounted insurance should not be the only reason to take the course, it is no doubt the motivating factor for many. Although this extra experience should in theory make you a safer driver, statistics from the ABI show only a 1% difference in the chances of being in an accident in the first year of driving.

Recent research from uSwitch has demonstrated that the qualification is only taken into account for the first year after passing and only fifteen insurance companies give a discount. Sadly these fifteen are not the most competitive by any means and young drivers can find far cheaper deals with other insurers. Kwik Fit, for instance, came out as being far more competitive despite offering no discount, than the likes of The AA, Norwich Union and Direct Line, all of whom offer discounts.