UK law insists that all cars on the road are insured, no matter who is driving the car. However, this can be expensive for those under 25, and especially for those who are 17 years old.

Finding car insurance for 17 year olds, and at a very good price, is a very difficult task – but it is not impossible.

For a 17 year old to attend a certified driving instructor course is something that is highly recommended, both for their safety and a better premium with insurance companies. Most insurance companies will actually flat out refuse to ensure a 17 year old unless they have been to some course of sorts. The statistics show that 38 percent of claims for insurance are made from drivers aged 17 to 18 years old. This is a huge percent of the market, and for this reason insurance companies have such high prices for young drivers.

Teens must apply for a provisional driving license when it's time for them to start driving, and they will be required to have it before going on the course. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in the UK administers this, and it is easy to get a license – just download the D1 form from the DVLA website, or grab a “D1 Pack” from the local post office. The total cost of the process is £50.

Most fatal accidents occur on the motorways, so 17 year olds are not allowed to drive on the motorways. However, the DVLA has put together a driving course called the Pass Plus course, and this actually has a number of benefits worth considering:

1) It teaches drivers how to handle themselves in adverse weather conditions – rain, snow, etc

2) It teaches drivers how to handle different kinds of road conditions – ice, heat, etc.

3) It gives confidence for the motorways, teaching how to avoid hazards at high speeds, what to look out for, how to be aware on the motorway etc. It also teaches how to drive on duel carriageways, rural driving, and town driving.

4) The course goes over the differences between driving at night, day, etc.

Generally, the Pass Plus was designed to be a course than not only teaches the skills but gives the driver the necessary confidence they need to manage the road well, know the limitations of their car, etc.

All of these are excellent reasons why the course is a great idea for 17 year olds, and it also brings a number of insurance benefits – insurance companies will drop their premiums from 12 to 35 percent, and since the driver has more confidence and is much less likely to be involved in accidents, the young driver can also take advantage of early no-claims bonuses and incentives, as well as keep a great record for cheaper car insurance in the long run.

Insurance companies that offer such incentives and bonuses can often be found on the internet. Most major insurance companies will only offer no-claims discounts after a few years, whereas others (many of them online) will offer from nine to 12 months – especially to young drivers. Overall, a course like the Pass Plus not only brings some short-term benefits, but certainly some excellent long term benefits for 17 year olds into the future.