Drivers might not have complete control over situations on the road, but they can control how they are covered if incidents occurred. So, every driver behind the wheel should be covered by insurance. But, does a learner driver need car insurance?

It is important for learner drivers because they are less familiar with the road, meaning it is more likely for an incident to occur. While it is recommended for learner drivers to have car insurance coverage before starting their driving experience, it can be overwhelming to look for car insurance quotes.

But, you don’t need to worry, this article has everything that you need to know about insurance for learner drivers. You’ll also find a few tips that could help when it comes to selecting car insurance for a learner driver.

Why Do Learner Drivers Need Insurance?

As stated by the learner driver license requirements in South Africa, learner drivers should only be on the road as long as they are accompanied by a licensed passenger. It is also recommended that learner drivers display a red learner driver sign on their cars, which informs other drivers to be cautious around them.

However, this still might not be enough protection for learner drivers, as accidents do happen. It can be intimidating when you start driving and it will take a while to get used to the road, but you get nervous until then. This is not good because when a driver is nervous, this usually means that they are prone to making mistakes. Unfortunately, mistakes on the road can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening.

This is why learner drivers should have car insurance to cover them in these unforeseen situations. The last thing you want is to damage your vehicle, or another vehicle, and not have any coverage. When a learner driver is covered by car insurance, they can go on the road with the peace of mind that they will be covered if anything happens.

How Learner Driver Car Insurance Works

Learner driver car insurance is usually a short-term plan for drivers who have their learner’s permit who is practicing driving to gain their driver’s license. While these covers are usually short-term, you can choose a plan that covers you for a few hours, or up to 5 months but these plans can be a bit more expensive.

Insurance companies will take into consideration the driver’s age, make and model of the car, and the fact that you are a learner driver when determining the price of the plan. With this type of insurance plan, once the driver passes their driving test, the policy usually ends.

However, what happens if a learner driver uses someone else’s car to practice driving before their test? The driver will need consent from the owner of the vehicle to be covered by the vehicle owner’s insurance plan. Insurance companies usually have an excess fee for drivers older than 25 years old.

It would be advisable for the learner driver to be registered as a driver on the insurance policy itself. Certain insurance companies like Outsurance prefer the name of the learner driver to be included on the insurance policy, so it is recommended to do this to ensure that the insurance company covers any incidents caused by the learner driver.

What Does Learner Drivers Car Insurance Cover?

The coverage of your learner driver’s car insurance depends on the type of car insurance plan you have. One of the main differences between learner driver insurance and regular insurance is the length of the coverage. As previously mentioned, learner drivers insurance policies only provide coverage for a short period of time. However, these insurance plans are generally quite comprehensive.

Most comprehensive car insurance for learner drivers provide cover for:

• Damage to the vehicle
• Accident cover
• Legal liabilities
• Certain medical expenses (Including transportation to the hospital)
• Lost or stolen car keys

While learner driver insurance plans are quite comprehensive and cover most of what regular car insurance plans include. This type of insurance plan might only apply to certain vehicles. However, this will depend on the selected insurance plan.

Tips to Help Select Car Insurance for a Learner Driver

• Meet the requirements – make sure you meet the requirements and specifications as a learner driver.
• Calculate your budget – figuring out how much you can pay towards an insurance policy will help decide which plans you can consider.
• Conduct your research – compare quotes online to find the best plan that suits your needs.
• Ask yourself these five questions – which will help you make the final decision about which insurance plan to go with.
• Ask for advice – it is a good idea to talk to someone who has gone through applying for a car insurance plan before, just to offer you some guidance. It can also be helpful to speak to a consultant from the insurance company about any specific questions that you have about the plans.

Final Thoughts on Insurance for Learner Drivers

It is advisable for learner drivers to consider applying for learner driver car insurance policies. This insurance plan provides cover for any damages to the car, legal liabilities, accident cover, and medical expenses.

Another benefit of having this coverage is the weight that it takes off your shoulders. When you have comprehensive coverage, you will no longer have to worry about the financial implications that could come with an incident on the road.

As learner drivers are new to the road and less familiar with the rules of the road. This could mean that they are more likely to have an incident unlike completely comfortable licensed drivers. This is why It is advisable to make sure that you have the car insurance cover that will suit your needs as a learner driver. So don’t wait any longer and start looking for the best learner driver car insurance today.