Turn on to the youth market.

Covering young drivers has, in the past, been an unpopular risk for insurers. However, several underwriters are targeting this niche market, and are offering more realistic rates, says Andrew Newman.

There was a time when the young driver sector simply comprised any
driver below the age of 25. The only intricacy was a separate rating band
for under 21s. Since becoming a "niche", however, the segment has expanded
towards the age of 30, and each individual year of age has become a
distinct rating band in its own right.


The contentious ground is the 17-21 age group. The female segment is
highly competitive. A 17-year-old female driver can obtain third-party
cover for around £400, whereas their