Bloody Age Restrictions.
Discussion
It doesn't get better for a long while yet...I refuse to pay £2k in car insurance, so as a result, most sports cars are beyond what I'm willing to pay. I can afford the car...but pissing £2k a year on car insurance (on top of maintenance and petrol) would just be a step too far.
(23 y/o, london)
(23 y/o, london)
I did read somewhere that the 25 year old restriction isnt purely plucked from thin air.
Apparently there is a part of the brain which finishes its development around that age. The area deals with risk assessment and therefore life preservation and in theory should make you look after yourself.
Obviously this doesnt develop at the same age for everybody, you may be much more risk adverse than someone else of a similar age but unfortunately the insurance companies cannot assess every individuals mental state. You`ll just have to suck it up and wait like everyone else.
I`m suprised about the barge though, usually obscure cars possibly with larger engines atract lower premiums for young drivers when compared to the standard 1.2 shopping trolleys. Might be worth digging deeper into it?
Apparently there is a part of the brain which finishes its development around that age. The area deals with risk assessment and therefore life preservation and in theory should make you look after yourself.
Obviously this doesnt develop at the same age for everybody, you may be much more risk adverse than someone else of a similar age but unfortunately the insurance companies cannot assess every individuals mental state. You`ll just have to suck it up and wait like everyone else.
I`m suprised about the barge though, usually obscure cars possibly with larger engines atract lower premiums for young drivers when compared to the standard 1.2 shopping trolleys. Might be worth digging deeper into it?
Have you tied ringing classic insurers? Most will be able to accommodate European driving, you could find a reasonably low spec old barge possibly...
there are maybe 4 or 5 who might insure you, but I suggest spending an after noon ringing around and asking for their restrictions for someone in your position. If they will insure you on the car you want, you can go ahead and get a quote. sure it will be limited mileage, but I guess you won't be covering mega miles.
probably have to be a small engined slightly old barge, but still it's progress over a Clio!
there are maybe 4 or 5 who might insure you, but I suggest spending an after noon ringing around and asking for their restrictions for someone in your position. If they will insure you on the car you want, you can go ahead and get a quote. sure it will be limited mileage, but I guess you won't be covering mega miles.
probably have to be a small engined slightly old barge, but still it's progress over a Clio!
Cars more interesting than your current clio aren't as far out of reach as you might think. The trick is to find a car that's fun to drive and isn't generally driven (or crashed) by young drivers. I'm 21 and drive an octavia vrs which actually cost me a lot less to insure than the renewal on my previous car (dull astra). Fun motoring isn't that out of reach you just have to be slightly wiser with your car choice.
I feel your pain regarding high premiums, I'm 26 and they still aren't that low for me (the three points I've just been given probably won't help either). As said though, look around and find cars that aren't usually purchased by younger people, there are some bargains to be had.
When I was 23 I was driving a Focus ST170 and was paying roughly £800 on insurance, I decided to buy a new car so looked at things like Civic Type R's and Audi S3's but the insurance was well over £1000 so did some more searching and in the end I bought a BMW 840 which was no more expensive to insure but was a far better car.
When I was 23 I was driving a Focus ST170 and was paying roughly £800 on insurance, I decided to buy a new car so looked at things like Civic Type R's and Audi S3's but the insurance was well over £1000 so did some more searching and in the end I bought a BMW 840 which was no more expensive to insure but was a far better car.
Bungleaio said:
Never wish you were older because one day you will be and you'll be like "s
t when did that happen".
Enjoy what you can do now, the opportunity to drive barges will come
Never truer words said. A Clio 1.2 is a much nicer place to be than the Mk1 Fiesta, Ford Orion, Ford Escort Mk3 I had at a similar age.t when did that happen". Enjoy what you can do now, the opportunity to drive barges will come
hombrepaulo said:
Apparently there is a part of the brain which finishes its development around that age. The area deals with risk assessment and therefore life preservation and in theory should make you look after yourself.
Sort of, Basically the limbic system (the name for the cluster of the "inner ring" of the brain which deals with primary processing for the incoming stimuli) is fully developed earlier than that , and is responsible for threat detection and the flight or fight response. Also deals with adrenal dumps. The brain is pretty much always changing (neuroplasticity) so it never fully develops and sets, which was the previous theory of neural development. However your experience overrides it more as you get older, on top of the fact your hormone levels drop causing you to take less risk.
To be honest, the 25 figure is kinda plucked from thin air, most people start declining from 23 onwards in a lot of cognitive ways
Annoying isnt it!
I had similar issues, but managed to self fund my way into track days then into sprinting and hill climbs etc.
At the time the cheapest option was a Caterham. I was 19 and managed to get myself a Superlight insured for about £1000. Which at the time for a car that did 0-60 in about 4.5 seconds was very, very cheap. I was paying £1600+ for my road car insurance which was worth about 10% of the Caterham and was a _lot_ slower.
Anyway, I dont know if that door is still open - last I heard is a lot of the specialist insurance companies now have 21 or 25 min age for a Caterham. Which is a shame.
By that age I had done about 100,000 miles without incident or accident and was still doing 50,000 miles a year by the age of 26 when I changed jobs and now I only do 3,000 miles a year.
I dont mind admitting I was probably a much better driver when I was younger than I am now aged 30 due to the time I would spend at the wheel every day.
IMHO.
I had similar issues, but managed to self fund my way into track days then into sprinting and hill climbs etc.
At the time the cheapest option was a Caterham. I was 19 and managed to get myself a Superlight insured for about £1000. Which at the time for a car that did 0-60 in about 4.5 seconds was very, very cheap. I was paying £1600+ for my road car insurance which was worth about 10% of the Caterham and was a _lot_ slower.
Anyway, I dont know if that door is still open - last I heard is a lot of the specialist insurance companies now have 21 or 25 min age for a Caterham. Which is a shame.
By that age I had done about 100,000 miles without incident or accident and was still doing 50,000 miles a year by the age of 26 when I changed jobs and now I only do 3,000 miles a year.
I dont mind admitting I was probably a much better driver when I was younger than I am now aged 30 due to the time I would spend at the wheel every day.
IMHO.
The key to having a bigger car at a younger age does seam to be diesel. OK I am 28 so have gone past paying £1500 for a 1.1L metro but back then a lot of my friends had the 306 diesel for less insurance money than my metro. Even now, I went from a golf gti 1.8t to a mg zt-t 2.0 diesel premium went from £425 to £225 give or take its only 3 seconds slower, does more mpg, has tv, dvd, sat nav, climate control, cruise control a lots more
I do have several other cars for the weekend on tootling about in one being a clio 1.2 its not a great car but then why would it be? its a 1999 and French built, but it does whats required of it.
The sad this seams to be live with it and enjoy what you have for now, it won't be long before fuel prices concern you more than insurance!
I do have several other cars for the weekend on tootling about in one being a clio 1.2 its not a great car but then why would it be? its a 1999 and French built, but it does whats required of it.
The sad this seams to be live with it and enjoy what you have for now, it won't be long before fuel prices concern you more than insurance!
It's never been any different.
Even in mid '70's, when I started driving, insurance was dear on anything other than low powered vehicles. If you want a large engined, GT model, sports etc then, just like now, you had to pay a small fortune for insurance.
Most of my friends just drove old cars bought for cash (no loans) and had thrid party insurance until they got older.
Paul H
Even in mid '70's, when I started driving, insurance was dear on anything other than low powered vehicles. If you want a large engined, GT model, sports etc then, just like now, you had to pay a small fortune for insurance.
Most of my friends just drove old cars bought for cash (no loans) and had thrid party insurance until they got older.
Paul H
You're basically describing the situation that every single person goes through when they get their license and then realise that they have another few years before they can have a car that is actually what they really want.
I hate to be blunt, but I'd suck it up and continue with your safe driving, keeping your record clean and build up that NCB as well as looking around for the more unusual barges that won't be as heavy on the insurance.
There's no point getting upset about it as unless you are willing to pay the ridiculous premiums then you'll have no choice but to be patient and look forward to having something a little better in a year or two's time. Everyone has their fair share of crap/shed/unliked cars when they are young, but you'll manage to get something you like more soon enough. Just stick with it and count yourself lucky that you don't drive around like a large percentage of people your age.
I hate to be blunt, but I'd suck it up and continue with your safe driving, keeping your record clean and build up that NCB as well as looking around for the more unusual barges that won't be as heavy on the insurance.
There's no point getting upset about it as unless you are willing to pay the ridiculous premiums then you'll have no choice but to be patient and look forward to having something a little better in a year or two's time. Everyone has their fair share of crap/shed/unliked cars when they are young, but you'll manage to get something you like more soon enough. Just stick with it and count yourself lucky that you don't drive around like a large percentage of people your age.
doodles19 said:
For instance, I would love a big old barge (5 series touring or similar for example) to go to Uni and back/do a euro road trip comfortably in... But the only thing I can afford to insure these days is a flipping 1.2 Clio,
When I turned 19 I bought a Volvo S70T5 and a year later got an S60T5. And paid just over £1k FC for both... If they don't count as barges I don't know what does 
Agreed with most of what you said but it's one of those unfortunate facts of life. They have to pick an age out of thin air and unfortunately we both fall below that age. For example we are doing the 3 peaks challenge next year and am hiring a large MPV or minibus. Instead of me, the no points, no accidents barge driver who regularly clocks up quite significant motorway stints from Kent to Notts and back; the insurance company deem a 24 yr old who drives a s
tbox around towns as a more trustworthy driver...Unfortunately rules are rules, and thinking about it, they probably are for the greater good...
Negative Creep said:
I thought these days were behind me until one insurer told me I had to be 30 to insure the MR2! This is a UK non turbo as well
Tell said insurer to swivel and give your business to another company. I owned my Integra Type R between the ages of 24 and 26 and hit the same age thing with some companies and found others that wanted £4000+ for insurance. With a bit of shopping around I don't think I paid over £800, and I have NEVER paid more than £1000 to insure any car. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff