Northern Ireland has recorded the lowest car insurance premiums for young drivers across the UK, according to the latest quarterly car insurance index figures from CompareNI. This trend spans the 17 to 24, 25 to 34, and 35 to 44 age groups.
For 17- to 24-year-olds, average premiums in Northern Ireland stand at £1,748, the lowest for this age category in the UK. The trend continues with premiums for 25- to 34-year-olds at £844 and 35- to 44-year-olds at £625, also the cheapest in the UK.
The figures emerge despite statistics from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) showing that Northern Ireland has a 34% higher rate of road fatalities compared to the UK average, with car occupant fatality rates 88% higher.
Additional data from the Department for Infrastructure highlights that novice drivers in Northern Ireland (those within two years of passing their test) were involved in road traffic collisions resulting in an average of 125 deaths or serious injuries annually between 2021 and 2023. This marks a 10% increase compared to the 2014 to 2016 baseline. The highest proportion of incidents involved drivers within six months of passing their test, accounting for 39% of cases.
“Historically drivers in Northern Ireland have been affected by a higher crime rate and a higher level of compensation from our courts, typically making premiums here more expensive,” said Ian Wilson, managing director at CompareNI. “It is great to see prices starting to become more competitive with the rest of the UK although I would expect them to still remain high going into 2025 as inflation continues to fluctuate.”
“Young people normally pay the most for their car insurance as the insurance providers don’t have historical data yet to base their risk analysis on. Also, statistically, young people and new drivers have more accidents, especially in Northern Ireland,” he added.
Wilson also encouraged young drivers to explore telematics, or black box insurance, which tracks driving behaviour to demonstrate safe driving and help secure lower premiums.
Average car insurance costs across all age groups place Northern Ireland eighth out of the 12 UK regions, with an average premium of £659, according to the report.
London remains the most expensive region at £1,144, followed by the West Midlands at £921, and Yorkshire at £788. South West England recorded the lowest average costs, with December 2024 figures at £565.